Kronborgs tre kroner. Kunst og heraldik som kampplads i 1500-tallets Norden

A 16th-century heraldic controversy over the use of the three-crown symbol, associated with the Kalmar Union, remains unresolved despite the war between Denmark-Norway and Sweden (1563–1570). The study reveals that the Danish king, Frederik II, deliberately incorporated the three-crown motif into Kronborg Castle’s architecture, including spires and weather vanes, to assert his claim over this powerful symbol. This act underscores the personalization of politics in Scandinavia during this period, where royal reputation was inextricably linked to national identity. The research highlights how art and heraldry served as tools for propaganda, often functioning as indirect attacks on rival monarchs' reputations. By analyzing historical records and iconography, the study provides insight into the enduring significance of symbolic power in early modern Scandinavian politics.

Hansen, P. G. (2019). Kronborgs tre kroner. Kunst og heraldik som kampplads i 1500-tallets Norden. ICO Iconographisk Post. Nordisk Tidskrift För Bildtolkning – Nordic Review of Iconography, (1-2), 6–35. https://doi.org/10.69945/ico.vi1-2.25642