Holger Rosenkrantz

Holger Rosenkrantz (14 December 1574 – 28 October 1642) was a Danish nobleman and member of the Danish Council of State. After a few years of joining the council, he chose to retire to his estates and pursue theological writing. European theologians in the 17th century considered him to be one of the wisest Danes and gave him the nickname the Learned.

Early life and education Born in eastern Jutland to the Rosenkrantz family, he was the third child of Jørgen Rosenkrantz and Dorthe Lange. He was taught by a private tutor until the age of fourteen. In 1590, he enrolled at the University of Rostock in Germany, where he met his tutor Daniel Cramer (1568–1637). Holger's letters home described his enthusiasm for Aristotelianism and Gnesio-Lutheranism, which caused concern from his father, who firmly supported Melanchthonian Lutheranism.

Career

Privy Council Rosenkrantz inherited the role within the King's Council upon the death of his father in 1596. He was a key figure in shaping Danish foreign policy between 1617 and 1627. During the reign of Christian IV, Rosenkrantz led a church movement, influenced by the piety and practical spirituality in works by Johann Arndt. Initially, he supported Hans Poulsen Resen's efforts to enforce religious uniformity; but experienced a spiritual crisis around 1620, leading him to temporarily withdraw from public life. Similar to Arndt in Germany, Rosenkrantz grew disillusioned with doctrinal disputes. and following his mother's death in 1613, he inherited Skaføgård. In 1627, he withdrew from political life and devoted himself to theological writing.

He died on 28 October 1642.