Jón Arason

Jón Arason (* 1484 gryta, North Iceland, † November 7, 1550 in Skálholt ) was Bishop of Hólar in North Iceland 1524-1550 He was the last Catholic bishop of the country, until 1923 an Apostolic Prefecture was built..

Life

In the 16th century the Danish king Christian III. (1537-1559), under whose reign, Iceland held since 1380, seeks to enforce the Reformation here. It was also about worldly power and wealth: he could bring church property such as the the bishoprics and monasteries under his rule.

There, the king, the important bishopric Skálholt in the south in 1541 with one of the Reformation friendly minded bishop, Gissur Einarsson to occupy. However, opposed the Catholic bishop in the north Hólar, Jón Arason, to let all stubborn reform efforts, this part of the country. He also held the powerful bishopric since 1524.

Many Icelanders identified, and identify themselves even today, with this man, who fought not only for the Catholic Church, but also and above all for independence from Danish rule. On the other hand, he certainly fought for his own interests: from abundance of power and behavior, he is quite the same as with so many mainland European bishops of that time. He married Helga Sigurðardóttir with purely secular marriage contract, as it was quite common in the local clergy, and had with her daughter Þórunn and the sons Sigurdur, Ari and Björn. He was not too squeamish in enforcing its goals.

The southern bishopric, Skálholt, took over after an Act of Parliament in 1541 the Reformation. But when in 1548 Gissur Einarsson died, Jón Arason stepped in and sat there a Catholic man he trusted one. The king did not tolerate this and put their own man in his place. Jón Arason let this capture. However, Jón Arason could not last long against the superior forces of the troops of the king and was executed without trial on November 7, 1550 together with the sons Ari and Björn.

Jón Arason has acquired cultural merits: he himself was a good poet and writer, and founded in Hólar the first printing press in Iceland. The Breviarum Holense ( prayer book of Hólar ) was the first printed book of Iceland, however, it has received a copy.