Stefan (archbishop of Uppsala)
Encyclopedia
Stefan was created the first Archbishop of Uppsala
in Sweden
in the year 1164, a post he held until his death.
Stefan was a Cistercian monk from Alvastra monastery (of which he was one of the founders in 1143). His origin is not known, but it is believed that he was originally from England or Germany because many monks from the monastery were from those countries and because his name was rather uncommon in Sweden at that time.
In 1164 Stefan travelled to Sens
in France to meet Pope Alexander III
. The Pope was seeking refuge in Sens because of disputes in Rome. Present in Sens was another refugee: the Archbishop of Lund (Denmark), Eskil, who had been rooting for the wrong king in Denmark and thus forced in exile.
The Pope agreed to grant Sweden an Archbishop. This matter had already been discussed a decade earlier, but because of civil conflicts it never got realized. A pallium
had however been made in Lund
for that occasion, and Eskild had brought it with him when he left Denmark. The pallium was now given to Stefan.
The Archbishop of Lund was declared primate
of Uppsala, thereby given the right to ordain the Archbishop of Uppsala. The primate condition was being upheld for a century until political conflicts between the two countries led the Uppsala archbishopric to free itself, and thereafter the Archbishop would travel to Rome
to be ordained by the Pope.
What is likely to be a protocol from the Sens meeting is still in existence at the Swedish Royal Library
.
Archbishop of Uppsala
The Archbishop of Uppsala has been the primate in Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward under the Lutheran church.- Historical overview :...
in Sweden
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....
in the year 1164, a post he held until his death.
Stefan was a Cistercian monk from Alvastra monastery (of which he was one of the founders in 1143). His origin is not known, but it is believed that he was originally from England or Germany because many monks from the monastery were from those countries and because his name was rather uncommon in Sweden at that time.
In 1164 Stefan travelled to Sens
Sens
Sens is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.Sens is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is crossed by the Yonne and the Vanne, which empties into the Yonne here.-History:...
in France to meet Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III , born Rolando of Siena, was Pope from 1159 to 1181. He is noted in history for laying the foundation stone for the Notre Dame de Paris.-Church career:...
. The Pope was seeking refuge in Sens because of disputes in Rome. Present in Sens was another refugee: the Archbishop of Lund (Denmark), Eskil, who had been rooting for the wrong king in Denmark and thus forced in exile.
The Pope agreed to grant Sweden an Archbishop. This matter had already been discussed a decade earlier, but because of civil conflicts it never got realized. A pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
had however been made in 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...
for that occasion, and Eskild had brought it with him when he left Denmark. The pallium was now given to Stefan.
The Archbishop of Lund was declared primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of Uppsala, thereby given the right to ordain the Archbishop of Uppsala. The primate condition was being upheld for a century until political conflicts between the two countries led the Uppsala archbishopric to free itself, and thereafter the Archbishop would travel to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to be ordained by the Pope.
What is likely to be a protocol from the Sens meeting is still in existence at the Swedish Royal Library
Swedish Royal Library
The National Library of Sweden is the national library of Sweden. As such it collects and preserves all domestic printed and audio-visual materials in Swedish, as well as content with Swedish association published abroad. Being a research library, it also has major collections of literature in...
.