Håkon (Archbishop)

Håkon († August 18, 1267 in Trondheim ) was first bishop of Oslo , later archbishop of Nidaros .

Nothing is known about his family or his origins. But he had a son named Tore Håkonsson (or Biskopsson). He was one of the most important men at the end of the 13th century. He was a baron and chancellor. The historian Edvard Bull the Elder (1881–1931) believed that Håkon was married. Because a person born out of wedlock could never have advanced to such a high position in the state. If Håkon really was married, he was the last married bishop in Norway. But that must remain speculation; because marital status was by no means a mandatory requirement for a secular career.

Håkon was bishop of Oslo from 1247 and was elected to succeed Einar Smjørbak Gunnarssons in 1267 , but only exercised his office for a few months until his death.

He was initially the school director and member of the cathedral chapter at Hallvardkrche in Oslo. In 1248 he was appointed bishop by Archbishop Sigurd . When the archbishop's chair in Nidaros became vacant after the death of Einar Smjørbak in 1263 , the cathedral chapter proposed the abbot of Tautra Birger as his successor. But this choice was not what King Magnus lagabætir wanted . The Pope also rejected the proposal and appointed four Norwegian abbots to elect the new bishop. They elected Bishop Håkon of Oslo, which the king also agreed. Since he was already a bishop, there was no need for ordination in Rome. In 1266 the Pope allowed the bishops of Bergen and Stavanger to hand over the pallium to the new archbishop and to take the oath of office from him. The official inauguration took place on Maundy Thursday (April 14th) 1267 in the cathedral church of Nidaros . On this occasion the new archbishop also consecrated Jörundur Þorsteinsson as bishop for the diocese of Hólar in Iceland. But on August 18th of the same year, Bishop Håkon died.

As Bishop of Oslo, he endowed the cathedral chapter there with a large amount of land. A foundation letter from 1264 on land ownership obliged the canons to regularly read spiritual masses for him and his mother in return and to feed 30 poor people on the day of his death. He was also on good terms with the king. He was the head of the delegation that Ingeborg , the daughter of King Erik Plovpenning of Denmark, was to bring to Norway for her marriage to Magnus lagabætir. He also successfully campaigned for Magnus to be crowned at his wedding.

Remarks

↑ During this time it happened that priests concluded secular marriage contracts without a church wedding. At the episcopal ordination, the table and bed were separated . Bishop Jón Arason was married to Helga Sigurðardóttir, in turn daughter of a priest, and had nine children with her. When he became bishop, he separated from her and gave her a large court.
↑ Dybdahl writes that he ordained two bishops for Iceland. Since Iceland only had two dioceses, only the Skálholt diocese is considered. But Sigvarður Þéttmarsson was bishop there until 1268. In the meantime he had become so sick that Bishop Jörundur sent Árni Þorláksson to Skálholt in 1267 to manage the official business. He became bishop of Skálholt in 1269.

literature

Audun Dybdahl: Article “Håkon” in Norsk biografisk leksikon , accessed on March 11, 2011.

personal data
SURNAME	Håkon
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Bishop of Oslo and briefly Archbishop of Nidaros
DATE OF BIRTH	12th century or 13th century
DATE OF DEATH	August 18, 1267
Place of death	Trondheim

[Bischofsehe-1] During this time it happened that priests concluded secular marriage contracts without a church wedding. At the episcopal ordination, the table and bed were separated . Bishop Jón Arason was married to Helga Sigurðardóttir, in turn daughter of a priest, and had nine children with her. When he became bishop, he separated from her and gave her a large court.

[bischof-2] Dybdahl writes that he ordained two bishops for Iceland. Since Iceland only had two dioceses, only the Skálholt diocese is considered. But Sigvarður Þéttmarsson was bishop there until 1268. In the meantime he had become so sick that Bishop Jörundur sent Árni Þorláksson to Skálholt in 1267 to manage the official business. He became bishop of Skálholt in 1269.