Hvide
Encyclopedia
Hvide was a medieval Danish
clan
, and afterwards in early modern era a Danish noble surname
of presumably one surviving branch of leaders of that clan. Before 16th century it was not used as surname. It signified the color white
.
.
A folktale of the clan name contrasts this clan against the "black" clan of Viking leaders of Skåne ("Svarte Skåning") who had Thor
as their chief god. The white islander clan were "protectees" of non-black god Odin
.
The Hvide leaders seem to have been among first to accept Christianity
, and later, the clansmen regularly rose to highest positions of Danish church, including several catholic archbishop
s of Lund
.
Several leaders of the clan and of variety of its branches are known since early 12th century. At that time, a number of Hvide leaders were dubbed as "brothers" and as sons of mythical Skjalm Hvide
, earl of Zealand in latter half of 11th century; or as his grandsons. Such genealogy is however probably a mythical invention, them generally being more distant kinsmen with each other and "brothers" in the sense of being leaders of parts of the same clan.
, was sister of the future king Valdemar I of Denmark
, a Hvide ally, and daughter of the "martyred" Knud Lavard, granddaughter of king Eric I of Denmark
and his wife Bodil, an heiress of the Ladejarl.
The couple's daughter, Kirsten Stigsdatter, was married to king Charles VII of Sweden
.
, archbishop of Lund, and lord Esbern Snare, castellan
of the Kalundborg castle, are mentioned as sons of legendary Asser the rich.
Lord High Constable Ebbe Sunesen, Lord of Knardrup (killed 1208), is on one hand counted as one of the proto-Galen, on the other hand traditionally regarded as a Hvide, and thus apparently was a relative of contemporary leaders of the Hvide clan. His seat was in northern Zealand (Knardrup manor), but he is documented to have possessed lands in Skåne too (for example, the Härlöv manor). After him, the Galen presumably increased their lands in Skåne and more or less moved to that province.
Archbishop Jakob Erlandsen
is known to have been one of the brothers who were sons of lady Sidsel, the foremother of the Scanian Galen noble family, herself a descendant and heiress of that Knardrup branch of the Hvide clan.
) was a noble family which appears to have started as cognatic offshoot of the proto-Galen branch of the Hvide clan, and settled to Skåne. Their foremother is mentioned to have been a daughter of the aforementioned Ebbe Sunesen, Lord of Knardrup and Härlöv.
and Norway ordered all nobles to take a surname. At that time, Rødkilde and Katterøe branches of the Hvide clan (according to legendary genealogies, descended from Lord High Constable Stig Andersen Hvide
) yet survived in male line, and they took the surname. These Hvide went extinct in male line already before beginning of 17th century.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
, and afterwards in early modern era a Danish noble surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
of presumably one surviving branch of leaders of that clan. Before 16th century it was not used as surname. It signified the color white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
.
Medieval Hvide clan
The Hvide were influential in the Danish island of Zealand, and occasionally in other close parts of the country, such as other Danish islands and Skåne. They had a stronghold in JørlundeJørlunde
Jørlunde is a village with a population of 311 in North Zealand in Denmark.In the late Viking age and early medieval age, Jørlunde was the center of the Hvide clan. Jørlunde Church was erected by Skjalm Hvide around the year 1100....
.
A folktale of the clan name contrasts this clan against the "black" clan of Viking leaders of Skåne ("Svarte Skåning") who had Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
as their chief god. The white islander clan were "protectees" of non-black god Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
.
The Hvide leaders seem to have been among first to accept Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, and later, the clansmen regularly rose to highest positions of Danish church, including several catholic archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
s of Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
.
Several leaders of the clan and of variety of its branches are known since early 12th century. At that time, a number of Hvide leaders were dubbed as "brothers" and as sons of mythical Skjalm Hvide
Skjalm Hvide
Skjalm Hvide is regarded as the founder of the Hvide clan, and one of the most influential and powerful chiefs in Denmark in the late Viking age and early medieval age. One of his most important strongholds was located in Jørlunde. He built the church in Jørlunde around the year 1100....
, earl of Zealand in latter half of 11th century; or as his grandsons. Such genealogy is however probably a mythical invention, them generally being more distant kinsmen with each other and "brothers" in the sense of being leaders of parts of the same clan.
Family of Stig Hvitaleder
Lord Stig Hvitaledr ("chieftain of the Hvide") was a magnate, and the clan leader, in mid-12th century. His first wife, Margrete Knudsdatter af HedebyHedeby
Hedeby |heath]]land, and býr = yard, thus "heath yard"), mentioned by Alfred the Great as aet Haethe , in German Haddeby and Haithabu, a modern spelling of the runic Heiðabý was an important trading settlement in the Danish-northern German borderland during the Viking Age...
