Stefan (archbishop of Uppsala) facts for kids
Stefan (born before 1143 – died July 18, 1185) became the very first Archbishop of Uppsala in Sweden in 1164. He held this important position until he passed away.
Stefan was a Cistercian monk from Alvastra monastery. He was one of the people who helped start this monastery in 1143. We don't know exactly where he was born. However, many monks at Alvastra came from England or Germany. Also, his name was not very common in Sweden back then. Because of this, many believe he might have been from England or Germany.
Contents
Becoming Archbishop: A Journey to France
In 1164, Stefan traveled to a place called Sens in France. He went there to meet Pope Alexander III. The Pope was staying in Sens because of some disagreements happening in Rome.
Meeting Important Leaders
Another important person in Sens was Eskil. He was the archbishop of Lund in Denmark. Eskil was also in exile, meaning he had to leave his home. This was because he had supported a king who was not in power anymore in Denmark.
Sweden Gets an Archbishop
The Pope agreed to give Sweden its own archbishop. This idea had been discussed about ten years earlier. But, it didn't happen then because of civil conflicts in Sweden.
A special cloth called a pallium had been made for the occasion. It was made in Lund for the new archbishop. Eskil had brought this pallium with him when he left Denmark. Now, this pallium was given to Stefan.
The Role of the Archbishop
The archbishop of Lund was declared the "primate" of Uppsala. This meant he had the right to officially appoint the archbishop of Uppsala. This special role lasted for about 100 years.
Uppsala's Independence
Later, there were political disagreements between Sweden and Denmark. Because of this, the Uppsala archbishopric became independent. After that, the archbishop of Uppsala would travel all the way to Rome. There, the Pope himself would officially appoint the new archbishop.
An Old Document
There is a document that is probably a record from the meeting in Sens. You can still find it today at the Swedish Royal Library.
