Editing Absalon (section)

{{Short description|Danish bishop and statesman (c. 1128–1201)}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox Christian leader
| name = Absalon
| title = {{ubl|[[Bishop of Roskilde]]|[[Archbishop of Lund]]}}
| image = Absalons ligsten.jpg
| caption = Absalon's grave effigy
| diocese = {{ubl|[[Diocese of Roskilde]] (1158–1192)|[[Diocese of Lund|Archdiocese of Lund]] (1178–1201)}}
| predecessor = {{ubl|[[Asser of Roskilde]]|[[Eskil of Lund]]}}
| successor = {{ubl|[[Peder Sunesen]] (Roskilde)|[[Anders Sunesen]] (Lund)}}
| consecration =
| birth_name = <!-- If different from name or full name -->
| birth_date = {{c.|1128}}
| birth_place = near [[Sorø]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1201|3|21|1128|df=y}}
| death_place = Sorø
| buried = [[Sorø Abbey]]
}}
'''Absalon''' ({{circa|1128}}{{snd}}21 March 1201) was a Danish statesman and prelate of the [[Catholic Church]] who served as the [[bishop of Roskilde]] from 1158 to 1192 and [[archbishop of Lund]] from 1178 until his death. He was the foremost politician and [[church father]] of [[Denmark]] in the second half of the 12th century, and was the closest advisor of King [[Valdemar I of Denmark]]. He was a key figure in the Danish policies of territorial expansion in the [[Baltic Sea]], [[Europeanization]] in close relationship with the [[Holy See]], and reform in the relation between the Church and the public. He combined the ideals of [[Gregorian Reform]] with loyal support of a strong monarchical power.

Absalon was born into the powerful ''[[Hvide]]'' clan, and owned great land possessions. He endowed several church institutions, most prominently his family's [[Sorø Abbey]]. He was granted lands by the crown, and built the first fortification of the city that evolved into modern-day [[Copenhagen]]. His titles were passed on to his nephews [[Anders Sunesen]] and [[Peder Sunesen]]. He died in 1201, and was interred at Sorø Abbey.