Sonderborg Castle: The Wars, the Castle Evolves

A Handle on Danish History. So many memorials, so little background.
Updated to 2013

Denmark has endured / participated in numerous wars, as have all other European and other countries. Its castles and the decor preserve periods in time.  Sometimes the preservation is not optimal.  Take, for example, portraits in great halls that leave much to be desired.

Pick a pose like a peck of pickled peppers.  Is this Claes Ralamb, as shown below in the thumbnail -- Claes Brodersson Ralamb, the Swedish diplomat at a time when Denmark was under Sweden's thumb? At first look, we though so.  Visit Sonderborg castle,and see this commemorative portrait. It looks much like the pose of one Claes Brodersson Ralamb, Swedish diplomat.

Wrong.  Went back to my log, however, and had written that it was one Christian August of Lubeck 1673-1726, Herting Frederick IV's younger brother, and First Bishop of Lubeck by Anton Gunthen Hertig of Oldenburg or something, writing bad. Go to Images and find him there.  Note his pose, but the Sonderborg impossibly distorts the the right arm, the left hand so huge,  Somebody redid, or the original artist was inept.

Christian August, 1st Bishop of Lubeck 1673-1726

Portraits:  Wealth does not always buy quality. Who knows the peculiar story behind this oil portrait, a seeming photo-shopped-looking travesty?

Keep careful notes.  This looked so like Claes. His real portrait (we believe from credits in Saudi Aramco World's article by Jonathan Stubbs, The Ralamb Mission, March-April 2013), hangs in the Nordiska Museet in Stockholm.

Fair use thumbnail of Claes Brodersson Ralamb:

Claes Brodersson Ralamb as shown in (we understand) the Nordiska Museet in Stockholm, brown wig, Swedish diplomat, 17th Century

Even the facial features look similar.  Perhapas someone could fund a proper copy of the Christian August portrait, after seeing Images and also at Wikipedia.  The absurdity at Sonderborg should be replaced. 

• This Ralamb was a baron, a diplomat, one serving his Swedish sovereign(s) in the mid-17th Century, when Denmark was under the thumb of the Swedish Empire in the Baltic. He engaged in a fruitful mission to Constantinople when the Ottoman Empire was looming, got what Sweden needed;  and deserves better, even in Denmark when Denmark was under the thumb of Sweden.  Do read the article, and do a Google Images search.
• So Ralamb was not a victim of malpractice by portrait, but Christian August was. Whoever copied this, or executed a very bad life-sitting, should be historically throttled. Whoever hung it in Sonderborg should be closely questioned. Revenge by portrait?

Or is it Johann Mathias Schulenberg, just found serendipity at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fraustadt#mediaviewer/File:Johann_Matthias_von_der_Schulenburg.jpg/, public domain at

Giovanni Antonio Guardi - http://www.kah-bonn.de/ausstellungen/venezia/bild_28schulenburg.htm

The hand position must have been a favorite.

2.  Tracking history in castles.

Several stand out after the Medieval Era, however, as pivotal to their history in relatively modern times. For Danish Medieval History, customs, laws, see http://omacl.org/DanishHistory/introduction1.html/  Note especially in the culture area, the transition from blood feud revenge, to fees in law.  Not murder for murder any more, but one must pay the price.  When did capital punishment take over again?

1158:  Valdemar the Great began the castle structure with a Fortified Tower.  Later, the Blue Tower was added, King Christian II was imprisoned at the Castle, legend says in the Blue Tower, see http://www.worldlingo.com/ma/enwiki/en/S%C3%B8nderborg_Castle/.  The Blue Tower was demolished, in 1755. Renovations? Why was it called the Blue Tower?

1538 -- Imprisonment.

King Christian II, farewells, on way to imprisonment at Sonderborg Castle 1538-1555

A tower at Sonderborg was used as a prison.  Probably King Christian II, seen in the painting, was not kept in a place like this during his 17-year imprisonment here starting in 1538, and enjoyed mobility and fitting quarters, while being closely guarded. We were told not to believe the tale about his circling a table repeatedly, and wearing a groove around its top with his finger. 

Tower, prison, Sonderborg Slot, DK

3.   Sonderborg Castle by location was pivotal to the outcomes of important wars.

Two eras in the 19th Century stand out as relevant to Sonderborg, on the Southern Jutland peninsula, with German borders now nearby.

The old Schleswig-Holstein region disputes, there at the base of the Danish peninsula and with no natural boundary against Germany, were in 1920 resolved by referendum.  The referendum fell to Germany's favor.  There were years of invasions and counterattacks, with time passing, and a mixed population pulled both ways, finally just wanting resolution.

