[2] Often lauded by elder Danish historians as a knightly, social liberal upper-class idealist,[2] Gøye is today viewed as a realist statesman understanding the need of a government and a moderate political attitude of the nobility.
[5] Belonging to a very wealthy and influential Jutland magnate family and educated abroad,[citation needed] Mogens Gøye was already an outstanding man in the times of King John I (Hans).
[citation needed] Sigbrit coined Gøye's derogatory nickname "the King of Northern Jutland", attempting to cast his loyalty to the Christian II in doubt.
[4] In religious matters he became an eager Protestant,[4] openly supporting the work of Lutheran reformer Hans Tausen,[7] in opposition to most of Rigsrådet, which earned him hostility from the Roman Catholic clergy.
[2] After the victory of Christian III and the Reformation in Denmark-Norway and Holstein in 1536–1537, Gøye continued as Steward during the new government,[4] but he was weakened by ill health,[2] and was gradually overshadowed by Johan Friis.