Hamar cathedral
Encyclopedia
For the current cathedral in Hamar, see Hamar cathedral
.
Hamar Cathedral was the see of the Ancient Diocese of Hamar
. The diocese at Hamar had included much of the (modern) counties of Hedmark
, Oppland
, and Buskerud
.
Bishop Arnaldur (1124-52) returned to Norway in 1150 from Gardar, Greenland
and was appointed first Bishop of Hamar. He began to build the cathedral, which was completed about the time of Bishop Paul (1232-52). Bishop Thorfinn of Hamar
(1278-82) was exiled and died at Ter Doest in Flanders
. Thorfinn and many other bishops of the area disagreed with the sitting King Eric II of Norway regarding a number of issues, including episcopal elections. Bishop Jörund (1285-86) was transferred to Trondhjem.
In the aftermath of the Reformation in Norway, the structure was renamed Hamarhus fortress
and made into the residence of the sheriff. The cathedral was still used but fell into disrepair culminating with the Swedish army’s siege and attempted demolition in 1567, during the Northern Seven Years' War
. Swedish forces
had launched attacks into Eastern Norway, capturing Hamar
and continued towards Oslo
. The Swedes later retreated, torching Hamar on their way, destroying Hamar Cathedral and Hamarhus.
Today the ruins of Hamar Cathedral form a part of the Hedmark museum
(Hedmarksmuseet), which lies in Hamar
, Hedmark
, Norway
. The ruins of what remain of the Hamar cathedral, were originally built in Romanesque architecture
and later converted to Gothic architecture
. The distinctive arches in the cathedral ruins are covered in one of the most ambitious construction projects of its kind undertaken by the Norwegian government.
Hamar cathedral
For the current cathedral in Hamar, see Hamar cathedral.Hamar Cathedral was the see of the Ancient Diocese of Hamar. The diocese at Hamar had included much of the counties of Hedmark, Oppland, and Buskerud....
.
Hamar Cathedral was the see of the Ancient Diocese of Hamar
Ancient Diocese of Hamar
The former Norwegian Catholic diocese of Hamar existed from 1152 to the Protestant Reformation. The see was at Hamar, and the diocese included the counties of Hedmark , Oppland , and the middle part of Buskerud The former Norwegian Catholic diocese of Hamar existed from 1152 to the Protestant...
. The diocese at Hamar had included much of the (modern) counties of Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
, Oppland
Oppland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The county administration is in Lillehammer. Oppland is, together with Hedmark, one of the only two landlocked counties of Norway....
, and Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
.
Bishop Arnaldur (1124-52) returned to Norway in 1150 from Gardar, Greenland
Gardar, Greenland
Garðar was the seat of the bishop in the Norse settlements in Greenland.-Diocese of Garðar:In the sagas it is told that Sokki Þórisson, a wealthy farmer of the Brattahlíð area launched the idea of a separate bishop for Greenland in the early 12th century. He got the approval of the Norwegian King....
and was appointed first Bishop of Hamar. He began to build the cathedral, which was completed about the time of Bishop Paul (1232-52). Bishop Thorfinn of Hamar
Thorfinn of Hamar
Thorfinn of Hamar was the Bishop of the Ancient Diocese of Hamar in medieval Norway. Thorfinn was born at Trondheim in Norway, and may have been a Cistercian monk before becoming Bishop of Hamar...
(1278-82) was exiled and died at Ter Doest in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
. Thorfinn and many other bishops of the area disagreed with the sitting King Eric II of Norway regarding a number of issues, including episcopal elections. Bishop Jörund (1285-86) was transferred to Trondhjem.
In the aftermath of the Reformation in Norway, the structure was renamed Hamarhus fortress
Hamarhus
Hamarhus castle, the fortified palace of the bishop, in Hamar was destroyed in 1570 by the Swedish armies during the Nordic Seven Years' War.-References:* History of the Norwegian People by Knut Gjerset, The MacMillan Company, 1915, Volumes II...
and made into the residence of the sheriff. The cathedral was still used but fell into disrepair culminating with the Swedish army’s siege and attempted demolition in 1567, during the Northern Seven Years' War
Northern Seven Years' War
The Northern Seven Years' War was the war between Kingdom of Sweden and a coalition of Denmark–Norway, Lübeck and the Polish–Lithuanian union, fought between 1563 and 1570...
. Swedish forces
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
had launched attacks into Eastern Norway, capturing Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
and continued towards Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. The Swedes later retreated, torching Hamar on their way, destroying Hamar Cathedral and Hamarhus.
Today the ruins of Hamar Cathedral form a part of the Hedmark museum
Hedmark museum
The Hedmark Museum in Hamar, Norway is a regional museum for the municipalities of Stange, Hamar , Løten, and Ringsaker in central eastern Norway...
(Hedmarksmuseet), which lies in Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
, Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
, 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...
. The ruins of what remain of the Hamar cathedral, were originally built in Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
and later converted to Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
. The distinctive arches in the cathedral ruins are covered in one of the most ambitious construction projects of its kind undertaken by the Norwegian government.
Other sources
- Brunsvik, Hilde En guide til Oslo domkirke (2003)