8、“Our Swedish Moses and Saviour”: Biblical Leaders in Reformation Sweden

“Our Swedish Moses and Saviour”: Biblical Leaders in Reformation Sweden

1. Introduction

In the 16th - century Sweden, the introduction of the Reformation coincided with a national political revolution. King Gustav Vasa (r. 1523 - 60) played a crucial role in this transformation. His regime marked Sweden’s departure from the Nordic union that had existed since 1397. During his reign, an independent and hereditary kingdom was established, along with the nationalization of the church.

The new regime needed power legitimization. Before the Reformation, secular power already required divine sanction. In medieval Europe, the king had an almost sacral role. A new regime like Gustav Vasa’s was unlikely to use a completely new way of legitimizing authority. Ins