, was sister of the future king Valdemar I of Denmark
Valdemar I of Denmark
Valdemar I of Denmark , also known as Valdemar the Great, was King of Denmark from 1157 until 1182.-Biography:...
, a Hvide ally, and daughter of the "martyred" Knud Lavard, granddaughter of king Eric I of Denmark
Eric I of Denmark
Eric I Evergood , also known as Eric the Good, , was King of Denmark following his brother Olaf I Hunger in 1095. He was a son of king Sweyn II Estridsson, by his wife Gunhild Sveinsdotter, and married Boedil Thurgotsdatter.-Biography:...
and his wife Bodil, an heiress of the Ladejarl.
The couple's daughter, Kirsten Stigsdatter, was married to king Charles VII of Sweden
Charles VII of Sweden
Charles "VII" also Carl , or Karl Sverkersson in Swedish , was ruler of Gothenland, and then King of Sweden from circa 1161 to 1167, when he was assassinated....
.
Family of Asser Rig
Brothers AbsalonAbsalon
Absalon was a Danish archbishop and statesman, who was the Bishop of Roskilde from 1158 to 1192 and Archbishop of Lund from 1178 until his death. He was the foremost politician and churchfather of Denmark in the second half of the 12th century, and was the closest advisor of King Valdemar I of...
, archbishop of Lund, and lord Esbern Snare, castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
of the Kalundborg castle, are mentioned as sons of legendary Asser the rich.
Galen clan
Apparently the Galen, whose maternal forefathers were perceived a branch of Hvide clan, settled in Skåne. At least after continuing in cognatic lines, not agnatic. The "proto"-Galen magnates had originally their seat at Knardrup in Zealand.Lord High Constable Ebbe Sunesen, Lord of Knardrup (killed 1208), is on one hand counted as one of the proto-Galen, on the other hand traditionally regarded as a Hvide, and thus apparently was a relative of contemporary leaders of the Hvide clan. His seat was in northern Zealand (Knardrup manor), but he is documented to have possessed lands in Skåne too (for example, the Härlöv manor). After him, the Galen presumably increased their lands in Skåne and more or less moved to that province.
Archbishop Jakob Erlandsen
Jakob Erlandsen
Jakob Erlandsen was a Danish Archbishop of Lund and the central character of the first great church conflict in Denmark....
is known to have been one of the brothers who were sons of lady Sidsel, the foremother of the Scanian Galen noble family, herself a descendant and heiress of that Knardrup branch of the Hvide clan.
Little family
The Litle (de ScaniaScania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
) was a noble family which appears to have started as cognatic offshoot of the proto-Galen branch of the Hvide clan, and settled to Skåne. Their foremother is mentioned to have been a daughter of the aforementioned Ebbe Sunesen, Lord of Knardrup and Härlöv.
Prelates
The Hvide clan and its relations seem to have dominated the Danish church for some century or more. Archbishops and bishops counted as sons of these clans included:- AbsalonAbsalonAbsalon was a Danish archbishop and statesman, who was the Bishop of Roskilde from 1158 to 1192 and Archbishop of Lund from 1178 until his death. He was the foremost politician and churchfather of Denmark in the second half of the 12th century, and was the closest advisor of King Valdemar I of...
, bishop of Roskilde, then archbishop of Lund - Niels Stigsen, bishop of Roskilde
- Petrus Sunonis, bishop of Roskilde
- Andreas Sunonis, archbishop of Lund
- Peder Bang, bishop of Roskilde
- Jakob ErlandsenJakob ErlandsenJakob Erlandsen was a Danish Archbishop of Lund and the central character of the first great church conflict in Denmark....
, archbishop of Lund - Karl Eriksen Röde, archbishop
Post-medieval noble family
In 153? king Frederick I of DenmarkFrederick 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...
and Norway ordered all nobles to take a surname. At that time, Rødkilde and Katterøe branches of the Hvide clan (according to legendary genealogies, descended from Lord High Constable Stig Andersen Hvide
Stig Andersen Hvide
Stig Andersen Hvide was a Danish nobleman and magnate, known as the leading man among the outlaws after the murder of King Eric V of Denmark. In Danish tradition, he is known as Marsk Stig.-Biography:...
) yet survived in male line, and they took the surname. These Hvide went extinct in male line already before beginning of 17th century.