Olav Engelbrektsson
Encyclopedia
Olav Engelbrektsson was the last Catholic Archbishop of Norway. As well as being a religious leader, Olav was also a political figure;
The Archbishop served as leader of Norway had during this interregnum period, serving as a defendor of the Catholic faith as the Reformation swept through northern Europe. His cousin Kristoffer Trondson defended Norway, until 1536. As Archbishop, Olav built Steinvikholm Castle
outside Trondheim.
During his tenure Olav tried and failed to break away from the union that bound Norway to Denmark. The failure of this effort, in 1536, and the resultant subsumption of Norway under the Danish crown marked both the end of Catholicism, as well an end to Norwegian sovereignty. In 1537, Olav went into exile from Norway
, leaving behind St. Olav's shrine
and other valuables.
Exiled, Olav departed with the records of the church for mainland Europe. He was (possibly unfairly) given the reputation of having looted Nidaros Cathedral
.
, Germany. He returned to Norway to serve as Archbishop in 1523. His role was highly political in nature, as Archbishop he was leader of the Norwegian Council of the Realm, and at this time, Norway found itself with no King.
Olav greatly disliked and distrusted the Danish king and worked assiduously to prevent Frederick's coronation as King of Norway, managing to delay it three times. Olav preferred that the former Danish King Christian II
, nephew of the current Danish King Fredrick, should return as King of Norway.
In March of 1532, Olav was recorded as paying 21 kg of silver, in minter form, to mercenaries hired by Christian II during his unsuccessful struggle against Fredrik I for the throne of Denmark-Norway. Following Christian's defeat, Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson was fined heavily for this support to the amount of 15,000 Danish marks, the equivalent of about 134 kg of silver, to be paid in three installments .
The 1533 accession of a new Danish king, Christian III
escalated the political situation; here was a king who not only continued the claim over Norway, but who actively promoted the Protestant Reformation
there. Being in that Olav was the representative of the Vatican in Norway, this of course was not a welcome gesture. As a response, Olav attempted to formalize Norwegian sovereignty and independence vis-a-vis a meeting of the Norwegian Privy Council at Bud
.
Tensions rose in 1536, when the Danish Privy Council declared Norway annexed. A Danish earl Vincens Lunge
was sent to Norway to enforce this new mandate on behalf of the Danish Crown; the response was not friendly; Lunge was murdered by followers of Olav. The actual murder of the earl was said to have taken place at the hands of Olav's cousin, Admiral Kristoffer Trondson., Norway's functioning military commander who had been active in battle against Danish ships, funded by capital raised principally from the Netherlands.
. In 1537, he took exile from Norway, coming to Lierre
, in Brabant (Belgium), where he died in 1538. He is buried under the high alter of the Church of Saint Gommaire, Lierre.
His departure marked the subsumption of Norway into Denmark-Norway; Norway was declared, formally, a part of the Danish Kingdom, and the Danish king was automatically King of Norway until 1814.
The drama of the Olav Engelbrektsson saga, including the violent murder of Nils Lykke is reenacted in a modern evening-opera, in Trondheim: Olav Engelbrektsson. The murder of Nils Lykke is reenacted in the song, "Kristoffer Rustung".
The opera was created in 1993, and remains ongoing as from 2009; it is held biannually held on the premises of Steinviksholm Castle during the summer months, at night. It is held only every-other-year such as to protect the premises of the historic castle grounds. The opera was originally funded with grants from the Norwegian Ministry of Culture.
Norway gained her independence in 1905; Norwegian independence is but 100 years old. As such, interest in history "long lost" during the 400 years of Danish and Swedish colonization, has rendered this opera - and figures such as Olav Engelbrektssen - very popular in 21st century Norway.
The Archbishop served as leader of Norway had during this interregnum period, serving as a defendor of the Catholic faith as the Reformation swept through northern Europe. His cousin Kristoffer Trondson defended Norway, until 1536. As Archbishop, Olav built Steinvikholm Castle
Steinvikholm Castle
Steinvikholm Castle is an island fortress on the Skatval peninsula near Stjørdal, in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The castle was built over seven years, from 1525 to 1532, for Norway's last Catholic archbishop, Olav Engelbrektsson....
outside Trondheim.
During his tenure Olav tried and failed to break away from the union that bound Norway to Denmark. The failure of this effort, in 1536, and the resultant subsumption of Norway under the Danish crown marked both the end of Catholicism, as well an end to Norwegian sovereignty. In 1537, Olav went into exile from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, leaving behind St. Olav's shrine
St. Olav's shrine
St. Olav’s Shrine was the resting place of the earthly remains of St. Olav, Norway’s patron saint, behind the high altar of Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, from the mid 11th century. For nearly five centuries the shrine was of major religious value to Norway and the other Nordic countries,...
and other valuables.
