Jöns Gerekesson
Encyclopedia
Jöns Gerekesson (died 1433) was a controversial Archbishop of Uppsala
, Sweden 1408–1421, and of Iceland
1426–1433 until he was drowned. It is not known when Jöns Gerekesson was born, but it is believed to have been around 1380.
Gerekesson's uncle, Peder Lodehat, was Bishop of Roskilde, Denmark
and Chancellor to the Scandinavia
n queen, Margareta
. Jöns studied at the University of Cologne
and then worked as a canon
in Aarhus
before he became chancellor to the Scandinavian King Eric of Pomerania
. On the death of the archbishop Birger Gregersson (11 March 1383), the King appointed Jöns to take his place, despite protests from the cathedral chapter
. Jöns was of Danish descent and had no connection to Uppsala
. Jöns cared mainly for his own pleasure, and left his duties to the chapter. He held parties with female company, and lived a life of luxury and abundance. When his money ran out, he took bribes and borrowed money, eventually putting him in debt, which in return forced him to embezzle Church property.
He took a young woman from Stockholm
as a mistress; she bore him two children. Finally, the chapter complained to Pope Martin V
and, after an investigation, in 1421 the Pope dismissed him from office. In 1426 he entered the duties of bishop of Skálholt, Iceland
, and was formally ordained in 1430. However, three years after being ordained, the Icelandic people had enough of him, and put him in a sack and drowned him.
Archbishop of Uppsala
The Archbishop of Uppsala has been the primate in Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward under the Lutheran church.- Historical overview :...
, Sweden 1408–1421, and of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
1426–1433 until he was drowned. It is not known when Jöns Gerekesson was born, but it is believed to have been around 1380.
Gerekesson's uncle, Peder Lodehat, was Bishop of Roskilde, Denmark
Roskilde
Roskilde is the main city in Roskilde Municipality, Denmark on the island of Zealand. It is an ancient city, dating from the Viking Age and is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network....
and Chancellor to the Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n queen, Margareta
Margaret I of Denmark
Margaret I was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Although she acted as queen regnant, the laws of contemporary Danish succession denied her formal queenship. Her title in Denmark was derived from her...
. Jöns studied at the University of Cologne
University of Cologne
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, one of the largest universities in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, an association of Germany's leading research universities...
and then worked as a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
in Aarhus
Aarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
before he became chancellor to the Scandinavian King Eric of Pomerania
Eric of Pomerania
Eric of Pomerania KG was King Eric III of Norway Norwegian Eirik, King Eric VII of Denmark , and as Eric King of Sweden...
. On the death of the archbishop Birger Gregersson (11 March 1383), the King appointed Jöns to take his place, despite protests from the cathedral chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
. Jöns was of Danish descent and had no connection to Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
. Jöns cared mainly for his own pleasure, and left his duties to the chapter. He held parties with female company, and lived a life of luxury and abundance. When his money ran out, he took bribes and borrowed money, eventually putting him in debt, which in return forced him to embezzle Church property.
He took a young woman from Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
as a mistress; she bore him two children. Finally, the chapter complained to Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V , born Odo Colonna, was Pope from 1417 to 1431. His election effectively ended the Western Schism .-Biography:...
and, after an investigation, in 1421 the Pope dismissed him from office. In 1426 he entered the duties of bishop of Skálholt, Iceland
Skálholt
Skálholt is an historical site situated in the south of Iceland at the river Hvítá.-History:Skálholt was, through eight centuries, one of the most important places in Iceland. From 1056 until 1785, it was one of Iceland's two episcopal sees, along with Hólar, making it a cultural and political...
, and was formally ordained in 1430. However, three years after being ordained, the Icelandic people had enough of him, and put him in a sack and drowned him.