Svendborg
Encyclopedia
Svendborg (ˈsfɛnbɒːˀ) is a town on the island of Funen
in south-central Denmark
. The town is in Svendborg municipality
(population 58,998 in 2010). Svendborg is the second-largest city on Funen and has a population of 27,009 (1 January 2011).
In 2000 Svendborg was declared "Town of the year" in Denmark, and in 2003 celebrated its 750th anniversary as a market town
.
Svendborg is also home to the “Naturama” museum, which has exhibitions of all kinds of stuffed animals e.g. birds and bears.
The largest container ship
company in the world, A.P. Møller-Mærsk has its origins in Svendborg, in the "Villa Anna", and it remains in the hands of Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller
.
can be found in Svendborg. Svendborg is also the household of Svendborg Gymnasium
which is one of the largest Upper Secondary Schools in Denmark with 1,000 students and 100 teachers. Furthermore it also have Svendborg Erhvervsskole, which is the largest educational institute in South Fyn.
The first recorded mention of Svendborg occurred in 1229 in a letter by Valdemar the Victorious
, where he refers to the fortification, known as Svinæburgh. The explanations for this early form of the name varies. Some attribute the name to the excessive numbers of pig
s (Danish: svin) in the area, others to large numbers of Harbour Porpoise
s (Danish: marsvin), while still others hold that the name simply implies that it is a fortress located by the sound.
In 1236, the Greyfriars monastery
in Svendborg was established. The Greyfriars
would be part of the city for the next 300 years, until the Protestant reformation
in 1536. The ruins of the monastery were partly excavated in 2007.
In 1253, the city was granted market town
privileges by King Christopher I
.
During Medieval times
the city was fortified with walls and moats. The defense system also included a small number of fortresses. Most historical facts about the medieval defense system, including the locations of fortifications, are disputed, as little archaeological evidence has been generated. In spite of this, it is a popular theory that the three towers in the coat of arms are the three fortifications("Skattertårnet", "Kyseborg" and a third unnamed one).
During the time of the Protestant reformation
and the Count's Feud
in the 1530s, the citizens of Svendborg joined forces with the King
. Ørkild Castle, located just east of Svendborg, was property of the bishop of Odense
, who was less than popular among the citizens of the city. The tension resulted in the castle being seized and burned down by an angry mob in collaboration with the King's forces. The King's forces would later, after ending their north-going campaign on Funen, return to pillage and plunder Svendborg.
After 1536, Svendborg went through a brief period of progress, but it would not last for long. In the following 250 years, the city would have to face various setbacks in its development, such as plague
, hostile occupations and one major fire.
It was not until the end of the war with England
and the Industrial Revolution
in the early 19th century that the city started to progress quickly. The population grew from a mere 1,942 people in 1801 to a population of more than 11,500 in 1901. This development was followed by improvement of the infrastructure, such as railway connections being established to Odense
, Faaborg
and Nyborg
, improvement of the local roads and the establishment of a real harbour suited for extensive trading, since goods could now easily be transported there. In the middle of the 19th century an explosion of industrialization happened, and all kinds of factories, from engineering factories to breweries were established. Modern gas and water supplies were established.
In the late 19th century, with industry well established, it was necessary to accommodate the growing population. This led to numerous new schools being founded. Furthermore a hospital was established in 1871 and expanded in 1891.
Funen
Funen , with a size of 2,984 km² , is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 inhabitants . The main city is Odense, connected to the...
in south-central Denmark
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...
. The town is in Svendborg municipality
Svendborg municipality
Svendborg municipality is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the southeast coast of the island of Funen, as well as on the islands of Drejø, Hjortø, Skarø, Thurø, and Tåsinge off Funen's southeastern shores in south-central Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 418 km², and has...
(population 58,998 in 2010). Svendborg is the second-largest city on Funen and has a population of 27,009 (1 January 2011).
In 2000 Svendborg was declared "Town of the year" in Denmark, and in 2003 celebrated its 750th anniversary as a market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
.
Svendborg is also home to the “Naturama” museum, which has exhibitions of all kinds of stuffed animals e.g. birds and bears.
The largest container ship
Container ship
Container ships are cargo ships that carry all of their load in truck-size intermodal containers, in a technique called containerization. They form a common means of commercial intermodal freight transport.-History:...
company in the world, A.P. Møller-Mærsk has its origins in Svendborg, in the "Villa Anna", and it remains in the hands of Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller
Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller
Arnold Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, is a Danish shipping magnate.-Personal life:Møller is the son of Arnold Peter Møller – founder of the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group – and an American, Chastine Estelle Roberta McKinney. He was married to his high-school sweetheart Emma Neergaard Rasmussen from 1940...
.