Exiled, Olav departed with the records of the church for mainland Europe. He was (possibly unfairly) given the reputation of having looted Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral is a Church of Norway cathedral located in the city of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It was the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nidaros from its establishment in 1152 until its abolition in 1537. Since the Reformation, it has been the cathedral of the...
.
Last Archbishop of Norway
Sixteenth century Norway had no university; as such, Olav, like most of the Norwegian upper classes, was educated abroad. He studied at the University of RostockUniversity of Rostock
The University of Rostock is the university of the city Rostock, in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.Founded in 1419, it is the oldest and largest university in continental northern Europe and the Baltic Sea area...
, Germany. He returned to Norway to serve as Archbishop in 1523. His role was highly political in nature, as Archbishop he was leader of the Norwegian Council of the Realm, and at this time, Norway found itself with no King.
Dano-Norwegian conflict, 1532-1537
The Council of the Realm elected the Danish Frederik I as King of Norway. YetOlav greatly disliked and distrusted the Danish king and worked assiduously to prevent Frederick's coronation as King of Norway, managing to delay it three times. Olav preferred that the former Danish King Christian II
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II was King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden , during the Kalmar Union.-Background:...
, nephew of the current Danish King Fredrick, should return as King of Norway.
In March of 1532, Olav was recorded as paying 21 kg of silver, in minter form, to mercenaries hired by Christian II during his unsuccessful struggle against Fredrik I for the throne of Denmark-Norway. Following Christian's defeat, Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson was fined heavily for this support to the amount of 15,000 Danish marks, the equivalent of about 134 kg of silver, to be paid in three installments .
The 1533 accession of a new Danish king, Christian III
Christian III of Denmark
Christian III reigned as king of Denmark and Norway. He was the eldest son of King Frederick I and Anna of Brandenburg.-Childhood:...
escalated the political situation; here was a king who not only continued the claim over Norway, but who actively promoted the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
there. Being in that Olav was the representative of the Vatican in Norway, this of course was not a welcome gesture. As a response, Olav attempted to formalize Norwegian sovereignty and independence vis-a-vis a meeting of the Norwegian Privy Council at Bud
Bud, Norway
Bud is a fishing village and former municipality in the present-day municipality of Fræna in Møre og Romsdal county in western Norway. The village is located on the Romsdal peninsula along the Atlanterhavsveien, west of the village of Hustad, north of the village of Tornes, and east of the...
.
Tensions rose in 1536, when the Danish Privy Council declared Norway annexed. A Danish earl Vincens Lunge
Vincens Lunge
Vincens Lunge was a Danish noble, member of the Norwegian realm council and the foremost representative of King Christian III of Denmark in Norway.-Biography:...
was sent to Norway to enforce this new mandate on behalf of the Danish Crown; the response was not friendly; Lunge was murdered by followers of Olav. The actual murder of the earl was said to have taken place at the hands of Olav's cousin, Admiral Kristoffer Trondson., Norway's functioning military commander who had been active in battle against Danish ships, funded by capital raised principally from the Netherlands.
Norway's defeat, Olav's exile
In 1536, Olav fled Steinvikholm Castle to Nidarholm AbbeyNidarholm Abbey
Nidarholm Abbey was a Benedictine monastery located on the island of Munkholmen in the Trondheimfjord on the sea approach to Trondheim, Norway.-History:...
. In 1537, he took exile from Norway, coming to Lierre
Lier, Belgium
Lier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. On January 1, 2010 Lier had a total population of 33,930. The total area is 49.70 km² which gives a population density of 669 inhabitants per...
, in Brabant (Belgium), where he died in 1538. He is buried under the high alter of the Church of Saint Gommaire, Lierre.
His departure marked the subsumption of Norway into Denmark-Norway; Norway was declared, formally, a part of the Danish Kingdom, and the Danish king was automatically King of Norway until 1814.
Olav Engelbreksson: A "Midnight opera"
The opera was created in 1993, and remains ongoing as from 2009; it is held biannually held on the premises of Steinviksholm Castle during the summer months, at night. It is held only every-other-year such as to protect the premises of the historic castle grounds. The opera was originally funded with grants from the Norwegian Ministry of Culture.
Norway gained her independence in 1905; Norwegian independence is but 100 years old. As such, interest in history "long lost" during the 400 years of Danish and Swedish colonization, has rendered this opera - and figures such as Olav Engelbrektssen - very popular in 21st century Norway.