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36-783: Sorø Academy traces its history back to 1140 when Archbishop Absalon founded the Cistercian Sorø Abbey in a remote woodlands setting on the shores of Lake Sorø on the island of Zealand . It developed into the most prominent and wealthy monastery in Denmark. After the Reformation in 1536, the Crown confiscated the Catholic Church's properties and the former abbey served first as an educational institution for Protestant priests before Frederick II turned it into

72-414: A boarding school for an equal number of noble and commoner boys. Sorø Academy was founded in 1623 when Christian IV turned the boarding school into an Equestrian Academy . Later attempts were made to transform it into a university proper but it only existed as such for about 20 years before closing in 1665. After the closure the premises continued as a school until 1737. Efforts were made to reestablish

108-560: A comprehensive chronicle of the history of the Danes. In 1171, Absalon issued the "Zealand church law" ( Danish : Sjællandske Kirkelov ), which reduced the number of Canonical Law offenses for which the church could fine the public, while instituting the tithe payment system. Violation of the law was specified as subject to a secular legal process. Archbishop Eskil returned from exile in 1167. Eskil agreed on canonizing Valdemar's father Knud Lavard in 1170, with Absalon assisting him at

144-520: A legacy as the foremost politician and churchfather of Denmark in the 12th century. Absalon was equally great as churchman, statesman, and warrior. His policy of expansion was to give Denmark the dominion of the Baltic for three generations. That he enjoyed warfare there can be no doubt; yet he was not like the ordinary fighting bishops of the Middle Ages , whose sole indication of their religious role

180-604: A number of properties in the town of Sorø including Sorø Klosterkirke . Other Danes associated with the Academy include 19th-century painters Frederik Vermehren and Christen Dalsgaard , writer Hans Christian Andersen , sculptor Johannes Wiedewelt who created the monument to Holberg in the Academy chapel, and geologist Hinrich Johannes Rink . 55°25′47″N 11°33′23″E  /  55.4296°N 11.5565°E  / 55.4296; 11.5565 Absalon Absalon ( c.  1128  – 21 March 1201)

216-550: Is a church located in the Danish town of Sorø . It was founded by Danish archbishop Absalon and built by Cistercians in the period from 1161 to 1201. It is made of red brick, which was a new material for the time. It is built similar style to the Abbey of Fontenay . Sorø Academy Foundation ( Stiftelsen Sorø Akademi ) is responsible for Sorø Abbey. The foundation also operates Sorø Academy ( Sorø Akademi) ). The abbey contains

252-605: Is surrounded by an English-style park known as the Academy Garden. Located in the park is the Vænget building which contains Adam Wilhelm Hauch's Physical Cabinet , one of the largest collections of scientific instruments in Europe. The conventual church is an example of Cistercian craftsmanship. It is the third longest church in Denmark, and is one of the first Danish churches built of brick . The Reformation whitewashed

288-575: The Baltic Sea , Europeanization in close relationship with the Holy See , and reform in the relation between the Church and the public. He combined the ideals of Gregorian Reform with loyal support of a strong monarchical power. Absalon was born into the powerful Hvide clan, and owned great land possessions. He endowed several church institutions, most prominently his family's Sorø Abbey . He

324-675: The Holy Roman Empire . Absalon reformed the Danish church organisation to closer match Holy See praxis , and worked to keep Denmark a close ally of the Holy See. However, during the schism between Pope Alexander III and Antipope Victor IV , Absalon stayed loyal to Valdemar even as he joined the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in supporting Victor IV. This caused a split within

360-556: The peasantry , and instituted tithes. He was a harsh and effective ruler, who cleared all Orthodox Christian liturgical remnants in favour of Papal standards. A rebellion in the Scanian peasantry forced him to flee to Zealand in 1180, but he returned and subdued the Scanians with the help of Valdemar. Valdemar died in 1182 and was succeeded by his son, Canute VI , whom Absalon also served as counsellor. Under Canute VI, Absalon

396-574: The Abbey, apart from Fjenneslev which went to Esbern Snarre. He had already given Copenhagen to the Bishopric of Roskilde. Absalon was interred at Sorø Abbey , and was succeeded as Archbishop of Lund by Anders Sunesen. Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum was not finished until after the death of Absalon, but Absalon was one of the chief heroic figures of the chronicle, which was to be the main source of knowledge about early Danish history. Absalon left

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432-515: The Danish church, as it possibly forced Eskil of Lund into exile around 1161, despite Abaslon's attempts to keep the Danish church united. It was contrary to Absalon's advice and warnings that Valdemar I rendered fealty to the emperor Frederick Barbarossa at Dole in 1162. When Valdemar returned to Denmark, he was convinced to strengthen the Danevirke fortifications at the German border, with

