Editing Frederick II of Denmark (section)

== Legacy ==
Many recent historians, such as Poul Grinder-Hansen, [[Paul D. Lockhart|Paul Douglas Lockhart]], Thomas Kingston Derry and [[Frede P. Jensen]] have expressed, that it is difficult to see how the reign, and especially the later reign, of Frederik II could be viewed as anything other than a resounding success.<ref name=":12"/><ref name=":2" /> Frederick's character have throughout time been misinterpreted by Danish historians as unlettered, foolish and stupid; leaving state affairs to his [[Riksråd|councillors]] to go [[hunting]] in the countryside.<ref name=":24" />

However, this is incorrect, and Frederick was highly intelligent. He craved the company of [[Scholar|learned men]], who composed his inner circle of intellectuals, and they had many interests, including medicine, [[alchemy]], [[astrology]] and theology.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Colding, Poul |title=Studier i Danmarks politiske historie i slutningen af Christian III.s og begyndelsen af Frederik III.s tid.|date=1939|publisher=Nyt nordisk forlag—Arnord Busck|oclc=581614588}}</ref> As [[Paul D. Lockhart|Paul Douglas Lockhart]] later stated: "Frederik II may have been a near illiterate (...) but nonetheless he was enlightened as few monarchs of his generation were. It is difficult to see how Danish historians for so long laboured under the impression that he was little better than a drunken fool".<ref name=":25" />

=== Classical and more recent portrayal ===
The negative portrayal of Frederik II was founded by the [[Cultural history|cultural historian]] [[Troels Frederik Lund]] in his 1906 biography of [[Peder Oxe]], who in his opinion saved Denmark on the brink of abyss against the foolhardy young king and his German war-mad officers.<ref name=":24" /> This portrayal was continued by [[Erik Arup]], he wrote:

{{Blockquote|text=He (Frederick II) was robust and brutal, so hotheaded and gross in his whole way that it was striking even for his contemporaries. His penchant for overestimating himself and underestimating everyone else was a profound feature of him that made him highly ungracious and unlovable|author=Erik Arup|title=|source=}}

Often described as wilful and impatient, he was easily moved to anger, and by his early twenties had exhibited a weakness for strong drink and an addiction to the hunt. These are the traits upon which Danish historians have most often focused, resulting in the prevailing portrait of Frederik as a man and as king: an unlettered, inebriated, brutish sot, who virtually abdicated his responsibilities of king in favour of hunting and binge drinking.<ref name=":12"/>

This portrayal is, however, unfair and inaccurate, and thanks to the research of Frede P. Jensen it has been redrawn. [[Frede P. Jensen]] (1940–2008), after thorough archival studies, was one of the first historians in Denmark who, in his works, radically changed the view of the King Frederick II.<ref name=":30">Lockhart, Paul D., page 79</ref>

Frederik was indeed no great scholar, owing largely to the fact that he was very [[Dyslexia|dyslexic]]. Throughout his entire life he would struggle with his difficulty in reading and writing, and it embarrassed him immensely. But he was, as those close to him would attest, highly intelligent; he craved the company of [[Scholar|learned men]], and in the correspondence and legislation he dictated to his secretaries he showed himself to be quick-witted and articulate. Frederik was also open and loyal, and had a knack for establishing close personal bonds with fellow princes and with those who served him. These qualities would make him an ideal politician. Indeed, Frederik would take the chief legacy of his father's kingship – the close symbiosis between king and aristocracy – to its logical limits, and simultaneously would bring Denmark to the height of its power and influence in European affairs.<ref name=":12"/>

The rebirth of the [[University of Copenhagen]] and the professionalization of the central administration, coupled with the prominence of learned men within the king's inner circle, gave the court of Frederik II a uniquely refined and scholarly character that was lacking in his father's court. This, in turn, gave rise to increased intellectual activity throughout the realm. Literature, mostly [[Theology|theological]], blossomed in the second half of the century.<ref name=":30" />