Jens Bjelke
Jens Bjelke | |
---|---|
Chancellor of Norway | |
In office 1614–1659 | |
Monarchs | Christian IV Frederick III |
Preceded by | Anders Lauritsson Green |
Succeeded by | Ove Bjelke |
Personal details | |
Born | Jens Ågessøn Bjelke 2 February 1580 Denmark-Norway |
Resting place | Onsøy Church |
Nationality | Norwegian |
Spouse(s) | Sophie Brockenhuus (m. 1610; died 1656) |
Children |
|
Parents |
|
Relatives | Jens Tillufssøn Bjelke (grandfather) |
Alma mater | University of Rostock |
Occupation | Nobleman, feudal lord, jurist and statesman |
Jens Ågessøn Bjelke (2 February 1580 – 7 November 1659) was a Norwegian nobleman who was Chancellor of Norway from 1614 to 1659, and was succeeded by his son Ove Bjelke. He was the son of Åge Bjelke and Margrethe Thott. At the time of his death, he was Norway's largest land owner. After his tenure as Chancellor, the office largely lost its influence and was abolished in 1679.
Education and early career
Bjelke was born at Austrått. At 20 years of age, he was sent abroad to study, studying in Rostock,[1] Leipzig, Leiden and elsewhere. He studied medicine, among other things. On his return on 20 February 1605 he was employed at the Danish Chancery and remained there as a secretary until 20 January 1609. During this time he was assigned the prosecution of the case against Jørgen Dybvad in 1607. He also continued his pursuit of literary works and wrote "Regarding Greenland" on the occasion of expeditions to rediscover that country.
When he terminated work at the chancery and was proceeding to Norway, he accompanied Christian Friis to the Danish Council meeting in Horsens, in late January 1609, addressing Sweden's continuing attempts to penetrate into Northern Norway Nordland and Finnmark. From Horsens, he served as courier to convey the letters directing the men governing these northern Norwegian territories.
Norway's largest landowner
Upon his return to Norway, he resided at Austrått, which he had inherited from his father, who died in 1603. Austrått was a setegård or noble-seat farm, which was therefore exempt from taxes and tithe.
In 1610 he married Sophie Brockenhuus (who died 1656). She brought substantial land to the marriage, including
In 1611 he received his first fief,
Kalmar War
In April, 1611 King Christian IV declared war on Sweden. Jens Bjelke and
Norway's Chancellor
On December 8, 1614 he became Chancellor of Norway and was awarded lay canon status in Oslo, together with the fief of Onsøy in Smaalenene and the Nonneseter monastic properties. In the position as chancellor he was the senior authority in the national judicial system and was routinely a member of the investigative and judicial commissions. In 1623 and 1624, along with Jeens Juel, he studied the state of forests in Norway and performed the same service again in 1631, working with the
In June 1633 he was invested with the fief of Bergen, which he exchanged for the fief of Stavanger on May 1, 1641. In 1643,
Termini Juridici – The first Norwegian dictionary
In 1634 Bjelke published the first Norwegian
Family
He had a total of 14 children, of whom 8 lived to maturity and survived him. His three sons
References
- O. J. Johansen. Norge i det 17de århundre og slekten Bjelke til Østråt. 1928 (pdf)
- Yngvar Nielsen. Jens Bjelke til Østråt, Norges riges kantsler. Christiania, 1872
- ^ See entry of Jens Bjelke in Rostock Matrikelportal
- ^ Stagg, Frank Noel (1954). West Norway and its Fjords. George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. ISBN none.
- ^ Larson, Karen (1948). A History of Norway. Princeton University Press.