Nicholas I, Bishop of Schleswig
Encyclopedia
Nicholas I (died 1233) was Bishop of Schleswig between 1209 and 1233. Since 1192 he de facto, though not consecrated, officiated during the flight and following royal captivity of his predecessor Bishop Valdemar
(1193–1206).
After Valdemar's papal deposition in 1208 Nicholas was finally consecrated as bishop in 1209. Since 1214 Nicholas also served as Chancellor of Denmark
(i.e. about prime minister) until his death.
at Lund Cathedral
obviously highly esteemed by Archbishop Absalon
.
After Bishop Valdemar Knudsen
, also Prince-Archbishop elect of Bremen, son of the murdered King Canute V of Denmark
and therefore claiming the Danish throne, had attempted to overthrow King Canute VI of Denmark
, the latter captured Bishop Valdemar in 1193, who stayed in royal captivity until 1206. Canute VI then unilaterally appointed Nicholas as bishop of Schleswig, however Pope Celestine III
refused to depose the imprisoned Valdemar.
In 1201 Nicholas participated - either as fellow traveller or even as leader - in a delegation to France, where in March they met the repudiated Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen consort of France
during a council in Soissons
, where the king, however only temporary, declared he readmitted her. Ingeborg gave him relic
s as a gift to bring to Denmark. A delegation sent to the new Pope Innocent III
in order to get Nicholas' papal confirmation as bishop, returned with empty hands.
After in 1206 - at the instigation of Innocent III and Queen consort Dagmar of Bohemia - the new King Valdemar II
had released his cousin Bishop Valdemar, the king in return asked the pope the favour to confirm Nicholas as bishop. Innocent III, however, refused again referencing to canon law
precepts.
In the same year Nicholas followed King Valdemar II in his campaign to conquer the Estonian island Øsel (Saaremaa)
. From there, accompanied by Lund's Archbishop Anders Sunesen
, Nicholas went to Riga
and stayed there until 1207.
However, when Bishop Valdemar de facto ascended the Bremen see in 1208, against the papal command to await his papal confirmation, Innocent III deposed Bishop Valdemar as bishop of Schleswig and Nicholas was consecrated as new bishop of Schleswig in the following year. From the same year onwards he spruced up the prior reprobate Guldholm Abbey
, which had become Cistercian as part of the reform. Nicholas wielded his episcopal office with diligence, also shown by his questions to Rome
, which the pope replied (1213).
King Valdemar II had much confidence to Bishop Nicholas and made him Chancellor of Denmark
(i.e. prime minister) in 1214, succeeding the late Chancellor Peder Sunesen, Bishop of Roskilde, brother of Archbishop Anders Sunesen. In 1219 Nicholas accompanied King Valdemar in another crusade in Estonia. Bishop Nicholas was probably among the Danish bishops, who have been captured in the Battle of Bornhöved
in 1227. On his later years almost nothing is known. He kept the chancellorship until his death in 1233.
, vol. XII: Münch – Peirup, pp. 203seq.
Valdemar of Denmark (bishop)
Valdemar Knudsen was a Danish clergyman and statesman. His mother gave birth to him as the posthumous illegitimate son of Canute V of Denmark...
(1193–1206).
After Valdemar's papal deposition in 1208 Nicholas was finally consecrated as bishop in 1209. Since 1214 Nicholas also served as Chancellor of Denmark
Prime Minister of Denmark
The Prime Minister of Denmark is the head of government in Danish politics. The Prime Minister is traditionally the leader of a political coalition in the Folketing and presides over the cabinet....
(i.e. about prime minister) until his death.
Life
He was originally a canonCanon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
at Lund Cathedral
Lund Cathedral
The Lund Cathedral is the Lutheran cathedral in Lund, Scania, Sweden. It is the seat of the bishop of Lund of the Church of Sweden.- History :...
obviously highly esteemed by Archbishop Absalon
Absalon
Absalon was a Danish archbishop and statesman, who was the Bishop of Roskilde from 1158 to 1192 and Archbishop of Lund from 1178 until his death. He was the foremost politician and churchfather of Denmark in the second half of the 12th century, and was the closest advisor of King Valdemar I of...
.
After Bishop Valdemar Knudsen
Valdemar of Denmark (bishop)
Valdemar Knudsen was a Danish clergyman and statesman. His mother gave birth to him as the posthumous illegitimate son of Canute V of Denmark...
