- Jöns Gerekesson
Jöns Gerekesson (as Archbishop latinized to Johannes Gerechini, also "Jón Gerreksson"), died 1433, was a controversial
Archbishop of Uppsala , Sweden 1408-1421, and ofIceland 1426-1433 until he was drowned. It is not known when Jöns Gerekesson was born, but it is believed to have been around 1380.Gerekesson came from the Danish family
Lodehat . His unclePeder Lodehat was Bishop inRoskilde , Denmark and chancellor to theScandinavia n queen Margareta.Jöns studied at the
University of Cologne and then worked as a canon inAarhus before he became chancellor to the Scandinavian KingEric of Pomerania . On the death of the archbishop Birger Gregersson (1383-03-11 ), the King appointed Jöns to take his place, despite protests from the cathedral chapter. Jöns was of Danish descent and had no connection toUppsala . It is questionable if Jöns ever wanted to work for the church, or if he took the job for his own honour.Jöns cared mainly for his own pleasure, and left his duties to the chapter. He held parties with female company, and lived a life of luxury and abundance. When his money ran out, he took bribes and borrowed money, eventually putting him in debt, which in return forced him to embezzle Church property.
He also physically abused subordinates churchmen, such as
monks and took a young, engaged woman fromStockholm as a mistress. She bore him two children. Finally, the chapter complained toPope Martin V and, after an investigation, the Pope in 1421 dismissed Jöns from his office.In 1426 Jöns entered the duties of bishop of
Skálholt , Iceland. He was formally ordained in 1430. However, three years after being ordained, the Icelandic people had enough of him, and put him in a sack and drowned him.ee also
*
List of Skálholt bishops References
* "Kyrkohistoriskt Personlexikon", by Carl Henrik Martling
* [http://runeberg.org/nfbm/0035.html "Nordisk familjebok"] (in Swedish)
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
