A ''Stodderkonge'' ("beggar king" or "vagrant king") was an official in

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

and

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and th ...

during the 16th to 19th centuries who was appointed to supervise the

beggar Begging (also panhandling) is the practice of imploring others to grant a favor, often a gift of money, with little or no expectation of reciprocation. A person doing such is called a beggar or panhandler. Beggars may operate in public plac ...

s within a town or city quarter. Only beggars with begging permits were allowed to beg and it was the ''Stodderkonge's'' responsibility to ensure that those without a permit were chased out of town or placed to work in the

prison A prison, also known as a jail, gaol (dated, standard English, Australian, and historically in Canada), penitentiary (American English and Canadian English), detention center (or detention centre outside the US), correction center, correct ...

.''Stodderkongen''
at kbhsmuseum.podbean.com.
2nd edn., Vol. XXII, p. 373 These 'beggar kings' were sometimes unpopular, as beggars were considered to be scroungers. In addition, there were examples of beggar kings who, together with the strongest of the beggars in one area, formed a band that kept other beggars out. The beggars in the band paid the beggar king their income in return for not being expelled. The duties of the beggar king were later transferred to the

police The police are a Law enforcement organization, constituted body of Law enforcement officer, persons empowered by a State (polity), state, with the aim to law enforcement, enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citize ...

department itself, and the special function of the beggar king lapsed in most places from the late 18th century onwards. In recent times, the word has taken on a new meaning, in that among the Danish vagabonds each year, a beggar king is chosen in connection with the

Egeskov Egeskov Castle ( da, Egeskov Slot) is located near Kværndrup, in the south of the island of Funen, Denmark. The castle is Europe's best preserved Renaissance water castle. History Egeskov was first mentioned in 1405. The castle structure was e ...

Market. One of the duties of the beggar king is to enact

justice Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...

among the vagabonds and settle disputes.

References

{{Reflist

External links

''Stodderkonge''
entry in the ''Ordbog Over Det Dansk Sprog'' ictionary of the Danish language Poverty in Europe Scandinavian titles Medieval titles