Peder Oxe

Peder Oxe (1520–1575) was Denmark's leading financier of the century. He joined the rigsråd in 1552, governed Copenhagen in 1554 and shared charge of the treasury.

In 1557 he quarrelled with the king over a property exchange and in 1558 fled to Germany, where he intrigued against Frederick II. Financial difficulties during the Northern Seven Years' War led Frederick to recall him in 1566 and restore his estates.

As rigshofmester he raised the Sound Dues, reformed the coinage, cut the national debt, redeemed crown lands and promoted trade and agriculture, dying the wealthiest landowner in Denmark on 24 October 1575.