It was only with that referendum after WWI that lines were firmly redrawn, the invading forces from years ago getting what they wanted, with so much time passing.  People get tired. This buffer zone of mixed nationals, however, could have meant a less severe treatment of the Danish population and its Jews in WWII.

3.1. The first is the First Schleswig War, 1848-1850.

Look at a map: the peninsula that made up southern mainland Denmark is known as Schleswig-Holstein, with a border with Germany that ebbed and flowed with powers. Southern Jutland.

1848. Napoleon's wars seem to have sparked nationalisms elsewhere, and these areas got caught in the Pushmi-Pullyu of Germanic identification or Norse. The Germans to the south wanted a united area, united with Germany. The Prussians joined with the other more rural German identifiers, and this led to the war against Denmark holding those areas, see details at ://www.onwar.com/aced/nation/day/denmark/fschleswig1848.htm/ Denmark temporarily prevailed, but with conditions that left vague obligations with open doors to later changes.

Sonderborg Castle, Denmark, airy soldiers' billet,  

How many were housed inside these domes with raised roofs. 

Sonderborg Castle, DK, billet cooking smoke hole, rampart grounds

The ramparts are extensive, and the different areas are connected by below-ground open trenches, and also tunnels, for dashing about. Some have some sound effects on as you move about.

Large receptacle with press, rotator. What? Sonderborg Slot, Denmark

It is important to take pictures of things you don't understand.

3.2. Battle of Dybboel, or  Dybbel

1864. Without the 1848 war resolving anything seriously, issues arose again about boundaries and nationalism in 1864. After back and forth, the Second Schleswig War ultimately came to a head at the Battle of Dybboel, near Sunderborg. See ://www.milhist.dk/start/uk_slesvigwars.htm/ The Danes lost, but celebrate the courage of their soldiers still.  Fine summary of the role of this suburb of Sonderborg, and the Castle itself -- see ://www.dybbol.net/dybbol.html/  Denmark lost all of Schleswig-Holstein but recovered the northern section after WWI, as part of a referendum.

4.  The Museum:  The Castle now is a huge museum.

Soenderborg Slot, DK. Renovation blocks the cannon.

ohanges at http://www.baltic-castles.org/portal/members/?id=53

Renovations often leave old useful structures in place. Water supply well, or oubliette for leaving unwanted prisoners to die, as in a dungeon far below? See http://www.castles.me.uk/oubliette.htm/  From the French, oublier, to forget.

Sonderborg Castle, water supply well or oubliette? Escape hatch?

Nineteenth Century Military uniforms and equipment to fit the thin and the portly.  The fashion for caps spread to the American Civil War, apparently.

 

Military uniforms, 19th C, Sonderborg Castle DK

GPS.  Be sure to get the actual address of any attraction before arriving near the place. Guide books, even the glossy ones, are in the Dark Ages on this issue.  Internet carries site addresses, but not enough of the planning materials do.  You need the address to use your GPS and save yourself some time.  Sweden and Denmark do not like signs to help tourists. Not even the "Centrum" or its variation road sign, to guide you to the old town.

Bjernede Outside: Round Church. Bjernede Kirke. Bjernede Rundkirke

The Round Church at Bjernede, Zealand, Denmark: The Outside

Bjernede Rundkirke, Round Church, exterior, near Soro, Zealand, Denmark

Bjernede is near the town of Soro on Zealand.  The round church was built in 1160, thanks to one Sune Ebbeson who was a governor to Valdemar the Great, Valdemar I. See family history at  http://medievaldanishfamilies.blogspot.com/2008/10/sune-ebbesen-bef.html. 

 The "bishop's hat" on top came later to the cone roof. This was the time of the Crusades, and some may argue that this was a church inspired by, or fostering, or actually used by Templars - Hospitallers, based on symbols, architectural points, see a Norwegian site laying those out, at http://frimurertempelridder.blogspot.com/ 

Find a picture there of interest, of an old church (as a search for it, we looked up a Swedish "Cross Church", Forshem, there, for its Templar elements), then cut and pasted to a translator.  Clicking on English does not translate the whole site at once. I cannot vouch for the site, but offer it for others' vetting.  It is a site of interest either for past or ongoing Templar interests, neither or both..

Sune Ebbeson, patron builder tribute, Bjernede Kirke, DK

1.  Inscription, dedication

The inscription at the exterior door indicates the dedication:  To Saint Mary and Saint Lawrence.

