This 1901 equestrian sculpture of Absalon depicts him in military garb and a helmet carrying an axe on a clearly agitated horse. The work is probably around 3 to 4x lifesize and is set on a tall plinth about 20 feet high. The plinth is rectangular and an unusual mix of concrete, marble and brick layers. The artist is Christian Gottlieb Vilhelm Bissen. It is located in Copenhagen's Hojbro Square.
This website (
visit link) has a good photo of the statue.
Wikipedia (
visit link) further informs us that Absalon
"was the foremost politician and churchfather 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 ideals 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...
Absalon left a legacy as the foremost politician and churchfather of Denmark in the 12th century. Absalon was equally great as churchman, statesman and warrior. His policy of expansion was to give Denmark the dominion of the Baltic for three generations. That he enjoyed warfare there can be no doubt; yet he was not like the ordinary fighting bishops of the Middle Ages, whose sole indication of their religious role was to avoid the shedding of blood by using a mace in battle instead of a sword. Absalon never neglected his ecclesiastical duties, and even his wars were of the nature of crusades."
The Visit Denmark website (
visit link) simply informs us:
"AddressHøjbro Plads
1200 København K
The equestrian statue of Bishop Absalon, founder of the city of Copenhagen, was errected in 1902.
The fish and wavy lines on the base of the statue symbolise the herring fishing, which in Medieval times contributed to the wealth of the small fishing hamlet.
After a fortified castle had been constructed on orders from Absalon in 1167 it was called Kaufmanne Hafen, meaning Merchants Harbour, today København or in English: Copenhagen."
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