Archbishop of Uppsala

The Archbishop of Uppsala (spelled Upsala until early 20th century) 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.

Related Topics:
Primate - 1164 - Catholic - Lutheran

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There have been bishops in Uppsala from the time of Swedish King Ingold the Elder in the 11th century. They were governed by the archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen until Uppsala was made an archbishopric in 1164. The archbishop in Lund (which at that time belonged to Denmark) was simultaniously declared prima Suecia, meaning it was his right to select and ordain the Uppsala archbishop by handing him the pallium. But to gain independance, Folke Johansson Ängel in 1274 went to Rome and was ordained directly by the Pope. This practice was ever increasing, so that no Uppsala archbishop has been ordained in Lund after Olov Björnsson, in 1318. But not until 1457 was the archbishop Jöns Bengtsson (Oxenstierna) allowed to declare himself prima Suecia.

Related Topics:
Ingold the Elder - 11th century - Hamburg-Bremen - Pallium - Folke Johansson Ängel - 1274 - Jöns Bengtsson (Oxenstierna)

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At first, the city Uppsala with the archbishop was located a couple of kilometers to the north of the present city, in what is today known as Gamla Uppsala (which translates to Old Uppsala). In 1273, the archbishopric, together with the relics of king Eric the Saint, was moved to the trading center of Östra Aros, which from then on overtook the name Uppsala.

Related Topics:
Gamla Uppsala - Archbishopric - Eric the Saint - Östra Aros

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In 1531, Laurentius Petri was chosen by the King Gustav I of Sweden (Vasa) to be archbishop, taking that privilege from the Pope and in effect making Sweden protestantic. The archbishop was then declared primus inter pares -- the first among equals. Officially he is today primarily the bishop of his diocese and has no more authority than other Swedish bishops, although in effect his statements and opinions have a more widespread effect.

Related Topics:
Laurentius Petri - Gustav I of Sweden - Primus inter pares

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