Axel

Axel, or ABSALON, from 1177 Archbishop of Lund, and also minister and general to Valdemar I. and Canute VI. of Denmark, was born in 1128, and died at Sorö in 1201. He distinguished himself as well by wisdom and uprightness in peace, as by valour and address in war. The Wendish pirates were driven from the coasts of Denmark, and he defeated the Pomeranian prince, Bogislav. In the wise legislation of Valdemar and of his son, he had a great part. He favoured and promoted learning and art, and to his encouragement we owe the history of Denmark by Saxo Grammaticus. By building a castle, he laid the foundation of the future great city of Copenhagen, then an insignificant village.