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- Title
Corrected and Improved: The Motivation behind the Printing of the Norwegian Lawbook of 1604.
- Authors
Leslie-Jacobsen, Helen F.
- Abstract
By removing the Norwegian laws from the lawbook of 1604, and pointing this out in the prologue, the transferal of political power from Norway to Denmark and the consolidation of Danish rule over Norway is made clear. This article aims to contribute toward book history in Early Modern Norway by considering the circumstances of how and why the Norwegian national law was revised and brought to print for the first time in 1604 in Copenhagen, titled I Den Norske Low-Bog, offuerseet, corrigerit oc forbedrit Anno i M.DC I .IIII i (1604; The Norwegian Law-Book, Looked Through, Corrected and Revised The Year 1604).[1] This was the first time Norwegian law had been printed, and indeed the printing of the law took place 40 years before the printing press came to Norway itself. More importantly, since Norway was ruled over by the King of Denmark, there was no need for the Norwegian laws on royal succession and choosing a king, which make up much of the section, since Danish laws applied. With all higher learning and printing located in Denmark, consolidating power over Norway for the central administration in Copenhagen was a strategic move (Dahl [12], 188), one that weakened Norway and ultimately denied Norway its own legal system. Anno Christi MDLXXII richteligen sammensatt och fordanskeet" (Storm [57], 43) [Norway's Law Following... Frederick II Denmark's, Norway's... King... His Order].
- Subjects
COPYING; NORWEGIANS; LINGUISTICS
- Publication
Scandinavian Studies, 2023, Vol 95, Issue 3, p283
- ISSN
0036-5637
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5406/21638195.95.3.01