Christ Church on Holmen (''Kristkirken på Holmen i Bergen'') was the main medieval era cathedral of

Bergen Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo. By May 20 ...

, Norway. Its site was near Haakon's hall (''Håkonshallen'') and

Bergenhus Fortress Bergenhus fortress () is a fortress located in Bergen, Norway. Located at the entrance of Bergen harbour, the castle is one of the oldest and best preserved stone fortifications in Norway. History The fortress contains buildings dating as earl ...

(''Bergenhus festning'').

History

Christ Church was built by King

Olav Kyrre Olaf III or Olaf Haraldsson (Old Norse: ''Óláfr Haraldsson'', Norwegian: ''Olav Haraldsson''; – 22 September 1093), known as Olaf the Peaceful (Old Norse: ''Óláfr kyrri'', Norwegian: ''Olav Kyrre''), was King of Norway from 1067 until hi ...

during the period 1066–1093. In 1170 the relics of Saint Sunniva were moved here from Selja and placed on the main altar. During Bergen's period as the capital of Norway in the 13th century, the area known as Holmen contained the royal residence in Bergen, as well as Christ Church, several other churches, the bishop's residence, and a Dominican monastery. Holmen and Christ Church formed the political centre of the country. The church itself was used for negotiations and the churchyard was used for hailing of kings and meetings of the realm. The first

coronation A coronation ceremony marks the formal investiture of a monarch with regal power using a crown. In addition to the crowning, this ceremony may include the presentation of other items of regalia, and other rituals such as the taking of special v ...

Scandinavia Scandinavia is a subregion#Europe, subregion of northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can sometimes also ...

was held in Bergen in 1163 and several

coronations A coronation ceremony marks the formal investiture of a monarch with regal power using a crown. In addition to the crowning, this ceremony may include the presentation of other items of regalia, and other rituals such as the taking of special ...

were held in the church when it was finished. The kings were also married and buried in the church. In 1531, the church was levelled to the ground by order of

Eske Bille Eske Bille (born ca. 1480, died 9 February 1552) was a Danish diplomat and statesman Biography In 1510, he was made governor and commander at Copenhagen Castle. In 1514 he was transferred to Hagenskov on Funen. He served as Commander of Bergen ...

who was Commander of

from 1529 to 1537. A similar fate happened to the city's Apostel Church. Both churches and other buildings were removed in order to strengthen the defense of the city and port and with the consent of Bishop Olav Torkelsson.

Coronations

Magnus V Magnus Erlingsson (, 1156 – 15 June 1184), also known as Magnus V, was a king of Norway during the civil war era in Norway. He helped to establish primogeniture in royal succession in Norway. King Magnus was killed in the Battle of Fimreite in ...

in 1163 or 1164 *

Sverre Sverre, Sverrir or Sverri is a Nordic name from the Old Norse ''Sverrir'', meaning "wild, swinging, spinning". It is a common name in Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands; it is less common in Denmark and Sweden. It can also be a surname. Sverre ma ...

on 29 June 1194 *

Haakon IV Haakon IV Haakonsson ( – 16 December 1263; ; ), sometimes called Haakon the Old in contrast to his namesake son, was King of Norway from 1217 to 1263. His reign lasted for 46 years, longer than any Norwegian king since Harald Fairhair. Haako ...

and

Margaret Skulesdatter Margaret Skulesdatter (Old Norse: ''Margrét Skúladóttir'') (1208–1270) was a Norwegian queen consort, spouse of King Haakon IV of Norway and queen consort of Norway from 1225 to 1263. Biography Margrete was the daughter of Jarl Skule Bårds ...

on 29 July 1247 *

Magnus VI Magnus the Lawmender (1 or 3 May 1238 – 9 May 1280), also known as Magnus Haakonsson, was King of Norway from 1263 to 1280. One of his greatest achievements was the modernisation and nationalisation of the Norwegian law-code. He was the first ...

and Ingeborg of Denmark on 14 September 1261 * Eric II in 1280 * Margaret of Scotland in 1281

Burials

* Saint Sunniva in 1170 *

in 1202 *

Haakon III Haakon III Sverresson ( Norwegian: ''Håkon Sverresson'', Old Norse: ''Hákon Sverrisson''; c. 1183 – 1 January 1204) was King of Norway from 1202 to 1204. Biography Haakon was born as the second illegitimate son of the future King Sverre, the ...

in 1204 *

in 1263 * Margaret of Scotland in 1283 *

Margaret, Maid of Norway Margaret (, ; March or April 1283 – September 1290), known as the Maid of Norway, was the queen-designate of Scotland from 1286 until her death. As she was never crowned, her status as monarch is uncertain and has been debated by historia ...

, in 1290 * Eric II in 1299

References

External links

Østenfor Nordsjøen - vestenfor Langfjella
{{coord, 60.4003, N, 5.31671, E, source:kolossus-nowiki, display=title Cathedrals in Norway Buildings and structures completed in 1093 Churches completed in the 1090s Churches in Bergen Ancient Cathedrals in Norway Coronation church buildings Tourist attractions in Bergen Former Roman Catholic cathedrals in Norway 11th-century Roman Catholic church buildings 11th-century churches in Norway