Lawrence? Lawrence was a martyr of 257 AD who was told to give over the riches of the church, according to a popular story; so he gave the riches to good stewards; then presented  a collection of the poor and downtrodden as the real riches. Beheaded, most likely; but there is a more gory popular tale, not corroborated, see http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/08/10.html. Why would Sune Ebbeson dedicate this building to Lawrence? So far, we see no particular connection to Scandinavian conversion. Where did Lawrence live?  I believe Italy.

2.  Structure

The church is a round tower, two-stories inside, open; with side transepts on two adjoining sides.  The view from the front shows a clearly round church -- stroll around back and see a totally different configuration - two transepts.  One looks original, and one looks tacked on.  Note the upper windows, and check this site for a possible significance for the double arch.  In some Templar-type churches, those line up with the sun or moon at certain times of the year, for ritual purposes. Is that so? Scroll down at  http://frimurertempelridder.blogspot.com/  


2.1  Round church - not enough in itself to be Templar, but interesting possibility.

Round churches traditionally are said to be defensive structures, including Bjernede, see Castles of God, Fortified Religious Buildings of the World, by Peter Harrison 2004, Defensive purpose, round church structure.

• In Harrison's book, defense against the Wends is cited.  But the Wends were not just another tribe on the rampage against Christian incursions.  Wends were a prime target of the Pope's Northern Crusades - Crusader interests again -- see Wends and the Pope's Northern Crusades.  What other purposes, if any, underlie it?  Perhaps none. Still, see the history of the Wends -- the Templars or their religious army equivalents were themselves on the rampage there, see http://denmarkroadways.blogspot.com/2011/07/korsor-and-wends-highways-bypass.html.  Merely citing a defensive purpose and generally saying "Wends" does not detract from a now more likely than ever Templar, or at least Teutonic Knights function or interest.

 moving from Germany north to Scandinavia where the Wends were being pushed.

The round architectural style is old (Rome's Pantheon, Charlemagne's octagonal-round chapel), and came more into style for churches after the crusades. Connected to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in style, even if just as copycat possibly.

Some round churches are truly round: no transepts jutting out.  What is the significance of the shape.  See http://kngdv.blogspot.com/2011/02/round-churches-roundtables-labyrinths.html.

There is a cluster of round churches on Bornholm, an island of Denmark accessible by ferry; and those suggest a Templar tradition.

• Who is a scholar here, and who is repeating wishful, adventure-thinking?  See http://www.nature-spot.com/2009/03/bornholm-island-templar-churches.html.  Assuming a grain of truth between the series of round churches here and in Europe, see this round church in that context:  of the same era, in this early orthodox era. 
• If there is a connection between those going to and returning from Crusades, from the time soon after the Great Schism in 1054, where the Roman Christians split from the Eastern Orthodox Christians; to the first Crusade in about 1065; through Rome's western Christians slaughtering even Eastern Orthodox Christians in the Sack of Constantinople in 1204 (about 35 years after this Church was built); and through the murder of the Templars allegedly completed with the burning of Jacques deMolay in 1314, and subsequent and earlier flights of Templars and alleged riches and the Grail with them, supposedly;  that puts this church in an active crusading and east-west conflict period and open to those influences. 
• As to Templars and crusaders going and coming, there would be a strong influence of eastern Christianity brought with them.  The exposure at least was there. If Templars favored Rome's rival, Orthodox and other eastern ideas, in any way, would Rome long tolerate it? What happened to the round churches. Were they ever Templar, part of a network to safety, concealment. Enter, Hollywood.
• A Templar or other secret society connection would explain the anomaly noted at http://medievaldanishfamilies.blogspot.com/2008/10/sune-ebbesen-bef.html, that rites at the lower level cannot be seen from the upper, easily; and the upper level is also only accessible up a spiral clockwise stair, very narrow, so that noone in armor could ascend.  If they did, their right arm, presumably the sword arm, would be pinned to the center of the spiral, leaving only the left arm free to wield.  That was a customary defensive construct in castles and churches, and appears here.  See video by Martin Pavone at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Our23yp8fJo

Look at the shape in that context, East and West in collision, lines not firmly drawn.

So, can we explore the shape as more than mere architecture choice.  Explore the shape as an expression of a mindset of the builder, a belief system that reflect pre-Roman Church Latin or an alternative to Roman Church Latin-dominance ideas (brick Gothic expressed the Roman emerging idea, these are earlier Romanesque from an era of no division:  no hierarchy imposition yet? vet the idea.  See that and other historical considerations, unanswered, a theorist merely recording theory points, at  FN 1. Or not.

