Et opprør i opplysningens tid. Christian Lofthus og hans bevegelse i en transnasjonal kontekst

Abstract This thesis puts the Lofthus uprising (1786-1787) in the Nedenes district of Norway in context with the ideas of the American Revolution and other Enlightenment ideas. The thesis discusses what knowledge Christian Lofthus, his companions and other peasants in the Nedenes district had of these ideas. How did the peasants explain themselves after the uprising? Which kinds of books, newspapers and periodicals did they read? Where did the peasant skippers travel when they sailed abroad? In their explanations to the commission set up to investigate the events, the peasants sticked to the official royal ideology. They referred to themselves as simple «children» and paid tribute to the ki…