Corfitz Ulfeldts skamstøtte, Memorial stone in National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen
Corfitz Ulfeldt's shaming stone is a memorial in the National Museum of Denmark bearing text that marks its subject as having committed a grave offense against the crown. The stone documents a method of public punishment where disgrace was permanently carved and displayed.
The stone was erected in 1663 at Gråbrødretorv following Ulfeldt's revolt against the Danish crown. It remained at the public square for generations before being transferred to the museum and removed from its original setting.
This stone reflects how people in the 17th century expressed anger at betrayal through public acts and shared rituals. The inscription speaks directly to the concerns that mattered most to the community at that time.
The stone sits in a courtyard space within the National Museum in central Copenhagen and is accessible during museum hours. Visitors should ask staff for directions or consult a museum map to locate it easily.
The stone survived the Great Fire of 1728 that destroyed much of the city, becoming an unexpected witness to one of Copenhagen's worst disasters. Its survival through such devastation gives it a deeper layer of historical meaning.
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