For now, stay what is seen.

2.2  The shape of the cross

Equal-sided crosses can be the Prussian Iron Cross, that later became a symbol of Fascism; the Maltese Cross, with its inward aimed arrowheads; a sun-wheel or ring cross, see Celtic crosses;  see http://www.crossroad.to/Books/symbols1.htmlI

This church shows a theme of the Greek cross with its equal sides. See it at http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/symbols/cross.htm  It is the most ancient cross -- ans suggests by that that the crucifixion was not central to Christianity at the outset at all.  That emerged as doctrinally important later, and then the cross itself became the kind of cross that a crucifixion would probably take place upon:  a long vertixal axis for the body, a shorter horizontal axis for the aris.

The equal sided cross, however, is more easily accommodated in a circular shape, so that reinforces the idea that the circular was earlier as an idea for Christianity before east and west so split, than the later Latin Roman big church with the long aisle etc. Is that so?

Door symbols here do not look Roman Catholic.  This is an interior door, included here because of the cross, but also to show that closed doors, that an ordinary tourist would not touch, can hold back on so much of interest.

• This equal sided cross is not inscribed in a circle, and has two scrolly forked ends.  See it and variations, called the Forked Cross, at All Crosses, http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/index-all.php?Spacing=20 
• To be a  Greek cross, would the ends have to be plain?  
• The crux of this church, pun intended, is behind the closed doors like this one.  
• Behind, we now learn, is a staircase, a narrow defensive stone spiral stair, to the upper level.  See the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Our23yp8fJo
• See if you find there some more corroboration for the idea that this, like other round churches in Denmark and elsewhere, have crusader and even Templar connections.

Fork cross doorway design, interior Bjernede Kirke, DK.  Behind door, a stone defensive spiral stair to upper regions.

The doors like this were all closed when we went inside, so we did not know that behind at least one was a staircase leading to an upper level where all is laid out for non-usual mass reasons.

And we had no idea we could open the doors (we hesitate to barge around) and go up.

Other people have, however,

• There are also multiple circles.  Those may just be decorative; or represent, according to this site (giving both traditional Christian and other non-Christian origins) the female principle and power, sun disk, sacred hoop, unity, infinity, and gnostic elements. Scroll down to the circle at Symbols and Their Meaning at http://www.crossroad.to/Books/symbols1.html

3.  Construction.

Here:  What was the timing of adding the second transept?  One does look out of place. Need to look up the evolution of church architecture. Sune Ebbesen began the church in granite, then switched to brick, then a new building material coming into fashion in Denmark at that time, as the techniques improved.

Bjernede Round Church, transept looks later. Soro, DK. Bjernede Kirke

There are two transepts. This one, all brick with a stair-step facade, does not look "of a piece" to the main building.  There is no flow to the joins. Tacked on?  Did a later vestry suddenly want an entryway for the pamphlets and sign-up sheets? And a coat rack?

4. The churchyard

View from Bjerjede Runekirke churchyard to thatch-roof cottage, near Soro, DK

4.1  Burials

Grave, Bjernede Rundkirke, DK  Flat, elevated stone with illegible inscriptions

Who is buried where is addressed at http://medievaldanishfamilies.blogspot.com/2008/10/sune-ebbesen-bef.html   The inscriptions are not preserved, out under lichen, and hard to read.  We saw no information tracts inside the building.

Our interest is in the pre-Roman hierarchy influences that are suggested by a round church, equal-sided cross. Is there ground for that interest. This one, for example, looks not like a Christian cross, but like the Sun Wheel, or Odin's Wheel.  See it at this site illustrating cross shapes: All Crosses at http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/index-all.php?Spacing=20

Churchyard memorial, Bjernede Kirke, Round Church, DK

This cross is inside a circle. The quartered circle, or sacred circle with equal lines pointing to north, south, east, west, is not Christian in origin, and has strong pagan roots, although it was later adopted -- particularly by Celtic Christians, think Irish. See it as the sun cross, at http://www.crossroad.to/Books/symbols1.html. The wording on the stone is illegible, enlarge and tinker as we try with contrasts.

Sun cross or Odin's Wheel? Bjernede Churchyard, DK

Found in the burial yard were some very old graves, see the medievaldanishfamilies site above.  Two men, perhaps not Ebbe?  That would be a Greek Cross, except for its placement within the circle. Is that so?

