Page "Absalon" Paragraph 10

Absalon built churches and monasteries, supporting international religious orders like the Cistercians and Augustinians, founding schools and doing his utmost to promote civilization and enlightenment.

In 1162, Absalon transformed the Sorø Abbey of his family from Benedictine to Cistercian, granting it lands from his personal holdings.

In 1167, Absalon was granted the land around the city of " Havn " (), and built there a castle in the coastal defense against the Wends.

Havn quickly expanded as one of Scandinavia's most important centers of trade, and eventually evolved into modern-day Copenhagen.

It was also Absalon who held the first Danish Synod at Lund in 1167.

He was also interested in history and culture, and commissioned Saxo Grammaticus to write Gesta Danorum, a comprehensive chronicle of the history of the Danes.

In 1171, Absalon issued the " Zealand church law " (), which reduced the number of Canonical Law offenses for which the church could fine the public, while instituting the tithe payment system.

Eventual violation of the law was specified as subject to a secular legal process.