The exercise and mise-en-scene of power in early Danish absolutism 1660-1730

In order to shed new light on the exercise and mis-en-scene of power in ear ly Danish absolutism the present article draws on the German sociologist Ma x Weber who split the concept of power into "Macht" (power) and "Herrschaft " (authority). "Macht" constitutes the raw power of fist and gun but also t he power inherent in market relations (e.g. the power of a monopolist). "He rrschaft" on the other had is legitimate authority be it founded on common interest, divine right, mutual exploitation or democratic elections. Any pe rmanent political regime depends on a mixture of "Macht" and "Herrschaft," and rulers will normally try to minimize "Macht" and maximize "Herrschaft." Danish Absolutism was introduced in 1660 with military backing and especia lly in the years immediately following the coup d'etat "Macht" tended to do minate. After a few years, however, the emphasis shifted to the constructio n of "Herrschaft," which was cheaper, more efficient and softer on the king 's Christian conscience than the heavy-handed methods of "Macht." By means of some case studies(the royal wedding 1634, the introduction of absolutism 1660, a series of political trials in the 1660s, the ceremonies connected with the accession 1670) the dialectics of "Macht" and "Herrschaft" is anal ysed and it is argued that the new absolutist regime consciously used its l iterary clients, ceremonial and court culture as a means to create "Herrsch aft" and compensate for the limited resources of "Macht."