Inscription stone, placed on wall,churchyard, Bjernede Round Church, DK.  Bjernede Kirke

The lettering shows deaths in the 17th Century. The little rectangle encloses ,

Grave marker enlarged, Bjernede Churchyard, 17th -18th C deaths, DK

4.2  A Place for Bells

Bell shelter, Bjernede Round Church burial ground

Is this a belfry?  Probably not. Belfries originated as watch towers, a place to go for safety.  Bells were often located there, to give warning.  This garden level church bellhouse would not, then, be a belfry, but used similarly:  mark the services, and even danger.  See http://www.thefreedictionary.com/belfries

Bells in bellhouse, Bjernede Rundkirke, DK

Why would having bells be a "horror to the heathens?" That is said not in connection with this church, but another. See http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc4.i.ii.xxiv.html  See overall discussion of modern vs. old worship at http://users.bestweb.net/~kali93/oct98/leitch.htm

Churchyard, brick gothic Gate in wall, Bjernede Rundkirke, Zealand, DK. Bjernede Kirke

5.  Materials, timing, symbols. 

Ebbe began in granite, ended in brick.  This stair-step facade on the churchyard gate house, as to style, in that area looks new.  The little bishop's hat on top of the roof, the little tower part, is very new:  it was added in 1892.  Adding a bishop's hat is a further way of distancing from any whiff of the Orthodox. Another equal-sided cross is suggested by the window at the top near the roofline.

Transition from granite to brick, transept looks original, Bjernede Rundkirke DK. Is it? Bjernede Kirke. Near side, rear view

5.1. Is transept the right word for those appendages?

Granite transept, near side view, Round Church at Bjernede DK.  Bjernede Kirke

The window also echoes the style on the main round tower. This is an amateur talking. Move closer to get the trees out of the way. The join looks all of a piece.

Far window on transept also looks original, Bjernede Rundkirke, DK.  Bjernede Kirke. Near side view.

5.2 Practicality

A window at the end would also be needed to light up that section.

"Bishop's hat" on round tower, near side view, Bjernede  DK. Bjernede Kirke, Bjernede Rundkirke

6.  Eastern influences.

We assume that Rome converted all of Europe to Christianity, but that is not so. It was fight all the way. Even Constantine rejected what Rome was doing, see the Cyril and Methodius site below.

The earlier Orthodox (before there was the Great Schism) missionaries included Cyril and Methodius, in the Slavic areas to the Baltic, see http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Saints_Cyril_and_Methodius.aspx; and Ansgar, Apostle of the North, also had an orthodox background, we understand.  The violence of the Holy Roman Emperors, including Charlemagne, did not get this far, but word did most likely.  Do what Rome wants.

The original transept here could fit an Orthodox-slanted tradition, see http://www.pointleb.net/directory/index.php?title=Cathedral_architecture_of_Western_Europe; that would leave for later years the need for a convenient rain-shielding entryway.

Bjernede Kirke. Odd-looking transept, stair-step facade.  Who put that on?  Bjernede Round Church getting less round with the years.

Brick peak roof addition. Fake.  Take it off. This is supposed to be a round church.

See other round churches:  they mostly follow an axis inside as that Greek cross, equal arms, creating an easy circle form. Add an entry and all is well.  It was later that the Roman or Latin cross took over architecture, as Rome tried to diminish the influence of the Orthodox after Rome left the Orthodox in the 11th Century, is that so?  But Orthodox had been at work in Scandinavia long before that, before the Schism, so a Greek cross would have been a natural.

Far side view, granite transept. This one looks good. Bjernede Rundkirke, Denmark. Bjernede Kirke.

Where the granite becomes brick - later brick gothic transept blocks and ruins the style.

The good guy transept, that fits;  is on the right.  The bad new guy, with the stair-step facade that doesn't fit, is on the left.  Is that so?  That is brick gothic, much later than the Romanesque of 1170. Doesn't match at all. Is there a brochure on this, or are we just wrong here? Who has the series of footprints, floor plans? Find a photo showing that odd transept more clearly, at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Bjernede_Kirke.jpg

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This is to keep ideas in one place, not necessarily recommended reading for anyone else.

FN 1  A History aside. Look again at the meaning of the shape of the round church. Can it be seen as a protest against the hierarchy, authoritarian set-up of the Roman version of Christianity elsewhere. A nod to the other branch known to the Scandinavians through the Slavs, the Orthodox.

