Editing Christian III of Denmark (section)

== Religious views ==
{{further|Reformation in Denmark-Norway and Holstein}}

Christian's earliest teacher,  Wolfgang von Utenhof  (ca. 1495–1542) and his Lutheran tutor, the military [[general]] [[Johann Rantzau]] (1492–1565), were both zealous reformers who had an influence on the young Prince. At their urging, while traveling in [[Germany]] in 1521, he made himself present at the [[Diet of Worms]] to hear [[Martin Luther]] speak. Luther's arguments intrigued him. The Prince made no secret of his [[Lutheran]] views. His outspokenness brought him into conflict, not only with the [[Roman Catholic]]  dominated State Council (''Rigsraad''), but also with his cautious and temporizing father. At his own court at [[Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein|Schleswig]], he did his best to introduce the [[Protestant Reformation]], despite the opposition of the bishops.{{sfn|Bain|1911}} He made the Lutheran Church the State Church of Schleswig-Holstein, with the Church Ordinance of 1528.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://snl.no/Christian_3 |title=Christian 3 |publisher=Store norske leksikon |author=Erik Opsahl |access-date=August 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_historie/Danmark_1536-1849/Wolfgang_von_Utenhof |title=Wolfgang von Utenhof |publisher=Den Store Danske, Gyldendal. Hentet 19. juni 2018 |author=Mikael Venge |access-date=June 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://denstoredanske.dk/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon/Forsvar_og_politi/Officer/Johan_Rantzau |title=Johan Rantzau |publisher=Dansk Biografisk Leksikon, 3. udg., Gyldendal 1979–84 |author=K. C. Rockstroh |access-date=June 1, 2018}}</ref>