The Danish king Christian the Fourth is an enterprising monarch, always busy with his many prestigious construction projects. Like any European sovereign, however, he is also responsible for the welfare of his subjects in a time of war, hunger and disease – divine punishment for sinful living. Christian is determined to do his utmost to fulfil his obligations to God.
Sorcery plays a part in his personal life too, since his sister Anne marries the young King James the First and Sixth of Scotland and England in 1589. Their wedding festivities are spoiled by several violent storms that can only be the result of sorcerous interference – both monarchs agree on that.
In 1617, Christian issues a law that will set the framework for most of the Danish witch trials. Legislation has been unclear until then, but thanks to the new ordinance against witches, cases relating to sorcery are clear-cut: Black as well as white magic are now strictly prohibited, and using black magic is punished by burning at the stake. Even people who have bought and made use of magic from witches and sorcerers are now punished by public flogging, confiscation of property and banishment. Finally, all the king’s officials are now duty-bound to come down hard on sorcery. If they don’t, they will be considered as complicit.
Christian the Fourth becomes the most influential of all Danish kings when it comes to witch persecutions, and the great majority of people executed for witchcraft are condemned during his reign.