A secret radical enlightener in 1770s Copenhagen: Peter Frederik Suhm

Peter Frederik Suhm was a historian and independent author in Denmark-Norway in the latter half of the eighteenth century. Mostly known for his extensive work as an author of historical works and fictions, he also developed a less known political doctrine through the 1760–70s, developing radical enlightenment ideas. These ideas culminated around the Danish Press Freedom Period 1770–3 and involved ideas such as freedom of speech and religion, rule of law, constitutional monarchy, an elected parliament, separation of powers, etc. — much of which were not or only partially published at the time. This paper investigates Suhm’s radical political philosophy.