Christian Jensen Lofthuus

Norwegian peasant leader

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Christian Jensen Lofthuus (baptized May 15, 1750, Risør, Nor.—died June 13, 1797, Christiania [now Oslo]) was a leader of a reform movement who sought redress for the grievances of Norway’s peasantry from the absolutist Danish-Norwegian government. His imprisonment and death made him a martyr for Norwegian agrarian reform. Lofthuus first journeyed to Denmark in June 1786 to present the peasants’ grievances on taxes, official corruption, and exploitation to the crown prince. Told to return to...