Claus Pavels
Encyclopedia
Claus Pavels was a Norwegian priest and diarist. His diaries from 1812–1822 are an important source for cultural
and biographical history.
. His father, a priest at Lista, died four months before Pavel's birth, and the boy grew up at his uncle's farm on Lista. He graduated from Christanssand school in 1785. He was a student in Copenhagen
and member of The Norwegian Society
there.
He was a chaplain in Brevig
from 1793 to 1796, priest in Copenhagen from 1799, a vicar at Aker and a priest at the Akershus Fortress
from 1805, and became bishop of the diocese of Bjørgvin
in 1817.
In 1799 he married Maren Fasland. The couple had two daughters. Their daughter Karen married Johan Lyder Brun, Sr., a grandson of Johan Nordahl Brun
, who preceded Pavels as bishop of Bjørgvin.
, was founded in 1811. The ceremony took place at Akershus Fortress 11 November 1811, with music, military parades, bell ringing and guns salute, and people gathering in the Fortress Church.
Pavels was also present at the first defence of a doctorate
thesis
in Norway, at the University 18 June 1817, when Frederik Holst
defended his thesis, "Morbus, quem Radesyge vocant, quinam sit, quanamque ratione e Scandinavia tollendus". Pavel's diary contains a detailed report from the ceremonious event. There were 13 opponents, and the language used was Latin
. The thesis was not translated into Norwegian until 188 years later, and the book from 2005 contains also Pavel's diary comments.
, with the Treaty of Kiel
, the gathering of the Constituent Assembly
at Eidsvoll, the clash between Sweden and Norway
, and the subsequent Union between Sweden and Norway
. He wrote detailed reports from this period in his diaries.
Cultural history
The term cultural history refers both to an academic discipline and to its subject matter.Cultural history, as a discipline, at least in its common definition since the 1970s, often combines the approaches of anthropology and history to look at popular cultural traditions and cultural...
and biographical history.
Biography
He was born in VanseVanse
Vanse is a town in Farsund municipality, Norway. Its population is 1,967 by January 1st 2008.The small town is notable for having several references to America due to the high number of inhabitants emigrating to the US from 1825 to 1975...
. His father, a priest at Lista, died four months before Pavel's birth, and the boy grew up at his uncle's farm on Lista. He graduated from Christanssand school in 1785. He was a student in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and member of The Norwegian Society
The Norwegian Society
The Norwegian Society was a literary society for Norwegian students in Copenhagen. Its members included authors, poets and philosophers. The Norwegian Society was formed in 1772 by Ove Gjerløw Meyer...
there.
He was a chaplain in Brevig
Brevik
is a town in Telemark, Norway with an estimated population of 2,700. Brevik was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 , but was merged with Porsgrunn on January 1, 1964. Brevik is regarded one of the best preserved towns from the sailing ship era...
from 1793 to 1796, priest in Copenhagen from 1799, a vicar at Aker and a priest at the Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
from 1805, and became bishop of the diocese of Bjørgvin
Diocese of Bjørgvin
Bjørgvin Diocese is a diocese in the Church of Norway. It covers churches located in the counties of Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane. The cathedral city is Bergen. Bergen Cathedral, formerly the Church of Saint Olaf, serves as the seat of the presiding Bishop...
in 1817.
In 1799 he married Maren Fasland. The couple had two daughters. Their daughter Karen married Johan Lyder Brun, Sr., a grandson of Johan Nordahl Brun
Johan Nordahl Brun
Johan Nordahl Brun was the poet, dramatist, bishop in Bergen , and politician who contributed significantly to the growth of National Romanticism in Norway, contributing to the growing national consciousness.He traveled to Copenhagen in 1767, where he passed his theological examinations...
, who preceded Pavels as bishop of Bjørgvin.
University
Pavels was host of the ceremony when the first Norwegian university, the Royal Frederick University of ChristianiaUniversity of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
, was founded in 1811. The ceremony took place at Akershus Fortress 11 November 1811, with music, military parades, bell ringing and guns salute, and people gathering in the Fortress Church.
Pavels was also present at the first defence of a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
in Norway, at the University 18 June 1817, when Frederik Holst
Frederik Holst
Frederik Holst was a Norwegian medical doctor. He was the first person to defend his doctoral thesis in Norway, in 1817, about the then common and now extinct skin disease "Radesyke". He is regarded as an important pioneer in medicine in Norway. He was appointed town physician in Christiania from...
defended his thesis, "Morbus, quem Radesyge vocant, quinam sit, quanamque ratione e Scandinavia tollendus". Pavel's diary contains a detailed report from the ceremonious event. There were 13 opponents, and the language used was Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. The thesis was not translated into Norwegian until 188 years later, and the book from 2005 contains also Pavel's diary comments.
Politics in 1814
From his position at Akershus Fortress, Pavels followed closely the political turbulence in 1814Norway in 1814
1814 was a pivotal year in the history of Norway. It started with Norway in a union with the Kingdom of Denmark subject to a naval blockade being ceded to the king of Sweden. In May a constitutional convention declared Norway an independent kingdom. By the end of the year the Norwegian parliament...
, with the Treaty of Kiel
Treaty of Kiel
The Treaty of Kiel or Peace of Kiel was concluded between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Kingdom of Sweden on one side and the Kingdoms of Denmark and Norway on the other side on 14 January 1814 in Kiel...
, the gathering of the Constituent Assembly
Riksforsamlingen
Norwegian Constituent Assembly is the name given to the 1814 Constitutional Assembly at Eidsvoll in Norway, that voted the Norwegian Constitution and formalised the dissolution of the union with Denmark...
at Eidsvoll, the clash between Sweden and Norway
Swedish campaign against Norway (1814)
The Swedish-Norwegian War, also known as the Campaign against Norway, was fought between Sweden and Norway in the summer of 1814. The war resulted in Norway entering into union with Sweden, but with its own constitution and parliament.-Background:...
, and the subsequent Union between Sweden and Norway
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
. He wrote detailed reports from this period in his diaries.