MYTE: om kong Christian 2.
MYTH: Did Christian II Wear a Groove into the Table at Sønderborg Castle?
The year is 1532. Christian II has just been imprisoned at Sønderborg Castle. He is the king who, since his coronation in 1513, aspired to unify Scandinavia under one crown.
He mirrored himself on the greatest European principalities, and through his marriage to Elisabeth of Habsburg, granddaughter of the German Emperor, he made one of the most advantageous alliances in Danish history.
Despite all this, Christian’s fate takes a tragic turn. In 1523, he is deposed by the nobility, who prefer his uncle (Frederik I). Eight years later, Christian attempts to reclaim the throne through an invasion of Norway, which nearly succeeds—but ultimately fails.
Lured back to Denmark with promises of safe passage, he is betrayed once again. The dethroned monarch is sent to Sønderborg Castle, which becomes the setting of his imprisonment for many years.
One can almost picture it: in desperation, teetering on the brink of genius and madness, Christian paces back and forth in his cramped cell, one thumb resting incessantly on the marble tabletop, wearing a groove into the stone—a lasting testament to the tragic fate of the monarch.
This, however, is a myth. The story serves as a prime example of how myths arise and evolve—becoming deeply ingrained over time.
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