468-431: The Danish fleet. But he continued to keep a watchful eye over the Baltic, and in 1170 destroyed another pirate stronghold, farther eastward, at Dziwnów on the isle of Wolin . Absalon's last military exploit came in 1184, off Stralsund at Whitsun , when he soundly defeated a Pomeranian fleet that had attacked Denmark's vassal, Jaromar of Rügen . Absalon's main political goal was to free Denmark from entanglements with

504-483: The Danish throne. On Good Friday 1158, bishop Asser of Roskilde  [ Wikidata ] died, and Absalon was eventually elected bishop of Roskilde on Zealand with the help of Valdemar, as the king's reward for Hvide family support. Absalon was a close counsellor of Valdemar, and chief promoter of the Danish crusades against the Wends . During the Danish civil war, Denmark had been open to coastal raids by

540-705: The Rector's House, the Alumnatet and the Library Building. The current school has 630 students, of which 140 are boarders and the rest day students from Sorø, Ringsted and the surrounding countryside. The library has a large collection of old and rare books. Wilhelm Hauch's physical Physical Cabinet , one of the largest collections of scientific instruments in Europe. Sorø Academy Foundation ( Stiftelsen Sorø Akademi ) owns approximately 6000 hectares of land, mainly covered by forest. The foundation also owns

576-685: The Sorø Academy reopened once again. Over the next decades it became a central venue of the Danish Golden Age with Bernhard Severin Ingemann as a central figure. Both N. F. S. Grundtvig , Hans Christian Andersen and Bertel Thorvaldsen visited the Academy during this period. The current main wing is designed by Peder Malling in a Neoclassical style which relies more on Greek than Roman architecture for its inspiration. It interior has decorative works by Georg Hilker . The Academy

612-463: The Wends and an all but impregnable stronghold. But the unexpected fall of Arkona had terrified the garrison, which surrendered unconditionally at the first appearance of the Danish ships. Absalon, with only Bishop Sweyn of Aarhus and twelve " housecarls ", thereupon disembarked, passed between a double row of Wendish warriors, 6000 strong, along the narrow path winding among the morasses, to the gates of

648-580: The Wends, sometimes with the help of German duke Henry the Lion , sometimes in opposition to him. In 1168 the chief Wendish fortress at Arkona in Rügen , containing the sanctuary of their god Svantevit , was conquered . The Wends agreed to accept Danish suzerainty and the Christian religion at the same time. From Arkona, Absalon proceeded by sea to Charenza , in the midst of Rügen, the political capital of

684-449: The Wends. He even advocated forgiving the earlier enemies of Valdemar, which helped stabilize Denmark internally. The first expedition against the Wends conducted by Absalon in person, set out in 1160. These expeditions were successful, but brought no lasting victories. What started out as mere retribution, eventually evolved into full-fledged campaigns of expansion with religious motives. In 1164 began twenty years of crusades against

720-511: The Wends. It was Absalon's intention to clear the Baltic Sea of the Wendish pirates who inhabited its southern littoral zone , which was later called Pomerania . The pirates had raided the Danish coasts during the civil war of Sweyn III, Canute V, and Valdemar, to the point where at the accession of Valdemar one-third of Denmark lay wasted and depopulated. Absalon formed a guardian fleet, built coastal defenses, and led several campaigns against

756-403: The academy and around 1740, under the reign of Christian VI , the old buildings were rebuilt by Lauritz de Thurah , yet the plans did not materialize until Ludvig Holberg , who had no heirs, was persuaded to bequest his considerable fortune to the institution. The agreement which was ultimately settled upon exempted Holberg from paying taxes from the proceeds of his lands and to reach this end he

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792-453: The early Christian history of Scandinavia. Two former professor's residences, today known as Molbech's House and Ingemann's House, survived the fire in 1813 and date from Lauritz de Thurah 's rebuilding of the Academy in 1740. The old well, stemming from the original abbey, was in 1915 topped by a well house designed by Martin Nyrop , one of the schools former students. Other buildings are

828-525: The feast. When Eskil stepped down as Archbishop of Lund in 1177, he chose Absalon as his successor. Absalon initially resisted the new position, as he did not want to lose his power position on Zealand, but complied with Papal orders to do so in 1178. By a unique Papal dispensation, Absalon was allowed to simultaneously maintain his post as Bishop of Roskilde. As the Archbishop of Lund, Absalon utilized ombudsmen from Zealand, demanded unfree labour from

864-429: The fortress, and, proceeding to the temple of the seven-headed god Rugievit , caused the idol to be hewn down, dragged forth and burnt. The whole population of Garz was then baptized, and Absalon laid the foundations of twelve churches in the isle of Rügen. Rügen was then subjected to Absalon's Bishopric of Roskilde. The destruction of this chief sally-port of the Wendish pirates enabled Absalon to considerably reduce