• What was Norse culture. Why do we patronize multi-deists as "pagan". We have the trinity -- a thinly disguised multi-deist system. They say there was human sacrifice. Was there? Was that event as bad as persecutions of Jews, Inquisitions, Crusades East and Crusades North, Witch-burnings? The Norse had a functioning centuries' old self-sustaining tradition. Where to find Christianity-history that is not an agenda, proselytizing, painting all the saints as saintly and all the men as good-looking, etc. Start with the BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/religion_01.shtml; but even that is assuming a superiority to the Christian.

Challenge the BBC.  Scandinavians did not adopt Christianity easily. The first missionary came in the 700-800's.  Conversion took until about 1200 for Scandinavia.  BBC, even your account is rosy false. How can that be? Where is your narrative of Charlemagne against the Saxons;  and the Northern Crusades.

• Needed as we wind down this great (to us) trip to Denmark:  A neutral statement of the multi-deist culture of the northern people: how were they worse than the Inquisition, the persecutions, the witch-burnings, etc?  We need a good norse advocate. What did they gain by conversion except entry into the dubiously "superior" world of moneymaking and powergrabbing by making churches into institutions.   They had a more egalitarian culture than ours, did fine. Is that so? It was merely force and not merit, that turned the tide. 

So, when there is a round church, that suggests ties to the oldest Christian roots and ideas of egalitarianism, might that have come through an early church Orthodox influence, before the Great Schism? Or is it happenstance. Nobody seems to know. See http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/?period=06&region=eue

What is Orthodoxy had won over Rome instead of Rome prevailing over the rest of Europe?  Rome had militance and administrative skills; and the exclusions of Mithraism (no women allowed).  Paul's home town was a center of Mithraism. None of that is merit in belief.  That is force.

• Was there an influence of the Orthodox in the 12th Century in Scandinavia, or at least a hesitation in adopting everything Roman.  Round churches fostered either the informal service of the earliest times, in the round; or providing with the transept a place for the iconostasis, where parts of the service took place away from view.  The Orthodox had been in Scandinavia, Cyril and Methodius' ideas including services in the native language (hated by Rome) came up through the Slavic areas of the Baltic, and had at least some influence until the Pope's Northern Crusades 1231-1282 or so (see http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/timeline/a/1300s1400sTimeline.htm).  
• Why the aversion to the West? It appears that the Viking raids on Christian monasteries began not long after Charlemagne's slaughter of the Saxons and forced conversions of other Holy Roman Emperors.  Scandinavia wanted no part of this religion. Who wouldn't lash out? See the dates outlined and connection suggested at http://forums.skadi.net/showthread.php?t=76590.  So Western Roman Christianity in that sense asked fo r it.  They started killing off any who would not convert, or re-convert if they had been already Christianized by the Orthodox, according to Rome's standards. See Charlemagne in the Saxon lands: word spread. 
• And it got worse, with the Northern Crusades. Any Prussians targeted by the Teutonic Knights, for example, were already Christian -- converted by the Orthodox.  But this site does not mention that, see http://www.crusades-encyclopedia.com/thenortherncrusades.html;  this one does, and heavily (properly so) see http://www.conflicts.rem33.com/images/deut/drang.htm.
• See also timeline at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/1999/issue63/63h028.html

• The Greek cross idea of equal distance between worshippers and whoever led the service, also in the early church had signified the equality of all before God, men, women, rich, poor -- as J himself had practised. The Latin-Roman sect after the Schism with the Orthodox changed architecture and doctrine that entrenched a hierarchy idea in Christianity -- the Roman or Latin cross with its huge vertical axis, and little horizontal.

Ribe - Oldest Town. Cathedral, Adam and Eve

Ribe

St. Mary's Cathedral

Ribe is said to be the oldest town in Denmark.  It is now part of a larger community of Esbjerg and Bramming, all known as "Esbjerg" - but signs to Ribe remain.  Good idea.
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Ribe was first mentioned in a document from 854-860 AD, a request from Archbishop Ansgar of Hamburg-Bremen to the King of Denmark.  The Archbishop wanted to build a Cathedral in this growing trade town. The "mission to the north" -- backed up by killer crusades in the Baltic area, also known as the Baltic Crusades; or the Northern Crusades, re-employing unemployed crusader knight groups back from the fiascos in the Holy Land. See Malbork Castle, Teutonic Knights, in Poland, attacking the Prussian tribes.
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St. Mary's Cathedral, Ribe Denmark

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Nothing happened until 948, and that is not surprising since Christianity had not been particularly attractive to people of the North.
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Charlemagne had slaughtered 4,500 Saxon prisoners who had refused conversion not long before - say 780-82 AD.  See Sachsenhain. The Saxon lands were just to the south of the Danish Jutes of Jutland, Saxons had fought Charlemagne for 30 years; with help and hiding the leader Widukind among the Jutes.  The two groups, although clearly identifiable, had variously intermarried, or assisted each other in warfare as needed against Charlemagne, or the Wends, or other. Yet, despite the nice request to be invited, the clear threat was there:  refuse, and enter the Holy Roman Empire with force.
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So St. Mary's Cathedral was built in due time.
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A disastrous fire in 1580 burned most of the town.  I believe the square brick tower would be newer than the gray stone, but have to check.  The brick is in the style of 'brick gothic", a later period than the romanesque gray broad arch motif. Is that so?

