Fryderyk III

A Baltic rival of Sweden

Frederick III (1609–1670) became king of Denmark and Norway in 1648 after the death of his father, Christian IV. The council of the realm limited his authority, while Denmark feared Sweden's growing power. When Charles X Gustav became engaged in the Commonwealth, Copenhagen saw an opportunity to change the Baltic balance¹.

Role in the events

The Danish king entered the war against Sweden in 1657, opening another front for Charles X Gustav. For the Commonwealth this diverted part of Sweden’s attention and forces.²

The decision was costly. Swedish forces invaded Denmark and the 1658 Peace of Roskilde imposed major territorial losses. Charles then resumed the war. As the conflict widened, Stefan Czarniecki led Commonwealth soldiers into Denmark. The crossing to Als entered the accounts of Jan Chryzostom Pasek and Jakub Łoś¹³.

The aftermath of 1660

The Peace of Copenhagen did not restore the Danish lands lost east of the Øresund, though Denmark recovered Bornholm. Frederick used the postwar crisis and disputes among the estates to make the monarchy hereditary in 1660 and establish absolute rule. A secondary front in a Polish Deluge chronology became a constitutional turning point in Danish history¹.

Novel and film

Frederick is part of the novel's European backdrop, not a personal opponent of Kmicic. Hoffman's credited cast does not establish a distinct role for him⁴⁵.