Abstract
Robert Moleswort's An Account of Denmark as it was in 1692 is a violent political pamphlet in the early British Whig-tradition aimed at underscoring republican values by pointing to the dreadful example of Danish Absolutist slavery. It was a bestseller on an international scale. In his book Molesworth linked the political system (Absolutism) with the lazy nationai character of the population and the ntellectual, cultural and economic backwardness of Denmark. A futile official Danish protest and several private and semi-officilal replies followed suit. The last and most interesting of these was Ludvig Holberg's Description of Denmark and Norway (1729) which counters Molesworth on the basis of history and natural law - and in a witty style. Thus the republican manifesto of Molesworth became instrumental in shaping the political outlook and language of the very moderate, loyal and anything but radical or republican Danish enlightenment mainstream.
| Translated title of the contribution | Robert Molesworths An Account of Denmark as it was in 1692: En politisk skandale og dens litterære efterliv |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Book series | Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab. Historisk - Filosofiske Skrifter |
| Volume | 101 |
| Pages (from-to) | 68-87 |
| ISSN | 0023-3307 |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Keywords
- Faculty of Humanities
- national identuty
- Robert Molesworth
- Ludvig Holberg
- Absolutism
- Republicanism
- natural law
- Mogens Skeel
- Johannes Moller
- Laurids Thura
- enlightenment