229. THE CIIRISTIANIZAT10N OF DENMARK. H7
work for the Christianization of Denmark. Tlic ardor of the Hamburg-Bremen archbishops for the Danish mission seemed at this time to have cooled, or perhaps the growing difference between the language spoken to the north of the Eyder and that spoken to the south of that river made missionary work in Den mark very dillicu.lt for a German preacher. Ansgar had not felt this difference; but two centuries later it had probably be come necessary for the German missionary to learn a foreign language before entering on his work in Denmark.
Between England and Denmark there existed no such difference of language. King Canute the Great, during whose reign (1019— 1035) the conversion of Denmark was completed, could employ English priests and monks in Denmark without the least em barrassment, lie re-established the bishopric of Fiinen, and founded two new bishoprics in Sealand and Skaane; and these three sees were filled with Englishmen consecrated by the arch bishop of Canterbury. lie invited a number of English monks to Denmark, and settled them partly as ecclesiastics at the churches, partly in small missionary stations, scattered all around in the country; and everywhere, in the style of the churchbuildiii"* and in the character of the service, the English influ-
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cnee was predominating. This circumstance, however, did in no way affect the ecclesiastical relation between Denmark and the archiepiscopal see of Hamburg-Bremen. The authority of the archbishop, though not altogether unassailed, was neverthe less generally submitted to with good grace, and until in the twelfth century an independent Scandinavian archbishopric was established at Lund, with the exception of the above cases, he always appointed and consecrated the Danish bishops. Also the relation to the Pope was very cordial. Canute made a pilgrim age to Rome, and founded several Hospitia Danorum there. He refused, however, to permit the introduction of the Peter's pence in Denmark, and the tribute which, up to the fourteenth cen tury, was annually sent from that country to Rome, was con sidered a voluntary gift.
FOUETH PEKIOD. A. D. 590-1049.
The last part of Denmark which was converted was the island of Bornholm. It was christianized in 1060 by Bishop Egius of Lund. It is noticeable, however, that in Denmark Chris tianity was not made a part of the law of the land, such as was the case in England and in Norway.
§ 30. The Christianization of Sweden.
RIMBERTUS : Vita Ansgarii, in Pertz : Monumenta II.
ADAMUS BREMENSIS: Gesta Ham. Eccl. Pont., in Pertz: Monumenta VII. ;
separate edition by Lappenberg. Hanover, 1846. HISTORIA S. SIGFRIDI, in Scriptt. Rer. Suec. Medii-cevi, T. II.
Just when the expulsion of Harald Klak compelled Ansgar to give up the Danish mission, at least for the time being, an em bassy was sent by the Swedish king, Bjorn, to the emperor, Lewis the Pious, asking him to send Christian missionaries to Sweden. Like the Danes, the Swedes had become acquainted with Christianity through their wars and commercial connections with foreign countries/ and with many this acquaintance appears to have awakened an actual desire to become Christians. Ac cordingly Ansgar went to Sweden in 829, accompanied by Witmar. While crossing the Baltic, the vessel was overtaken and plundered by pirates, and he arrived empty handed, not to say destitute, at Bjorko or Birka, the residence of King Bjorn, situated on an island in the Mselarn. Although poverty and misery were very poor introduction to a heathen king in ancient Scandinavia, he was well received by the king; and in Hergeir, one of the most prominent men at the court of Birka, he found a warm and reliable friend. Hergeir built the first Christian chapel in Sweden, and during his whole life he proved an un failing and powerful support of the Christian cause. After two years' successful labor, Ansgar returned to Germany; but he did not forget the work begun. As soon as he was well estab lished as bishop in Hamburg, he sent, in 834, Gautbert, a nephew of Ebo, to Sweden, accompanied by Nithard and a number of other Christian priests, and well provided with every-