, Ringsted. During the summer of 1517, Torben Oxe was accused of murdering
Dyveke Sigbritsdatter, King Christian II's mistress, with some poisoned cherries. Dyveke's mother
Sigbrit Willoms, the widow of a Dutch merchant, acted as an advisor to the king, to the displeasure of much of the Danish nobility. Torben Oxe was first tried and acquitted by the State Council. King Christian II did not accept the judgment and had Oxe indicted by a court consisting of a jury from
Solbjerg outside Copenhagen. Oxe was charged in what amounted to a justice-of-the-peace court with vague offences against his liege lord, Christian II. The verdict as directed by the king was guilty and the death sentence imposed. He was condemned to death, traditionally in the words:
"Vi dømmer ham ikke, men hans gerninger dømmer ham" (We do not condemn him - his deeds condemn him), and was beheaded and buried in the graveyard of
St. Gertrude's Hospital (
St Gertruds Kloster) in Copenhagen. Members of the
Royal Council of the State (
Rigsraadet) disapproved of the
execution of Oxe, who was a popular figure. The execution further alienated Christian II from the nobles and the people of Copenhagen. Thereafter the king lost no opportunity to suppress the nobility and raise commoners to power. A famous painting by Eilif Peterssen titled
Christian II Signing the Death Warrant of Torben Oxe is present in the
National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo, Norway. ==References==