In collaboration with Archbishop Adelbert of Hamburg-Bremen, the Danish king Svend Estridsen established three new dioceses in North Jutland around 1060: Aarhus, Viborg and Børglum. The new Vendsyssel diocese would include Vendsyssel, Thysyssel with Hanherred as well as Mors, which actually was part of Sallingsyssel.
Several things indicate that part of the royal estate's land was parcelled out to the bishop's palace and the diocese's administration. Since the king at this time had his residence at the top of Børglum Hill, more than likely with an adjoining church, the bishop was placed on the parcel immediately south of the hill.
We do not know for sure when the first actual abbey was established at Børglum, but it is believed that on the erection of the episcopal residence in 1060, a chapter or monastery-like society associated with the episcopal residence already existed. At the request of Archbishop Eskil, the powerful Premonstratensian order settled at Børglum in the mid 1100s, and Børglum became the order's headquarter for its monasteries in the current Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
The Premonstratensian Order was founded in 1120 at Prémontré, France, by "Saint Norbert of Xanten", and quickly became one of the preferred monasterial orders of the aristocracy, with approximately 500 monasteries spread throughout Europe.
The brothers of this order call themselves canons, not monks. This is due to the fact that one has to be an ordained priest to join the Order. It is possible that the Cistercian Bernard of Clairvaux recommended the Premonstratensians to his close friend, the Danish Archbishop Eskil, who in the mid-1100s acted as an intermediary when the Premonstratensians arrived in Denmark. The Premonstratensians who arrived at Børglum Abbey were commonly considered to belong to Europe's ecclesiastic elite.
Børglum Abbey, the main abbey in Circariae Dania, had great influence in the Middle Ages. Abbeys in the Premonstratensian order were independent but worked together in regional groups called circariae.
The head of the abbey, the Præpositus, was elected for life by the convention. He had a high rank and was a member in the king’s council. The Præpositus represented the circaria at international general chapters in Prémontré, France every year.
Børglum Abbey had trade relations with the current Germany, Frisia, Flanders, England, Scotland, Norway and Sweden. The Abbeys Tønsberg, Dragsmark, Børglum and Fearn cooperated closely on trade with their own fleet.
Børglum Abbey
the main abbey in Circariae Dania. Established as a Premonstratensian Abbey 1139-1142 and the main Abbey in Circaria Dania. The abbey leader was called ’Præpositus’ Børglum Abbey Church also served as the cathedral of the diocese. The church was originally planned to be larger than the current building, but whether this was realised is unknown.
Tønsberg Abbey:
Founded 1170-1190 with Børglum as the mother abbey. Tønsberg was a trading town and the Abbey church was the largest round church in Scandinavia.
Dragsmark Abbey:
Founded by Børglum and Tønsberg in 1230 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Fearn Abbey:
The only Scottish abbey in Circariae Dania with close trading co-operation with Børglum, Tønsberg and Dragsmark.
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Prémontré:
Main abbey of the Premonstratensian order until the French Revolution, where the order was almost destroyed.
Steinfeld:
Became a Premonstratensian abbey in 1130 and had many daughter Abbeys, including Børglum Abbey.
Rome:
Børglum Abbey was independent from the king and bishop and was directly under the papal authorit
The Reformation 1536
When the Reformation ended in 1536, all clerical property was seized by Lutheran Christian III, who "forgot" to channel money out to the individuals who would now have to assume the obligations that the monastery hitherto had carried.
The years to follow were extemely difficult for the people of Vendsyssel. The social infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and the social network collapsed, the witch hunt began, and to top it all, Christian III gave all the farmers in Vendsyssel the death sentence, because most of them had taken Skipper Clement's side in the Count's feud.
The death sentences could be avoided if the farmers paid a hefty sum to the king, but the king's self-imposed judgments were a far cry from what we are usually accustomed to in the Nordic jurisprudence.