29 Facts About Olav Engelbrektsson

Olav Engelbrektsson was the last Roman Catholic to be the Archbishop of Norway before he fled to exile in 1537.

Olav Engelbrektsson's reputation did not improve after 1814, when Norway made its declaration of independence from Denmark, because he was still blamed for promoting the Catholic Church at the expense of Norwegian independence.

Olav Engelbrektsson is believed to have been born at Trondenes near Harstad in Troms around 1480 as the son of Engelbrekt Gunnarsson and Jorunn.

Olav Engelbrektsson kept getting in arguments and fights with the Danish bailiff Lasse Skjold and eventually killed him.

Young Olav was raised in a home that was always opposing the Danish overseers, and that might have been one of the several influences of his attitude towards the Danes in his years as the archbishop.

Olav Engelbrektsson was from an old landowning family in Romerike, and it is often claimed that he and his family belonged to the gentry.

Olav Engelbrektsson was enrolled in 1503 at the University of Rostock in Germany, which at that time had between 400 and 500 students.

Olav Engelbrektsson was already ordained as a priest but he wanted to continue his studies.

Olav Engelbrektsson soon became the leader of the Norwegian Collegiate Club, called in the memory of the martyred King of Norway, Olav the Holy.

Olav Engelbrektsson became acquainted with, among others, the brothers from Sweden, Johannes Magnus and Olaus Magnus.

Olav Engelbrektsson were especially good friends with another Swede, Laurentius Andreae, the archdeacon of Uppsala who quickly became one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation of Sweden under Gustavus Vasa.

Olav Engelbrektsson was responsible for the production of the sermons in the Nidaros Cathedral and probably sat on the editorial staff of the book for the Mass at the cathedral, the, the first book printed in the Norwegian language.

Olav Engelbrektsson began the complete reconstruction of the Archbishop's Palace, whose hall in the north wing and parts of the west wing had been destroyed by the Danish troops in 1532.

On his way to Rome, Olav Engelbrektsson stopped in Mechelen, Flanders, for a visit with the King, who had been living in exile in the Duchy of Burgundy, because Christian II was still legally the King of Norway.

Olav Engelbrektsson hailed the King, pledged his allegiance to him and delivered the Cathedral Chapter's letter to him.

Olav Engelbrektsson constantly worked to keep Nidaros from holding the coronation of Frederick as the King of Norway and he managed to delay it three times.

Olav Engelbrektsson constantly tried to break Norway away from the bonds that bound her to Denmark but he constantly failed.

Olav Engelbrektsson's failures paved the way for the submission of Norway to the Danish crown, marking the end of both Norwegian independence and Catholicism.

Olav Engelbrektsson even began to be suspicious when Lunge expressed his sympathy for the teachings of Martin Luther and others, which had made enemies out of the Bishop of Bergen, Olav Torkelsson, and the Bishop of Stavanger, Hoskuld Hoskuldsson.

Olav Engelbrektsson offered it to Lunge and he accepted it, turning it into his personal residence, Lungegarden.

Olav Engelbrektsson went out in the open against him and his mother-in-law, Inger Ottesdotter Romer, by ordering the looting of Austratt and seizing the control of its associated properties, while Lady Inger fled to Bergen.

Olav Engelbrektsson had been promised support from Christian II's brother-in-law, Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, but the support did not materialize.

In 1536, Olav Engelbrektsson fled Steinvikholm Castle to Nidarholm Abbey on Munkholmen, a small island just outside Trondheim, and spent the winter there.

One of the paragraphs of the agreement specifically referred to Olav Engelbrektsson, allowing him the possibility of emigration to any country of his choice with his personal belongings.

Olav Engelbrektsson took the archives of the archdiocese, including the, with him.

Olav Engelbrektsson is buried under the high altar of the Church of Saint Gommaire in Lierre.

Olav Engelbrektsson's grave is marked by a plaque, unveiled on 21 May 2003 by Queen Sonja of Norway on her official visit to Belgium and made by a resident of Trondheim, Marit Wiklund.

The drama of the Olav Engelbrektsson saga, including the violent murder of Niels Lykke, is reenacted in a modern opera in Trondheim.

Olav Engelbrektsson introduced vodka to Norway as a universal remedy and drink.