Halsted Priory
Encyclopedia
Halsted Priory was a small Benedictine house located near Nakskov
, on the island of Lolland
, Denmark.
times crown property. An old granite parish church had been built on the site in the 12th century. A papal recognition of the priory was written in 1177. Halsted is next mentioned by name in Valdemar Sejr's 1231 inventory (Danish: jordebog). Erik Plovpenny
's daughter Jutta came into possession of Halsted in 1284 and then unexpectedly died the same year. She willed it to the abbot of the Benedictine
priory in Ringsted
. The existing church at Halsted was constructed arounnd the earlier church in conjunction with the building of the daughter monstery which was dedicated to St. Samson the Breton. The church became a pilgrimage site for commoners and royals alike for the veneration of St. Samson, because the church had a reliquary with his head in it.
The priory was built in a roughly rectangular shape with space for a dormitory, refectory, kitchens, storage, cellars, and space for lay brothers. No contemporary description of Halsted Priory survives. Given the time period in which it was built, it can safely be said that the buildings were built in Gothic style out of brick as evidenced by the church which still stands today. The interior spaces had valuted roofs. Halsted was a small house, but to survive must have had at least a few income properties which over the centuries came to the monastery from wills or letters of gift in return for prayers for the souls of the recently departed, though no such letters have survived to the present.
The only historical event known to involve the priory was when Prince Erik, the son of Christoffer II lay at Halsted for 14 days before being moved to his final resting place at Sorø Abbey
.
In 1510 the Hanseatic League
sacked nearby Nakskov
and then sailed up the fjord to Halsted where they set fire to the priory burning the east and west ranges. The priory archives have all been lost except for a single letter of indulgence dated 1517. The priory was restored and was made an abbey, but the winds of change were blowing in Denmark and would within a decade empty the priory permanently.
By the 1520s many Danes were extremely unhappy with the financial burdens the Catholic
church imposed on them. In addtiton to forced payment of tithes and fees for every conceivable service, peasant tenants were also required to work fields and farms owned by the many religious institutions that were a part of every day life in Denmark at the time. Christian II, Denmark's last Catholic king, was forced from the throne and exiled leaving Frederick I
on the throne. Frederik attempted to find a middle ground between the new fervent Lutherans and the fiercely traditional Catholics. Funds used to support small religious houses like Halsted, simply evaporated. Being a daughter house, made the priory vulnerable to funding cuts that made it imposssible for the small out of the way priory to continue. Denmark became Lutheran in October 1536 under Christian III. Unlike many religious institutions Halsted was permitted to keep its monks until 1537 when it reverted to the crown.
The abbey was owned by a succession of nobles including queens and crown princes until 1721. In 1591 the priory complex was expanded, while in the possession of Queen Sophia, the widow of Frederick II
. A new main building including a grand staircase and prison tower were constructed. By 1719 the older buildings were in sad disrepair as noted in a crown inventory. The buildings were put into order by 1721 when the great naval hero Niels Juel
Vind was rewarded with Halsted Priory by Frederick V
for his service to the crown. Juel renamed the property Juellinge. The modern building called Halsted Priory was constructed in 1847-1849 with Gothic elements to recall the original building on the site.
Juellinge was sold by the Juel Vind family in 1921 and the name Halsted Priory was restored to the property. Only the church remains of the old monastery complex, the oldest church on Lolland
.
Jorgensen, Ellen. 'Helgendyrkelse i Danmark'. (Worship of Saints in Denmark).
Nakskov
Nakskov is a town in south Denmark. It is in Lolland municipality in Region Sjælland on the western coast of the island of Lolland. The town has a population of 13,560 . To the west is Nakskov Fjord, an inlet from the Langeland Belt that runs between the islands of Lolland and Langeland...
, on the island of Lolland
Lolland
Lolland is the fourth largest island of Denmark, with an area of 1,243 square kilometers . Located in the Baltic sea, it is part of Region Sjælland...
, Denmark.
History
Halsted Priory was from VikingViking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
times crown property. An old granite parish church had been built on the site in the 12th century. A papal recognition of the priory was written in 1177. Halsted is next mentioned by name in Valdemar Sejr's 1231 inventory (Danish: jordebog). Erik Plovpenny
Eric II of Denmark
Eric II the Memorable was king of Denmark between 1134 and 1137. Eric was an illegitimate son of Eric I of Denmark, who ruled Denmark from 1095 to 1103. Eric the Memorable rebelled against his uncle Niels of Denmark, and was declared king in 1134. He punished his adversaries severely, and...
's daughter Jutta came into possession of Halsted in 1284 and then unexpectedly died the same year. She willed it to the abbot of the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
priory in Ringsted
Ringsted
Ringsted, a city in Ringsted municipality, is in the middle of the Danish island of Zealand. The municipal population is about 31,000 and the city population is 21,151 .Ringsted is approximately 60 km from Copenhagen.-Modern hotspot:...
