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Bornholm |
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Bornholm, the island that lies near Scania and Gothia [= Germany], is the most frequented Danish harbour and a safe anchorage for the ships that set sail for the lands of the barbarians and Greece. Adam of Bremen. C. 1075. |
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| Bornholm was converted to Christianity in the mid-eleventh century. In time the island came into the possession of the Danish archbishop. His castle of Hammershus was one of the mightiest fortresses in the Baltic area in the Middle Ages. In 1658 Bornholm was ceded to Sweden, but the Bornholmers themselves expelled the Swedes and gave the island back to the Danish King. Hammershus was used as a state prison, for example for the traitor Corfitz Ulfeldt and his wife Leonora Christine, who tried unsuccessfully in 1661 to escape from the castle and its strict commandant. The smaller neighbouring island of Christiansø, whose fortress was inaugurated in 1684, also came to house dangerous enemies of the state. |
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Exhibits
256
Hoard, metaldetector find from Bornholm 1995. The hoard was deposited around 1000. More than half of the 442 coins are German, the remaining coins are mainly English. A few are Arab and Scandinavian, and there are also some silverobjects. This composition is typical for hoards from Bornholm from this period. A selection of the coins is on display here.
Nationalmuseet, Den kgl. Mønt og Medaillesamling
257
Model of the Danish Archbishop’s castle Hammershus.
Det Nationalhistoriske Museum på Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerød.
258
Head rings from the Slavic area south of the Baltic. They are worn in the hair or at the edge of a headscarf. Silver, 11th century. Detector find from Bornholm.
Bornholms Museum, Rønne.
259
Two brooches of typical Gotlandish form, one in the shape of a small box, the other of an animal head. Bronze, 10th century. Detector find from Bornholm.
Bornholms Museum, Rønne.
260
Ornamental mountings of Oriental type for straps and belts. Bronze, 11th/12th century. Detector find from Bornholm.
Bornholms Museum, Rønne.
261
Miniature axe of East Baltic type. Bronze, 11th century. Detector find from Bornholm.
Bornholms Museum, Rønne.
262
Tips for knife sheaths. Bronze, Middle Ages. Detector find from Bornholm.
Bornholms Museum, Rønne.
263
Amulets with carved runes or Latin letters. Silver and lead, Middle Ages. Detector find from Bornholm.
Bornholms Museum, Rønne.
264
Jewellery of Scandinavian type. Bronze, 11th/12th century. Detector find from Bornholm.
Bornholms Museum, Rønne.
265
Jewellery with Christian motif. Silver and bronze, 11th/12th century. Detector find from Bornholm.
Bornholms Museum, Rønne.
266
Mountings of Wendish type for knife sheaths of leather. Bronze, 12th century. Detector find from Bornholm.
Bornholms Museum, Rønne.
267
Lock in the shape of an animal figure. Bronze, Early Middle Ages. Detector find from Bornholm.
Bornholms Museum, Rønne.
268
Harness mountings of Anglo-Scandinavian type. Bronze, 11th century. Detector find from Bornholm.
Bornholms Museum / Nationalmuseet.
269
Costume brooch found in May 2002 with metal detector at Smørengegård on Bornholm. Silver gilt, weight c. 0.5 kg. The brooch is unique, so the dating is difficult: c. 400–1200.
Bornholms Museum / Nationalmuseet.
270
Bakkegård Bible from the seventeenth century, which once belonged to the liberator of Bornholm, Jens Kofoed.
Bornholms Museum, Rønne.
271
Ornamental goblet of silver from the seventeenth century. According to tradition it was given by King Frederik III to Jens Kofoed to thank him for his contribution when the Bornholmers expelled the Swedes in 1658.
Bornholms Museum
272
Portrait of Captain Jens Kofoed (1628-91), who in 1658 helped to seize power on Bornholm, which had been ceded to Sweden that year, and to give the island back to King Frederik III.
Det Nationalhistoriske Museum på Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerød.
273
The Danish fort of Christiansø under British attack in 1808. Painting by Jacob Petersen.
Det Nationalhistoriske Museum på Frederiksborg Slot, Hillerød.
274
View of Hammershus from the north and map of the castle with planned new fortifications, drawn in 1662.
Rigsarkivet, Copenhagen
275
Pistol, attributed by legend to the Swedish commandant Printzensköld, who was murdered in 1658 by the Bornholm rebels.
Bornholms Museum, Rønne.
276
Hoard find uncovered in 1967, hidden in the western ring wall of Hammershus.
The hoard of coins and finger rings was probably hidden in 1522, when the Lübeckers captured the castle.
Nationalmuseet, Danmarks Middelalder og Renæssance, Copenhagen