Romanesque arch, St. Mary's Cathedral, Ribe, DK

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Excellent door, St. Mary's. The reinforced iron would be needed for defense in early days when the church was also a place of refuge.
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Iron door, St. Mary's Cathedral, Ribe, Denmark

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Scandinavian Adams and Eveses look unisex. It is as though which is which gender does not matter at all. Identifying characteristics barely noticeable.  Here, she has longer hair, and barely a size A.  He has barely a muscle. This makes sense if the original Adm or "human" was androgynous, and merely was separated out into two.  There is textual support for that, although culturally suppressed.

Adam and Eve, St Mary's Cathedral, Ribe, DK

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Little motifs of death are found in unexpected places.  Here, a tiny skull and bones, and a tiny hour glass above.  I enlarged this to find the date, 1639; and cannot translate the words.  Peder something?
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Memorial plaque, death imagery, burial,  St. Mary's Cathedral, Ribe, DK

This also looks 1600's, judging from the costume - Reformation era?  Two men and a woman, I think. Menage a trois.  Denmark and Sweden often show more women in the decorative surroundings than we saw in Germany. Even with the enlargement, we cannot make out the words at the bottom of this painting and sculpture.

Three benefactors, or is this a burial?  St. Mary's Cathedral, Ribe, Denmark

Here, Adam and Eve are still the same size, same bodies , really. But did someone add that beard to Adam?  Or is it an original beard?  It looks affixed, not growing. Perhaps it was disturbing to someone that no-one could tell which gender was which. Also, the snake did not become a snake (that is, something without legs) until after the pair were found out, and here, Adam is just about to enjoy his portion.

Adam and Eve, still androgynous in many ways? St. Mary's Cathedral, Ribe, Denmark

Froslev Internment Camp, WWII, Jutland

 Froslev.  

One town in Zealand, agricultural area;

and this in Jutland, a former Nazi Internment Camp WWII

 

It is not a waste of time to go to the Zealand Froslev, thinking it is the WWII Froslev. People are helpful, and we found a medieval tower in the middle of a farm there.

But if your time is pressed, search for "Internment" and not just Froslev, in finding your way.

Froslev, Denmark, is currently in the news because Denmark has tightened its borders with other European Union countries, including Froslev's nearby border crossing to and from Germany.  See http://www.forexyard.com/en/news/Reuters-World-News-Highlights-1800-GMT-July-5-2011-07-05T180000Z We crossed without stopping.  Now, not so.

Immigration to Denmark is not as free as it was recently.  As part of the European union to date, Denmark had permitted free access back and forth across its borders without checks on papers.  Denmark is asserting rights to scrutinize who enters.

Froslev is otherwise  known for its World War II internment camp,

Rroslev Internment Camp, Jutland, DK. Guard tower.

1.  Purpose of camp,

The Froslev Camp was built to cage political prisoners, members of the Resistance that were spared somehow from summary trials and executions, by connections or whatever, see http://www.visitdenmark.com/island/is-is/menu/turist/oplevelser/attraktioner/produktside.htm?wbc_purpose=Bas?CallerUrl=1&wbc_purpose=Bas&Id=006174; or other high ranking persons opposed to Nazism (Germany occupied Denmark from 1940-1945).

Froslev was not a place to collect Jews, gypsies, other ethnic or mental "defectives" or challenges to Naziism as a whole, not a labor camp, not an extermination camp, not a concentration camp. Froslev was a severe but manageable holding pen.  These were, after all, fellow "Aryans" - the master white race -- even if temporarily misguided.

2.  Keep Denmark happy.

It was a nod by Germany to its need for Danish cooperation (not another military front). It required hard work for some (just the rebellious?), but provided basically decent living and diet conditions, There was always threat.  My understanding is that Danes ran the camp, at Nazi bidding; and did follow orders to transport rebellious prisoners to Theresienstadt CZ or other concentration and labor and extermination camps in Germany's territory.