, also Prince-Archbishop elect of Bremen, son of the murdered King Canute V of Denmark
Canute V of Denmark
Canute V of Denmark was a Swedish prince and King of Denmark from 1146 to 1157, as co-regent in shifting alliances with his Sweyn III and Valdemar I. Canute was killed at the so-called Bloodfeast of Roskilde in 1157. Nothing certain is known about his person and character.-Biography:Canute was...
and therefore claiming the Danish throne, had attempted to overthrow King Canute VI of Denmark
Canute VI of Denmark
Canute VI was King of Denmark . Canute VI was the eldest son of King Valdemar I and Sophia of Polotsk.-Life:...
, the latter captured Bishop Valdemar in 1193, who stayed in royal captivity until 1206. Canute VI then unilaterally appointed Nicholas as bishop of Schleswig, however Pope Celestine III
Pope Celestine III
Pope Celestine III , born Giacinto Bobone, was elected Pope on March 21, 1191, and reigned until his death. He was born into the noble Orsini family in Rome, though he was only a cardinal deacon before becoming Pope...
refused to depose the imprisoned Valdemar.
In 1201 Nicholas participated - either as fellow traveller or even as leader - in a delegation to France, where in March they met the repudiated Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen consort of France
Ingeborg of Denmark, Queen of France
Ingeborg was a Danish-born queen consort of France.She was a daughter of Valdemar I of Denmark and Sofia of Minsk. Her maternal grandparents were Volodar of Minsk and Richeza of Poland...
during a council in Soissons
Soissons
Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
, where the king, however only temporary, declared he readmitted her. Ingeborg gave him relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s as a gift to bring to Denmark. A delegation sent to the new Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....
in order to get Nicholas' papal confirmation as bishop, returned with empty hands.
After in 1206 - at the instigation of Innocent III and Queen consort Dagmar of Bohemia - the new King Valdemar II
Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II , called Valdemar the Victorious or Valdemar the Conqueror , was the King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. The nickname Sejr is a later invention and was not used during the King's own lifetime...
had released his cousin Bishop Valdemar, the king in return asked the pope the favour to confirm Nicholas as bishop. Innocent III, however, refused again referencing to canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
precepts.
In the same year Nicholas followed King Valdemar II in his campaign to conquer the Estonian island Øsel (Saaremaa)
Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
. From there, accompanied by Lund's Archbishop Anders Sunesen
Anders Sunesen
Anders Sunesen was a Danish archbishop of Lund, Scania, from March 21, 1201, at the death of Absalon, to his own death in 1228. He is the author of the Latin translation of the Scanian Law and was throughout his life engaged in integrating a Christian worldview into the old legislature...
, Nicholas went to Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
and stayed there until 1207.
However, when Bishop Valdemar de facto ascended the Bremen see in 1208, against the papal command to await his papal confirmation, Innocent III deposed Bishop Valdemar as bishop of Schleswig and Nicholas was consecrated as new bishop of Schleswig in the following year. From the same year onwards he spruced up the prior reprobate Guldholm Abbey
Guldholm Abbey
Guldholm Abbey was a short-lived Cistercian monastery on the Langsee near Böklund, formerly in Denmark, now in Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. It was founded in 1191 and abandoned after less than twenty years; some of the community went on to establish Ryd Abbey.- History :Guldholm was located on a...
, which had become Cistercian as part of the reform. Nicholas wielded his episcopal office with diligence, also shown by his questions to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, which the pope replied (1213).
King Valdemar II had much confidence to Bishop Nicholas and made him Chancellor of Denmark
Prime Minister of Denmark
The Prime Minister of Denmark is the head of government in Danish politics. The Prime Minister is traditionally the leader of a political coalition in the Folketing and presides over the cabinet....
(i.e. prime minister) in 1214, succeeding the late Chancellor Peder Sunesen, Bishop of Roskilde, brother of Archbishop Anders Sunesen. In 1219 Nicholas accompanied King Valdemar in another crusade in Estonia. Bishop Nicholas was probably among the Danish bishops, who have been captured in the Battle of Bornhöved
Battle of Bornhöved (1227)
The Battle of Bornhöved took place on 22 July 1227 near Bornhöved in Holstein. Count Adolf IV of Schauenburg and Holstein — leading an army consisting of troops from the cities of Lübeck and Hamburg, about 1000 Dithmarsians and combined troops of Holstein next to various north German nobles —...
in 1227. On his later years almost nothing is known. He kept the chancellorship until his death in 1233.
External links
Hans Olrik, "Niels, – 1233, Biskop i Slesvig", in: Dansk biografisk leksikonDansk biografisk leksikon
Dansk biografisk leksikon is a Danish biographical dictionary that has been published in three editions...
, vol. XII: Münch – Peirup, pp. 203seq.