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Writing: The Causes of Emigration

The Causes of Emigration, § 8

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§ 8

Constraints have always been harmful to societies. If they are maintained for long, they inevitably make the general public dissatisfied with their way of life and their fatherland. The Thuringian nobility treated their peasants badly: they were deprived of their freedom to elect their own parish priests, and such as could speak of nothing but masses and purgatory were imposed on them. Their livelihoods were also put in jeopardy; the commonalty therefore rebelled in 1525 under the leadership of Thomas Müntzer, and the matter erupted into open warfare in which more than 50,000 peasants died and the rest were again placed under the yoke, but the concealed effect of such things on emigration is something that writers have been unable to record in detail.1

When the Florentines formerly subjugated the Pisans, they adopted a perverse measure in order to ensure their submission. All trade and liberal arts were banned among them, with the aim of reducing them to ignorance, the principal promoter of servitude. But the Pisans were provoked by those constraints into secession and fought valiantly for their freedom before they could be subdued. That was a way of reducing people to slavery through ignorance, which will indeed never fail, though it should be pursued by gentler methods so that it is not noticed.2

King Godfred in Denmark no doubt thought he would increase the power of his kingdom by the use of oppression when the Frisians were tormented with an insufferable tax and were mocked by the laws themselves, for some record that they had to wear around their necks osier collars in place of ornaments. No one listened to their complaints, nor did anyone fear their threats. In that way the oppressed were finally driven to take up arms and thus expelled the Danish garrisons.3

The immediately adjacent nations, which then enjoyed freedom and prosperity, became much indebted to the Danish monarchy for that oppression; for intelligence, virtue and diligence always seek out the places where they are rewarded and are thus obliged to abandon their wretched native land.

Another thing occurs to me with regard to Denmark: how large would that kingdom not have been had its monarchs not by oppression induced whole countries to desert it? During the period of the Kalmar Union4 our dear fatherland was stripped bare by Danish rulers, and when Christian II5 thought he had drained every drop of noble blood from Swedish hearts, he was soon made to realize how coercion and slavery imposed on an enlightened nation will never strengthen a regime, for if it is ever to succeed, ignorance must necessarily precede it, but that has to be introduced so gradually that the nation does not become aware of the underlying aim. Only then did Christian realize that royal authority is constituted only by the number of those who are willing to obey, and when there are none, a king is equivalent to a crofter and a beggar.

Cunning neighbours always know how to exploit the oppression of others, for nothing in the world is as able in a short time to increase a population so much as freedom. A prolific people is obliged to devote one-third of its labour to children who do nothing yet but consume, but freedom brings in people who are at their most productive. If the oppression is exercised among a prolific people, it cannot be pitied enough. Every year they invest millions in their children, but a dangerous neighbour will absorb 100 per cent of that.

The example of all rapidly growing powers provides tangible evidence of this. Prussia, which was so insignificant at the beginning of this century, has in this way within a short period grown into a marvel and terror to the whole of Europe. Its rulers have followed the example of Romulus, made their country into a haven for all refugees, among whom those from Salzburg were not the least significant.6 The king constructed dwellings for the refugees and assisted others with building loans. He was reluctant to put pressure on anyone in matters of conscience and religion and only too willing to extend civic freedom to all, and the prosperity achieved by some induced an incredible number to move there. The laws were made effective, and successful efforts were made to curtail lawsuits, so that everyone would be able to enjoy his rights with the minimum waste of time and money.

An assemblage of many kinds of people, of whom a large part are not constrained by either conscience or religion, tends to be regarded as impossible to turn into useful citizens, but the King has shown that it is not only morality that can make a person law-abiding; the laws and the administration of them should produce civic virtue.


  1. under the leadership of Thomas Müntzer: Thomas Müntzer (c.1488–1525) was an early Reformation-era German theologian and leader of a peasant revolt in Thüringen in 1525.
  2. When the Florentines had formerly subjugated the Pisans: Pisa was conquered by Florence in 1406, but was able to regain its independence in 1494. In 1509 Pisa was, however, reconquered by Florentine troops.
  3. King Godfred in Denmark refers to Godfred, king of Denmark at the beginning of the ninth century. In 810 he plundered the Frisian coast and forced the merchants and peasants in the area to pay heavy taxes. Godfred was killed the same year.
  4. The Kalmar Union was a series of personal unions (originally created by Queen Margaret I of Denmark) that joined Denmark, Sweden and Norway during the years 1397–1523.
  5. Christian II (1481–1559) was king of Denmark, Norway (1513–23) and Sweden (1520–1). In Denmark he was called Christian “the Good”, but in Sweden “the Tyrant” – the latter because he instigated the so-called Stockholm Bloodbath in 1520, when a large part of the Swedish higher nobility was executed.
  6. Its rulers have followed the example of Romulus ... not the least significant.: as is mentioned in § 6 of this text, the mythic founder of Rome is said to have invited slaves and outlaws to come to Rome to live and develop the city. According to the legend, he also captured the women of the Sabines and let his men marry them. Religious refugees from Salzburg were welcomed to Prussia by King Frederick William in 1731.

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