Editing Frederick II of Denmark (section)

=== Character as patron of science ===
In his later life, Frederik was fiscally cautious in all matters of state, but he gave an abundance of royal support when it was directed towards the life of the mind. Even after he dismissed [[Niels Hemmingsen|Hemmingsen]] from the [[University of Copenhagen]] in 1579, for example, he made sure that the theologian still had a gracious salary and the opportunity to study. [[Tycho Brahe]] received not only [[Ven (Sweden)|Ven]] as a 'free fief', but also several other [[fief]]s, [[canonries]], and farms in [[Scania]] to fund his work at [[Uraniborg]].<ref name=":32"/>

Frederik himself picked out the island of [[Ven (Sweden)|Ven]] as a place where Brahe could conduct his experiments without distraction. Perhaps the king was driven, in part, by a desire to enhance Denmark's reputation among the great nations of Europe, but even so he demonstrated a finely tuned appreciation for intellectual talent.<ref name=":25" />

As Frederick is alleged to have said to Brahe:<ref name=":32" />{{Blockquote|text=I will sail over to the island [Hven] from time to time and see your work in astronomy and chemistry, and gladly support your investigations, not because I have any understanding of astronomical matters ... but because I am your king and you my subject ... . I see it as my duty to support and promote something like this|author=Frederick II to Tycho Brahe|title=|source=}}