Froslev Internment Camp DK, sand pit work area, Jutland, DK

3.  People still died here, or were transported elsewhere for death, or a chance at survival if they were lucky

There are memorials to those who died, or who were transported to Theresienstadt, CZ, for further disposition.

Some 1,600 prisoners of the German Security Police were transported to German camps; with some total 8,000 interned here. See http://www.visitdenmark.com/island/is-is/menu/turist/oplevelser/attraktioner/produktside.htm?wbc_purpose=Bas?CallerUrl=1&wbc_purpose=Bas&Id=006174

Memorial, Froslev Internment Camp, rebellious inmate sent for  further "disposition" through Theresienstadt CZ and elsewhere.

Yet, the numbers of deaths compared to other facilities is small. Today, Froslev has its museum, see http://www.ww2museums.com/article/1662/Fr%F8slevlejrens-Museum-Fr%F8slev-Prison-Camp-Museum.htm is cheerful, sterile.  Kids come for summer and other programs. Use the facility.

Layout, Froslev WWII Internment Camp, Jutland, DK

Froslev Internment Camp, renovated for Youth ad other use, 

4.  But this looks so nice?

Denmark made a choice for use for the future, over memorial to the past; but keeps the past alive, in its way.  

There is tension between preserving what was, to show what inmates endured; and reusing facilities for the future.  These are renovated, repainted, nicely presented new uses. 

Renovated inmate barracks, now arts and youth uses, Froslev Internment Camp, WWII Jutland, Denmark.

To be sent to Theresienstadt was a virtual death sentence because of the transports out to death or labor camps.  See the site for the Czech Republic  Theresienstadt;  then see a Theresienstadt (Terezin) timeline at  http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007460

Our understanding is that troublemakers from here at Froslev were transported to Terezin, or Theresienstadt.

Guard tower view, Froslev Internment Camp, Froslev, Jutland,  DK

Further memorial, deaths at Froslev.

Memorial Frpslev Nazi Internment Camp, Jutland, Denmark

The museum houses caricatures of HItler and the "situation" -- fair use.  Are these inmates' artistic renditions, or examples of resistance propaganda?  Have to go back.

HItler puppet caricature, Froslev Internment Camp, Froslev, Jutland DK (fair use)

A favorite theme is puppetry.  Who is pulling whose strings.

Puppetry caricatures, Nazi officials, Froslev Internment Camp, Jutland, DK, WWII

And the familiar imagery of the ostrich:  head in sand.  Whose, when?

Nazi head in sand cartoob fair use,  Froslev Internment Camp, Jutland, DKi

An overall theme is the moral dedication of Danes, as they see themselves, through the ages as warriors for good causes.  Denmark, and worldwide.  See the scope of apparel, uniforms, equipment.

Danes as Warriors in History, Part I. WWII Froslev Internment Camp, Jutland DK

Danes as Warriors, for Denmark and Others, Exhibit portion, Froslev Internment Camp, Jutland, DK

Danes in uniform serving humanity's causes, fair use, Froslev Internment Camp exhibit, DK

Always to remember:  Deprivations can be huge, but they are relative.  Inmates here, however, were privileged and not personally attacked as inferiors, as were the ethnic and religious targets of other parts of Europe.  They did have the basics for sustenance, reasonable health.  They had some heat, a basic diet, and were not abused or beaten to death.  These were political prisoners with clout, and family connections, and political connections.  They wrote letters, and got letters back. It paid to be an Aryan.

The Nazis here, at this internment camp as opposed to labor and extermination camps elsewhere, did not engage in widespread extermination of intellectuals, dissenters.  

They killed ordinary members of the Resistance who had not these connections that could benefit the Nazis, but only sent those for further disposition elsewhere, if they did not behave.

Sp. shiver, but have some basic heat.

Stove for barracks, Foslev WWII Internment Camp, Jutland, DK   '
AtFrpslev Museum, Internment Camp during WWII, Jutland, KK.


After the war, German officials and other ranking persons, including Danish collaborators whose actions to support the Nazis came under scrutiny,  were held here until further disposition.  Did any from Denmark warrant trial at Nuremberg?

Denmark did win special treatment for its high-ranking and respected political and respected resistance officials and directors.  Collaboration, and whether principles should be compromised in order to fight another day, never resolved.  Fair use here of an extensive total exhibit.

Froslev Internment Camp, WWII Jutland DK.  Crowded, severe. but not life-threatening in itself.

The pretty barn-red colors were not there then.