Table Of Content3
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FRAN GOTL
TILL ESTLAND
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Omslagsbilden:
Kyrkan i Karris
på Ösel.
Foto Peeter Säre.
Från Gotland till Estland
Kyrkokonst och politik under 1200-talet
Akademisk avhandling
som för avläggande av filosofie doktorsexamen vid
Stockholms universitet,
offentligen försvaras i sal G, Arrheniuslaboratorierna, Frescati
lördagen den 22 januari 2000
kl. 10.00
av
Kersti Markus
Fil.mag.
Konstvetenskapliga institutionen
106 91 Stockholm
ISBN 9985-60-761-9
Abstract
Churches in two Estonian counties — Ösel-Wiek and Jerwen — have very many similar features with
churches in Gotland. In earlier scientific researches these similarities in styles were explained by the artistic
ambitions of single travelling masons, the present research emphasizes the political and artistic preferences
of those who ordered the buildings to be built and who financed them. The Danish and German crusades in
Livonia had strong influence on the society in Gotland during the first half of the 13th century, which in its
turn influenced profoundly the ecclesiastical art on the island. Cistercian and Dominican Orders played the
leading role in carrying out the mission and the architectural styles of both orders have had its strong
influence on architecture in Gotland as well as in Estonia. The fact that both orders founded their
permanent settlements in Gotland very soon is closely connected with the Danish missionary policy.
Previous researches of art history have emphasized the domineering role of the Germans in formation of
the architectural style in Gotland, but the present research demonstrates that during the first half of the 13th
century the influence coming from Lund and Linköping diocese played far more important role. The
society in Gotland was not so homogeneous as described in previous historical researches and it is also
clearly reflected in the church architecture.
The research into the churches at Ösel revealed clear connections between the time the bishops reigned and
the changes in the architectural styles in the churches. In mid-13th century Dominican bishops reigned over
Reval and Ösel-Wiek and the architectural features of the Scandinavian Dominicans reached Ösel and
Jerwen via Dominicans. The Cistercian Convent in Reval and the centre of Roma Monastery in Kolk both
founded by the Danish also encouraged the increase of the Scandinavian Cistercian architecture in Estonia.
The liturgical tradition of Cistercians and the Dominican preaching also had their influence on the
architectural forms of some churches in Estonia and in Gotland.
The present research comes to the conclusion that the similar features in the church architecture in Gotland
and Estonia are closely connected with the 13th century political history in the Baltic Sea region.
Key words: Gotland, Estonia, Scandinavia, Middle Ages, 13th century, Cistercian Order, Dominican Order,
Mediaeval Church Architecture, The Masons’ Lodge, Liturgy, Crusade, Livonia, Denmark, Sweden.
FRÅN GOTLAND
TILL ESTLAND
Boken är tryckt med bidrag från:
Berit Wallenbergs Stiftelse
Gunvor och Josef Anérs Stiftelse
Konung Gustaf VI Adolfs Fond för svensk kultur
Kungliga Patriotiska Sällskapet
Stiftelsen Lars Hiertas Minne
Sällskapet DBW:s Stiftelse
Wilhelmina von Hallwylls Gotlandsfond
Ake Wibergs Stiftelse
© Kersti Markus
Grafisk form: Margus Kalmaru
Förlag: Mercur Consulting OY
Tryck: Kristianstads Boktryckeri AB,
Kristianstad 1999
ISBN 9985-60-761-9
FRÅN GOTLAND
TILL ESTLAND
Kyrkokonst och politik
under 1200-talet
av Kersti Markus
Akademisk avhandling för filosofie doktorsexamen
vid Stockholms universitet 2000
Konstvetenskapliga institutionen
106 91 Stockholm
Abstract
Markus, K. From Gotland to Estonia. Ecclesiastical art and politics in the 13th century. 256 pp., illustrated.
Written in Swedish with a German summary.
Churches in two Estonian counties - Ösel-Wiek and motifs of Linköping Cathedral reached those churches in
Jerwen - have very many similar features with churches the country regions of Gotland, the patrons of which had
in Gotland. In earlier scientific researches these similarities closer connections with the centre of the diocese. The
in styles were explained by the artistic ambitions of single team of masons working for the Cathedral was obviously
travelling masons, the present research emphasizes the the biggest and the best financed one in mid-13th century
political and artistic preferences of those who ordered the Sweden, because the Birger Jarl dynasty (Folkungaätten)
buildings to be built and who financed them. The Danish supported it. As the increased influence of Linköping
and German crusades in Livonia had strong influence on Cathedral on architecture in Gotland is closely connected
the society in Gotland during the first half of the 13th with the increasing ambitions of the Swedish kingship in
century, which in its turn influenced profoundly the Gotland, the growth of the influence of German architec
ecclesiastical art on the island. Cistercian and Dominican ture in Gotland is inversely proportional with the decline
Orders played the leading role in carrying out the mission of the Danish power in the Baltic Sea region. The masons
and the architectural styles of both orders have had its of German origin were mostly connected to the construc
strong influence on architecture in Gotland as well as in tion of Maria Church in Visby. At the end of the 12th
Estonia. The fact that both orders founded their perma and during the first half of the 13th centuries there was
nent settlements in Gotland very soon is closely connected an influential masons’ lodge at Cistercian Roma mona
with the Danish missionary policy. Previous researches of stery.
art history have emphasized the domineering role of the The research into the churches at Osel revealed clear
Germans in formation of the architectural style in Got connections between the time the bishops reigned and
land, but the present research demonstrates that during the changes in the architectural styles in the churches.
the first half of the 13th century the influence coming In mid-13th century Dominican bishops reigned over
from Lund and Linköping diocese played far more Reval and Osel-Wiek and the architectural features of the
important role. The society in Gotland was not so homo Scandinavian Dominicans reached Osel and Jerwen via
geneous as described in previous historical researches Dominicans. The Cistercian Convent in Reval and the
and it is also clearly reflected in the church architecture. centre of Roma Monastery in Kolk both founded by the
The evidence in Gotland has proved the thesis that the Danish also encouraged the increase of the Scandinavian
masons’ lodges in the early Middle Ages acted according Cistercian architecture in Estonia. The liturgical tradition
to the directions of either a monastery, a bishop, or a king. of Cistercians and the Dominican preaching also had their
It can be assumed that masons from Denmark participa influence on the architectural forms of some churches in
ted in repeated reconstruction of the church of St Cle Estonia and in Gotland.
mens in Visby which evidently belonged to the Danish The present research comes to the conclusion that the
king. And when their work was completed in Visby, the similar features in the church architecture in Gotland
masons were invited to build those country churches in and Estonia are closely connected with the 13th century
Gotland whose patrons had close connections with the political history in the Baltic Sea region.
Danish. Drotten was evidently the church of the bishop Key words: Gotland, Estonia, Scandinavia, Middle
of Linköping in Visby and the masons who worked at the Ages, 13th century, Cistercian Order, Dominican Order,
Cathedral are likely to have participated in the construc Mediaeval Church Architecture, The Masons’ Lodge,
tion process of Drotten. Via Drotten the architectural Liturgy, Crusade, Livonia, Denmark, Sweden.