Education
A branch of University College LillebaeltUniversity College Lillebaelt
University College Lillebaelt is one of eight new regional organizations of different study sites in Denmark offering bachelor courses of all kinds in the southwest part of Denmark...
can be found in Svendborg. Svendborg is also the household of Svendborg Gymnasium
Svendborg Gymnasium
is one of the largest Upper Secondary Schools in Denmark with 1,000 students and 100 teachers. The school has two academically oriented general upper secondary programmes:* the 3-year Upper Secondary School Leaving Examination and...
which is one of the largest Upper Secondary Schools in Denmark with 1,000 students and 100 teachers. Furthermore it also have Svendborg Erhvervsskole, which is the largest educational institute in South Fyn.
History
Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II , called Valdemar the Victorious or Valdemar the Conqueror , was the King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. The nickname Sejr is a later invention and was not used during the King's own lifetime...
, where he refers to the fortification, known as Svinæburgh. The explanations for this early form of the name varies. Some attribute the name to the excessive numbers of pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
s (Danish: svin) in the area, others to large numbers of Harbour Porpoise
Harbour Porpoise
The harbour porpoise is one of six species of porpoise. It is one of the smallest marine mammals. As its name implies, it stays close to coastal areas or river estuaries, and as such, is the most familiar porpoise to whale watchers. This porpoise often ventures up rivers, and has been seen...
s (Danish: marsvin), while still others hold that the name simply implies that it is a fortress located by the sound.
In 1236, the Greyfriars monastery
Svendborg Friary
Svendborg Friary was a Franciscan friary in Svendborg, on the island of Funen, in the present Region of Southern Denmark, and was one of the earliest Franciscan foundations in Denmark. Like almost all Danish religious houses it was dissolved during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.-...
in Svendborg was established. The Greyfriars
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
would be part of the city for the next 300 years, until the Protestant reformation
Reformation in Denmark
The Reformation in Denmark–Norway and Holstein was the transition from Roman Catholicism to Lutheranism in the realms ruled by the Copenhagen-based House of Oldenburg in the first half of the sixteenth century...
in 1536. The ruins of the monastery were partly excavated in 2007.
In 1253, the city was granted market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
privileges by King Christopher I
Christopher I of Denmark
Christopher I was King of Denmark between 1252 and 1259. He was the son of Valdemar II of Denmark by his wife, Infanta Berengária of Portugal. He succeeded his brothers Eric IV Plovpenning and Abel of Denmark on the throne. Christopher was elected King upon the death of his older brother Abel in...
.
During Medieval times
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
the city was fortified with walls and moats. The defense system also included a small number of fortresses. Most historical facts about the medieval defense system, including the locations of fortifications, are disputed, as little archaeological evidence has been generated. In spite of this, it is a popular theory that the three towers in the coat of arms are the three fortifications("Skattertårnet", "Kyseborg" and a third unnamed one).
During the time of the Protestant reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
and the Count's Feud
Count's Feud
The Count's Feud , also called the Count's War, was a civil war that raged in Denmark in 1534–36 and brought about the Reformation in Denmark...
in the 1530s, the citizens of Svendborg joined forces with the King
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II was King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden , during the Kalmar Union.-Background:...
. Ørkild Castle, located just east of Svendborg, was property of the bishop of Odense
Odense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
, who was less than popular among the citizens of the city. The tension resulted in the castle being seized and burned down by an angry mob in collaboration with the King's forces. The King's forces would later, after ending their north-going campaign on Funen, return to pillage and plunder Svendborg.
After 1536, Svendborg went through a brief period of progress, but it would not last for long. In the following 250 years, the city would have to face various setbacks in its development, such as plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
, hostile occupations and one major fire.
It was not until the end of the war with England
Gunboat War
The Gunboat War was the naval conflict between Denmark–Norway and the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. The war's name is derived from the Danish tactic of employing small gunboats against the conventional Royal Navy...
and the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
in the early 19th century that the city started to progress quickly. The population grew from a mere 1,942 people in 1801 to a population of more than 11,500 in 1901. This development was followed by improvement of the infrastructure, such as railway connections being established to Odense
Odense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
, Faaborg
Faaborg
Faaborg or Fåborg is a Danish town with a population of 7,178 , located in Faaborg-Midtfyn municipality on the island of Funen. It was formerly the seat of Faaborg municipality. The seat of the new municipality is Ringe...
and Nyborg
Nyborg
Nyborg is a city in central Denmark, located in Nyborg Municipality on the island of Funen and with a population of 16,492 . Nyborg is one of the 14 large municipalities created on 1 January 2007...
, improvement of the local roads and the establishment of a real harbour suited for extensive trading, since goods could now easily be transported there. In the middle of the 19th century an explosion of industrialization happened, and all kinds of factories, from engineering factories to breweries were established. Modern gas and water supplies were established.
In the late 19th century, with industry well established, it was necessary to accommodate the growing population. This led to numerous new schools being founded. Furthermore a hospital was established in 1871 and expanded in 1891.