Hólar
Encyclopedia
Hólar is a small community located in the Skagafjörður
district and situated in northern Iceland
.
. Hólar has a population of around 100. Hólar is the site of the main campus of Holar University College, a site of historical buildings and archeological excavation, home to the Center for the history of the Icelandic horse, Hólar cathedral and the turf house Nýibær.
The first printing press
was introduced to Hólar in 1530. Hólar Agricultural College was founded 1882. The college was renamed Hólar University College
in 2003.
forced all of his subjects to accept Christianity. He then sent missionaries to Iceland to convert them to Christianity which they quickly accepted. Around 1000 Iceland made a peaceful decision that all should convert. Despite this the godar or ruling class of Iceland, still maintained their power. Some built their own churches, and others were ordained.
Holar was the episcopal seat for the northern see, and a cultural- and educational centre for almost seven centuries (1106-1798). Hólar was founded as a diocese in 1106 by bishop Jón Ögmundsson
and soon became one of Iceland's two main centers of learning. Hólar played an important part in the medieval politics of Iceland, and was the seat of Guðmundur Arason
in his struggle with Icelandic chieftains during the time of the commonwealth. Under Jón Arason
Hólar was the last remaining stronghold of Catholicism
in Iceland during the Reformation
. The religious conflict was brutally resolved in 1550 when the pools last Catholic Bishop Jón Arason was taken to the south of Iceland and beheaded in Skálholt with his two sons. The best known Lutheran bishop of Hólar was Guðbrandur Þorláksson
. The present church was said to be fully constructed in 1763.
Skagafjörður
Skagafjörður is a deep bay in northern Iceland.-Location:Skagafjörður is about 40 km long and 15 km wide, situated between Tröllaskagi to the west and the Tjornes Peninsula to the east. There are two municipalities in the area, Skagafjörður Municipality and Akrahreppur Municipality Skagafjörður...
district and situated in northern Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
.
Location
Hólar is located in the Hjaltadalur valley, some 379 km (235.5 mi) from the national capital at ReykjavíkReykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. Hólar has a population of around 100. Hólar is the site of the main campus of Holar University College, a site of historical buildings and archeological excavation, home to the Center for the history of the Icelandic horse, Hólar cathedral and the turf house Nýibær.
The first printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
was introduced to Hólar in 1530. Hólar Agricultural College was founded 1882. The college was renamed Hólar University College
Hólar University College
Hólar University College is located in Hólar, Iceland, an important historical centre of education. Hólar Agricultural College was founded in 1882 and renamed Hólar University College in 2003.-Departments:...
in 2003.
History
Near the end of the 10th century, King Olaf I of NorwayOlaf I of Norway
Olaf Tryggvason was King of Norway from 995 to 1000. He was the son of Tryggvi Olafsson, king of Viken , and, according to later sagas, the great-grandson of Harald Fairhair, first King of Norway.Olaf played an important part in the often forcible, on pain of torture or death, conversion of the...
forced all of his subjects to accept Christianity. He then sent missionaries to Iceland to convert them to Christianity which they quickly accepted. Around 1000 Iceland made a peaceful decision that all should convert. Despite this the godar or ruling class of Iceland, still maintained their power. Some built their own churches, and others were ordained.
Holar was the episcopal seat for the northern see, and a cultural- and educational centre for almost seven centuries (1106-1798). Hólar was founded as a diocese in 1106 by bishop Jón Ögmundsson
Jón Ögmundsson
Jón Ögmundsson , also known as John of Holar and Jon Helgi Ogmundarson, was an Icelandic bishop and local Icelandic saint. In 1106 he founded the episcopal see at Hólar in the north of Iceland and served as bishop there until his death.A religious purist, Jón made it his mission to uproot all...
and soon became one of Iceland's two main centers of learning. Hólar played an important part in the medieval politics of Iceland, and was the seat of Guðmundur Arason
Guðmundur Arason
Guðmundur Arason was an influential 12th and 13th century Icelandic saintly bishop who took part in increasing the powers of the Catholic Church in medieval Iceland. His story is recorded in several manuscripts, most notably Prestssaga Guðmundar góða...
in his struggle with Icelandic chieftains during the time of the commonwealth. Under Jón Arason
Jón Arason
Jón Arason was an Icelandic Roman Catholic bishop and poet, who was executed in his struggle against the imposition of the Protestant Reform in Iceland.-Background:...
Hólar was the last remaining stronghold of Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
in Iceland during the Reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
. The religious conflict was brutally resolved in 1550 when the pools last Catholic Bishop Jón Arason was taken to the south of Iceland and beheaded in Skálholt with his two sons. The best known Lutheran bishop of Hólar was Guðbrandur Þorláksson
Guðbrandur Þorláksson
Guðbrandur Þorláksson was an Icelandic mathematician, cartographer and clergyman.He studied at the cathedral school in Hólar and then at the University of Copenhagen. He and was successively rector of the school at Skálholt and minister at historic Breiðabólstaður in Vesturhóp...
. The present church was said to be fully constructed in 1763.
Photo gallery
Sources
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Hólar". Encyclopædia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge University Press.