Arild Huitfeldt

Arild Huitfeldt (Arvid) (11 September 1546 – 16 December 1609) was a Danish historian and state official, known for his vernacular Chronicle of Denmark.

He was partly educated in Germany and France, made his career as a state official and was, from 1573 to 1580, First Secretary to the Danish Chancellery, the King's central administrative organ.

In 1586, he achieved his highest appointment, becoming Rigskansler (Chancellor of the Realm, the very approximate equivalent to a modern Minister of Justice), until shortly before his death.

In September 1597, Huitfeldt and Christian Barnekow were ambassadors in London and lodged in Fenchurch Street in the house of Alderman Houghton or the Customer Master Smith.

A central view of his is that history repeats itself, but in aspects such as his emphasis on judicial and constitutional factors, he shows himself rather in advance of his time.

At bottom, he remains subjective: his own ideal is that of the aristocratic state, in which the King respects the role and power of the nobility.