Bornholm

Bornholm is a Danish island of 43.040 inhabitants (2007), located at the south of the Sweden. It was also a amt (department) of the Denmark. Since January 1st 2007 it belongs to the Hovedstaden (area).

Geography

The island of Bornholm to the characteristic to be the only one of Denmark having a rock part from which the Glacier S could not come to end to the Quaternaire. The cliffs of the northern coast are thus spectacular. The southern part, much more punt, offers to the tourist splendid beaches whose fine sand was used formerly for manufacture of the sand glasses. The charm of this island favourable with the rides, also lies in an original architectural heritage (several splendid round churches). These assets allow the fatherland Burgondes very (they would have left there at the end the Roman Empire to settle definitively in Burgundy) a destination appraisal for the amateurs of calm and history.

Many sea links with Køge, Ystad (Sweden), Sassnitz (Germany)

History

In the medieval Icelandic sources, the island of Bornholm is named Burgundarholm . Alfred Large the names it, him, Burgenda Land . It is starting from these names that certain researchers make EC island the fatherland of the Burgondes.

The island formed originally part of the Danish States when this one unified. Attached to the Scanie, it was thus managed according to the Loi scanienne, after this one was codified at the 13th century.

The control of the island was the object of a long competition between the Danish crown and the Archevêché of Lund, which fought several battles to reach that point. The first fortress built on the island was Gambleborg. It was soon replaced by Lilleborg, built by the king in 1150. One year before, the king had accepted the transfer of three of the four subdivisions of the island to the archbishop's palace of Lund.

In 1250, the archbishop made build his own fortress, Hammershus. From this one, it launched, in 1259, a campaign to conquer the remainder of Bornholm, including Lilleborg which was destroyed. The statute of the island will remain however prone to arguments during two more centuries. It is only in 1522 that the island will cease belonging to the field of the archbishop's palace of Lund.

In 1525, the island is been mortaged to the Hanseatic city of Lübeck for fifty years, in order to compensate for the debts of the Danish crown. The inhabitants were then subjected to heavy taxes and the forced labor. A revolt burst however in 1535 and the island became again a Danish stronghold, managed by a lord.

At the 17th century, the island was occupied on several occasions. Sweden conquered in particular the island in 1645, but had to return it to Denmark at the time of the peace treaty which followed. In 1658 however, Bornholm was yielded to Sweden when Denmark had to give up its provinces of the East (Scanie, Trondelag). The same year, a revolt burst and the Swedish commander was assassinated. The inhabitants then gave their island in gift to the king of Denmark Frederic III, provided that it yields never again the island to another power and in exchanges of many privileges. An agreement in this direction was concluded in 1560.

During 19th century, the island knew Swede an important immigration of Scanie and Småland, in the search of better work conditions. If the majority returned thereafter to Sweden, some remained.

Development of the population

Anecdote

Under the fictitious name of Courland , it is this island which inspired to the serial the Young lady of Avignon with Louis Velle and Marthe Keller.

External bonds

photo Gallery of Bornholm and Christiansø
Bornholm

Simple: Bornholm

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