In this thesis, the educational politics in Sweden during the years 1611-1649 are examined to identify the power relationship between the church and the state. Although education was traditionally considered an activity of the church, the state laid claim to the founding of schools. However, the development of the Swedish school system during this period has been largely ignored by previous research. Through an analysis of correspondence between local administrators and the crown and different curriculums, this thesis seeks to answer the question: ‘who was actually involved in this reform and how did they conduct the process?’.

The argument of this thesis is based on two theories which explain the early modern Swedish state formation; the historian Jan Glete's bottom-up process of state formation and the sociologist Philip Gorski's top-down process. This study shows that the reformation of the Swedish school system was initiated by the state. The church, represented by the local bishops, was however the other leading agent of crucial importance. It was not just offering legitimization of the power and taxation of the state, but also ideological access to educational institutions. This strengthened the political position of the clergy. By bargaining the Crown accomplished that schools were integrated and adopted to the infrastructure of the state.