GRIFFENFELDT, Coutrr Feder Schu macher, Danish statesman: b. Copenhagen, 1635; d. Trondhjem, 12 March 1699. He was the son of a Danish merchant. His precocity in• his studies manifested itself at an early age, and after receiving a liberal education in his native city, he spent eight years on the con tinent, studying at Germany, Netherlands, Eng land, France and Spain. Everywhere he made acute observations on the politics of the vari ous countries and by contrasting these with the government of his native state, began to shape the policies which determined his course. He returned to Denmark in 1662 and set about gaining the favor of Frederick III. Two pur poses animated his zeal—personal ambition and the desire to place Denmark in the ascend ancy. In 1663 he was appointed royal librarian and two years later became secretary to the king. On the death of the monarch he suc ceeded in maintaining the same confidential re lation with Christian V, under whom he rose rapidly in power. In 1670 he became privy
councillor; was raised to the peerage as Count of Griffenfeldt and finally became imperial chancellor. In this capacity he employed every means in his power toward rendering the gov ernment efficient both in its internal organiza tion and its commercial relations. He advo cated treaties with Sweden and France in order to maintain peaceful relations with these countries and avoid war. But this policy brought down on him the odium of a number of the ruling class of Denmark, which increased in proportion to his rising power. As a result of a conspiracy on the part of his enemies, he was suddenly arrested in 1676 and tried for treason and bribery. He was found guilty and condemned to death, but the sentence was later changed to life imprisonment.