Eilif Peterssen - Christian II signing the Death Warrant of Torben Oxe - Google Art Project

Torben Oxe (died 29 November 1517) was a Danish nobleman and a member of an

aristocratic Aristocracy (; ) is a form of government that places power in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class, the aristocrats. Across Europe, the aristocracy exercised immense economic, political, and social influence. In Western Christian co ...

family.

Early life

Oxe was the son of Johan Oxe of Tordsø and Inger Torbensdatter Bille. Both his father and grandfather had served as Danish Councillors (''dansk rigsråd''). His nephew, Peder Oxe, would become the future Danish finance minister and Steward of the Realm.

Career

Torben Oxe served as a liege man of King

Christian II of Denmark A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words '' Christ'' and ''C ...

, under whom from 1514, he was governor of

Copenhagen Castle Copenhagen Castle () was a castle on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It was built in the late 14th century and was located at the site of the current Christiansborg Palace. History In 1167, Bishop Absalon (c. 112 ...

. He also inherited a fief in

Kronborg Kronborg is a castle and historical stronghold in the town of Helsingør, Denmark. Immortalised as Elsinore in William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet'', Kronborg is one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe. It was inscribed ...

from his father who died in 1490.

Death

During the summer of 1517, Torben Oxe was accused of murdering Dyveke Sigbritsdatter, King Christian II's mistress, with some poisoned cherries. Dyveke's mother Sigbrit Willoms, the widow of a Dutch merchant, acted as an advisor to the king, to the displeasure of much of the Danish nobility. Torben Oxe was first tried and acquitted by the State Council. King Christian II did not accept the judgment and had Oxe indicted by a court consisting of a jury from

Solbjerg Solbjerg is a south-western suburb of Aarhus in Denmark and one of the outer suburbs of Aarhus. It is located 17 km. from the city centre and has a population of 4,845 (1 January 2025).

outside Copenhagen. Oxe was charged in what amounted to a justice-of-the-peace court with vague offences against his liege lord, Christian II. The verdict as directed by the king was guilty and the death sentence imposed. He was condemned to death, traditionally in the words: ''"Vi dømmer ham ikke, men hans gerninger dømmer ham"'' (We do not condemn him - his deeds condemn him), and was beheaded and buried in the graveyard of St. Gertrude's Hospital (''St Gertruds Kloster'') in Copenhagen.''S. Gertruds Hospital og Kapel'' (Kjøbenhavns Kirker og Klostre i Middelalderen)
/ref> Members of the Royal Council of the State (''Rigsraadet'') disapproved of the

execution Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty and formerly called judicial homicide, is the state-sanctioned killing of a person as punishment for actual or supposed misconduct. The sentence ordering that an offender be punished in ...

of Oxe, who was a popular figure. The execution further alienated Christian II from the nobles and the people of Copenhagen. Thereafter the king lost no opportunity to suppress the nobility and raise commoners to power. A famous painting by Eilif Peterssen titled ''Christian II Signing the Death Warrant of Torben Oxe'' is present in the

National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design The National Museum (, officially the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design) is a museum in Oslo, Norway which holds the Norwegian state's public collection of art, architecture, and design objects. The collection totals over 400,000 w ...

in Oslo, Norway.

References

Other sources

*Lockhart, Paul Douglas ''Denmark, 1513-1660: the rise and decline of a Renaissance monarchy'' (Oxford University Press, 2007) *Bain, Robert Nisbet ''Scandinavia: a political history of Denmark, Norway and Sweden from 1513 to 1900'' (Cambridge: University Press, 1905) {{DEFAULTSORT:Oxe, Torben 15th-century Danish nobility 16th-century Danish nobility 1517 deaths People executed by Denmark by decapitation People executed by the Kalmar Union Executed Danish people Year of birth unknown 16th-century executions by Denmark Oxe family