900-436: The land around the city of Havn (English: "Harbour"), and built there a castle for coastal defense against the Wends. Havn quickly expanded into one of Scandinavia 's most important centers of trade, and eventually evolved into modern-day Copenhagen . It was also Absalon who held the first Danish Synod at Lund in 1167. He was interested in history and culture, and commissioned Saxo Grammaticus to write Gesta Danorum ,

936-404: The later king Valdemar II . He instead confined himself to the administration of the Danish empire. In 1192, Absalon made his nephew Peder Sunesen  [ da ] his successor as Bishop of Roskilde, while his other nephew Anders Sunesen was named the chancellor of Canute VI. Absalon died at Sorø Abbey on 21 March 1201, 73 years old, with his last will granting his personal holdings to

972-519: The support of Absalon. Absalon built churches and monasteries, supporting international religious orders like the Cistercians and Augustinians , founding schools and doing his utmost to promote civilization and enlightenment. In 1162, Absalon transformed the Sorø Abbey of his family from Benedictine to Cistercian, granting it lands from his personal holdings. In 1167, Absalon was granted

1008-664: The throne. In Paris, he was influenced by the Gregorian Reform ideals of churchly independence from monarchical rule. He also befriended the canon William of Æbelholt at the Abbey of St Genevieve , whom he later made abbot of Eskilsø Abbey . Absalon first appears in Saxo Grammaticus 's contemporary chronicle Gesta Danorum at the end of the civil war, in the brokering of the peace agreement between Sweyn III and Valdemar at St. Alban's Priory in Odense . He

1044-428: The traditional decorations of the church; recently the ancient murals have been uncovered and in part restored. Holberg is buried in the church, as are King Valdemar Atterdag (1340–1375) and his father King Christopher II (1276–1332). The gatehouse is the oldest inhabited building in Denmark today. It is where Saxo Grammaticus wrote the famous chronicles ' Gesta Danorum ', a medieval historical work recounting

1080-468: Was a Danish statesman and prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the bishop of Roskilde from 1158 to 1192 and archbishop of Lund from 1178 until his death. He was the foremost politician and church father of Denmark in the second half of the 12th century, and was the closest advisor of King Valdemar I of Denmark . He was a key figure in the Danish policies of territorial expansion in

1116-459: Was a guest at the subsequent Roskilde banquet given in 1157 by Sweyn for his rivals Canute V and Valdemar. Both Absalon and Valdemar narrowly escaped assassination by Sweyn on this occasion, and escaped to Jutland , whither Sweyn followed them. Absalon probably did not take part in the following battle of Grathe Heath in 1157, where Sweyn was defeated and slain. This led to Valdemar ascending to

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1152-402: Was ennobled with title of Baron . Holberg was also consulted on the organization of the academy and the appointment of professors. Jens Schielderup Sneedorff was appointed professor in political sciences on his recommendation in 1751. The main wing burnt down in a fire in 1813 but was rebuilt from 1822 to 1827 to the design of Peder Malling. In 1825, before the rebuilding had been completed,

1188-436: Was granted lands by the crown, and built the first fortification of the city that evolved into modern-day Copenhagen . His titles were passed on to his nephews Anders Sunesen and Peder Sunesen . He died in 1201, and was interred at Sorø Abbey. Absalon was born around 1128 near Sorø , Zealand . Due to his name being unusual in Denmark, it is speculated that he was baptized on the Danish "Absalon" name day , 30 October. He

1224-517: Was the chief policymaker in Danish politics. Absalon kept his hostile attitude to the Holy Roman Empire. On the accession of Canute VI in 1182, an imperial ambassador arrived at Roskilde to get the new king to swear fealty to Frederick Barbarossa, but Absalon resolutely withstood him. When Absalon retired from military service in 1184 at the age of fifty-seven, he resigned the command of fleets and armies to younger men, like Duke Valdemar,

1260-633: Was the son of Asser Rig , a magnate of the Hvide clan from Fjenneslev on Zealand , and Inger Eriksdotter . He was also a kinsman of Archbishop Eskil of Lund . He grew up at the castle of his father, and was brought up alongside his older brother Esbern Snare and the young prince Valdemar, who later became King Valdemar I of Denmark . During the civil war following the death of Eric III of Denmark in 1146, Absalon travelled abroad to study theology in Paris , while Esbern fought for Valdemar's ascension to

1296-455: Was to avoid the shedding of blood by using a mace in battle instead of a sword. Absalon never neglected his ecclesiastical duties. In the 2000s, "Absalon" was adopted as the name for a class of Royal Danish Navy vessels, and the lead vessel of the class. HDMS Absalon (L16) and Esbern Snare (L17) were launched and commissioned by Denmark in 2004 and 2005. Sor%C3%B8 Klosterkirke Sorø Klosterkirke (i.e. Sorø Abbey Church )

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