. The existing church at Halsted was constructed arounnd the earlier church in conjunction with the building of the daughter monstery which was dedicated to St. Samson the Breton. The church became a pilgrimage site for commoners and royals alike for the veneration of St. Samson, because the church had a reliquary with his head in it.
The priory was built in a roughly rectangular shape with space for a dormitory, refectory, kitchens, storage, cellars, and space for lay brothers. No contemporary description of Halsted Priory survives. Given the time period in which it was built, it can safely be said that the buildings were built in Gothic style out of brick as evidenced by the church which still stands today. The interior spaces had valuted roofs. Halsted was a small house, but to survive must have had at least a few income properties which over the centuries came to the monastery from wills or letters of gift in return for prayers for the souls of the recently departed, though no such letters have survived to the present.
The only historical event known to involve the priory was when Prince Erik, the son of Christoffer II lay at Halsted for 14 days before being moved to his final resting place at Sorø Abbey
Sorø Abbey
Sorø Abbey was the preeminent and wealthiest monastic house in all of Denmark during the Middle Ages. It was located in the town of Sorø in central Zealand.- History :...
.
In 1510 the Hanseatic League
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
sacked nearby Nakskov
Nakskov
Nakskov is a town in south Denmark. It is in Lolland municipality in Region Sjælland on the western coast of the island of Lolland. The town has a population of 13,560 . To the west is Nakskov Fjord, an inlet from the Langeland Belt that runs between the islands of Lolland and Langeland...
and then sailed up the fjord to Halsted where they set fire to the priory burning the east and west ranges. The priory archives have all been lost except for a single letter of indulgence dated 1517. The priory was restored and was made an abbey, but the winds of change were blowing in Denmark and would within a decade empty the priory permanently.
By the 1520s many Danes were extremely unhappy with the financial burdens the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
church imposed on them. In addtiton to forced payment of tithes and fees for every conceivable service, peasant tenants were also required to work fields and farms owned by the many religious institutions that were a part of every day life in Denmark at the time. Christian II, Denmark's last Catholic king, was forced from the throne and exiled leaving Frederick I
Frederick I of Denmark
Frederick I of Denmark and Norway was the King of Denmark and Norway. The name is also spelled Friedrich in German, Frederik in Danish, and Fredrik in Swedish and Norwegian...
on the throne. Frederik attempted to find a middle ground between the new fervent Lutherans and the fiercely traditional Catholics. Funds used to support small religious houses like Halsted, simply evaporated. Being a daughter house, made the priory vulnerable to funding cuts that made it imposssible for the small out of the way priory to continue. Denmark became Lutheran in October 1536 under Christian III. Unlike many religious institutions Halsted was permitted to keep its monks until 1537 when it reverted to the crown.
The abbey was owned by a succession of nobles including queens and crown princes until 1721. In 1591 the priory complex was expanded, while in the possession of Queen Sophia, the widow of Frederick II
Frederick II of Denmark
Frederick II was King of Denmark and Norway and duke of Schleswig from 1559 until his death.-King of Denmark:Frederick II was the son of King Christian III of Denmark and Norway and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. Frederick II stands as the typical renaissance ruler of Denmark. Unlike his father, he...
. A new main building including a grand staircase and prison tower were constructed. By 1719 the older buildings were in sad disrepair as noted in a crown inventory. The buildings were put into order by 1721 when the great naval hero Niels Juel
Niels Juel
Niels Juel was a Dano–Norwegian admiral. He was the brother of the diplomat Jens Juel.-Biography:Niels Juel was born the son of Erik Juel and Sophie Clausdatter Sehested, both were descendant of Danish nobility, who lived in Jutland where the father had a career as a local functionary and judge...
Vind was rewarded with Halsted Priory by Frederick V
Frederick V of Denmark
Frederick V was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.-Early life:...
for his service to the crown. Juel renamed the property Juellinge. The modern building called Halsted Priory was constructed in 1847-1849 with Gothic elements to recall the original building on the site.
Juellinge was sold by the Juel Vind family in 1921 and the name Halsted Priory was restored to the property. Only the church remains of the old monastery complex, the oldest church on Lolland
Lolland
Lolland is the fourth largest island of Denmark, with an area of 1,243 square kilometers . Located in the Baltic sea, it is part of Region Sjælland...
.
Sources
- http://www.da.wikipedia.org/halsted_kloster Halsted Priory
- Salmonsens Conversationslexikon 2nd ed. 'Halsted Kloster'. p720
Jorgensen, Ellen. 'Helgendyrkelse i Danmark'. (Worship of Saints in Denmark).