The Christianization of Denmark

In 777, Charles the Great made an attempt to send to Denmark Paul Deacon for diplomatic negotiations and the preaching of Christianity. At the beginning of VIII century. hosted the first Christian mission: Willibrord, an English monk who visited Denmark, and 823, the Louis the Pious sent to danam papal legate, Archbishop Reymsskogo Ebo.

Obviously, the role of Christianity in international relations was realized rulers of Denmark: in 826, aims to get support of Louis the Pious in the struggle for power in Denmark, Harald Clack, along with 400 of his retainers in Ingelgeyme baptized, became a vassal of Louis and received from him flax. This success prompted Louis to send to Denmark next year mission, headed by the then 25-year Ansgar, a monk from the monastery at Corbie, the future, "the apostle of the North". The missionary had little time for preaching Christianity: in the same year, Harald Clack was exiled along with him had to leave and Ansgar. Significantly, however, that its activities concentrated in Hedebyu Ansgar, where he founded a school. More successful was his third trip to the North (in the second, in 829 city, he stayed in Denmark), this time as the head "north", Bremen Archbishopric. This trip took place in 849-850 years. Ansgar preached Hedebyu and received permission of King Horika I build a church. Four years later, the second church was opened in other major shopping center - Ribe.

The subsequent century has passed in the fight against paganism and Christianity, the details of which we know very little: successes of missionary activity (Rimbert 870-880-s, the baptism of King Gnupy father Gorm the Old, about 934) alternating with periods of prohibition of preaching, or persecutions on Christians (according to the Archbishop Unno, visited Denmark around 935, King Gorm the persecuted Christians).

Nevertheless, the new religion under the pressure of the Frankish Empire, more and more distributed in Denmark: many of the Vikings turned to Christianity during the raids and wintering in Britain and France, the baptism was part of the contract terms with settling in these countries, the Normans.

The main task was founded in 831, Archbishop of Hamburg, and later (in 845 city) combined with the Bremen, was to spread Christianity in Northern Europe and the inclusion in the scope of its jurisdiction once again appeal lands. Even before the official introduction of Christianity in Denmark, Harald declared in the inscription on the 2 nd Ellingskom stone (DR 42), in 848, Pope Agapit sent the bull of Hamburg-Bremen archbishop Adaldagu a mandate to rule over the Church of Denmark. At the same time the German Emperor distillate I found it possible to establish three dioceses in the Danish territory: in Hedebyu, Ribe and Aarhus. There is no evidence that the appointment of three bishops have remained purely nominal, and in these centers really have the episcopal chair. Likely that it was vicar bishops, who had no permanent residence in the country.

Moreover, the Adam of Bremen, who told about the event (II. 4), did not know of their successors, and believed that in Aarhus in the late tenth century. Department did not exist (II. 26, 46). Apparently, Hedebyu and Ribe were centers of missionary activity, perhaps in Hedebyu some time functioned episcopal, but it is likely to have happened between 974 and 983 years. When Hedebyu was ruled by the German emperor. Anyway, in 1000 the bishop Schleswig (ie Hedebyu) reported that he was forced to leave the city because of its devastation and destruction of churches in the capture of its Harald in 983 (?). It is likely that missiynye bishops used the royal estate as their strong points, and this may explain the transformation of Roskilde and Odense, where there were a royal manor in the center of a bishop in the XI century.
Thus, there is every reason to believe that before the era of Knut in Denmark, despite the official adoption of Christianity and church organization did not exist, and to appoint bishops did not have permanent residences, is writing about, and Adam (II. 26). He mentions only two bishops who preached directly in Scandinavia: Odinkara who "turned to the faith of many of his sermon on Fyune, Zealand, Scania and Sweden, and Liafdaga has visited Sweden and Norway. In this case, neither of them were Germans: Odinkar belonged to a noble Danish family, Liafdag came from Frisia. Probably during the exacerbation of relations with Germany, Harald did not allow German clerics in Denmark.

Hamburg-Bremen archbishopric exercised preaching Christianity in Denmark, under the direct patronage of the German emperors, because it was closely linked to their political ambitions. Such pre-eminently political, rather than actual church shares represented and the "establishment" of bishops and the appointment of bishops in 948 city, and the issuance of distillate I in 965 immunitetnoy ratification Danish bishops, exempt them
from taxes (unless it is a falsification) and the resulting contract baptized Harald Clack (Adam. II. 3), and several other stocks. In the spread of Christianity in Denmark, political factors have played no less important than factors of faith. This explains the struggle of Hamburg-Bremen archbishopric with church influence, who was from England.

Anglo-Saxon church is from the VIII century. showed missionary activity in Europe, in which the first mission was carried out in Denmark. Education Denley, and then the conquest of Svein and Knut have created fertile ground for the penetration of Christianity to Denmark from England. Historians have related, like Adam, from Hamburg-Bremen archbishopric, tried to avoid mention of the English influence, but not always, they managed. Significantly message Adam (II. 55; III. 77) on Gerbrande, ordained bishop of Roskilde Archbishop of Canterbury, whose Hamburg-Bremen by Archbishop Honwana (1013-1029 gg.) Forced "to promise loyalty and obedience." Furthermore Gerbranda, Knut set and other Anglo-Saxon canon, Bernhard, bishop of Lund.

The Christianization of Denmark to the Harald covered, obviously, only the upper classes who, through their connections with other European countries, and political participation were the most prepared to accept the new ideology. However, among them the adoption of Christianity meant a compromise between paganism and the official religion. Along with the construction of churches, performing the most important church ceremonies, the coinage with Christian symbols, etc. until the beginning of XI century. maintained by the pagan ritual burial, with plenty of inventory, such as, inter alia, strengthening of the royal burial ground Furkat.

Adam Swain explained an uprising against Harald pagan reaction to the Christianization of the country (II. 27), which, however, unlikely, since Swain, according to Adam, was baptized in its infancy, after the accession continued to produce coins with a cross on the reverse, and 990-e years, founded the church in Lund and other cities. Probably during the late civil strife 980-x, some churches really hurt, and later Swain, not supporting the claims of Hamburg-Bremen, supported the Church of England, which was regarded Adam as a departure from Christianity.

Only in the middle of the XI century. church organization in Denmark has found a more structured form, becoming not only nominally present, but of action. Dioceses with centers in Schleswig, Ribe, Viborg, Århus, and "Wendy" (for Northern Jutland), Roskilde (Zealand), Lund, Dalbyu (Skåne) from about 1060 covered the whole territory of Denmark. A major role in consolidating the Danish Church played Sven Estridsen, who
became king in 1047, his focus on the Hamburg-Bremen archbishopric, the agreement with the Archbishop Adalbert (1043-1072 gg.) Served as the consolidation of the church.

Source:  History of Denmark from the earliest times to the early XX Century, ed. OV Chernysheva, Moscow: Nauka, 1996