ASSALONNE, ARCIVESCOVO DI LUND (ABSALON)

**ASSALONNE, archbishop of LUND (Absalon).** - Primate of Denmark and Sweden, born in 1128 from a noble family, died on 21 March 1201 and buried in the monastery of Sorø, which he founded, near Copenhagen. He completed his studies in Paris and, upon returning to his homeland in 1156, immediately took an active part in political life as an advisor and staunch supporter of the great king Valdemar (1157–82) in the work of unifying the kingdom of Denmark. In 1157 bishop of Roskilde and Seeland, in 1177 he was appointed to the primatial see of Lund, succeeding Archbishop Eskil. During the schism of 1159, A. sided with Alexander III. Extensive is Assalon’s work as both a Churchman and a statesman: he effectively contributed to the spread and consolidation of Christianity in the Scandinavian countries, founded monasteries and cities (the founding of Copenhagen is to his credit), and greatly promoted culture, particularly the great historian of medieval Denmark, Saxo Grammaticus, who dedicated his *Gesta Danorum* to A. and gave a large part of his narrative to his patron. After Valdemar’s death, with the new sovereign Canute VI, Assalon’s influence grew even greater, and for twenty years he was the true political leader of the kingdom.