In 1165 Valdemar I, himself an honorary brother of the order, gave the Knights of St John land at Antvorskov outside Slagelse, and the house was built in Archbishop Eskil's time.
It is the order's chief house in Scandinavia and answers to the order's own superiors, not to the bishop. In 1200 it is a young house; its great landholding comes in the 13th and 14th centuries (en.wikipedia).
Who he is
- Name
- not named in the sources read
- Title
- prior of the Order of St John at Antvorskov
- Since
- not pinned
- Born
- not pinned
- Family
- not pinned
- Confidence
- low
en.wikipedia (Antvorskov)
Overlord
the master of the Hospital in the East; the house enjoys the Danish king's protection
What it holds
- the house and land at Antvorskov by Slagelse
- other land not pinned for 1200
How it was acquired
Royal gift of Valdemar I, 1165.
Allies and rivals
The king, its founder's son. No rival recorded.
How things stand that morning
A settled house under royal protection; the prior is not named.
Wealth
Royal endowment and gifts; not pinned.
Military
None known in Denmark; the order's work is the support of the East.
Places of note
- Antvorskov: the Hospitallers' house
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Only the foundation (1165) and the later status are attested in the source read.
On the map: One unit round the house.
Primary sources for Denmark
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- The Danish annals of Lund, Ryd and other houses (12th and 13th centuries; Lund continued to 1307, Ryd to 1288). Short dated entries from Lund, the archbishop's seat, and from Ryd in Schleswig. Read online
- Annals of Stade, by Albert of Stade, Albert of Stade (about 1240 to 1256). A world chronicle written at Stade in the 1240s from older Stade and Bremen annals. Read online
- Chronicle of the Slavs, by Arnold of Lübeck, Arnold of Lübeck (about 1209 to 1210). Arnold continues Helmold and writes from Lübeck, close to Danish, Welf and Baltic affairs. Read online
- Chronicle of the Slavs, by Helmold of Bosau, Helmold of Bosau (about 1167 to 1172). Background only. Read online
- The Icelandic annals to 1578 (compiled from the late 13th century onward from older notes). Year-by-year notices that fix Icelandic chronology. Read online
- The Livonian Chronicle of Henry, Henry of Livonia (1225 to 1227). The chief source for the Baltic mission. Read online
- Deeds of the Danes, Saxo Grammaticus (about 1185 to 1208). Saxo was writing at Lund in 1200 under Absalon, who died in March 1201, and his last books are an insider's history of Valdemar I and Knud VI to 1185: the Wendish wars, the taking of Rügen, the submission of Pomerania in 1185, the Danish fleet, Absalon's power and the Danish quarrel with the Empire. Read online
- Short history of the kings of Denmark; The Law of the Retainers, Sven Aggesen (about 1185 to 1188). A short Latin history of the Danish kings to Knud VI's Pomeranian victory of 1185, with the Lex castrensis, Sven's version of the law of the royal household. Read online
11 more in the sources library for Scandinavia.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.