Editing Absalon (section)

==Early life==
Absalon was born around 1128 near [[Sorø]], [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]].{{fact|date=January 2021}} Due to his name being unusual in Denmark, it is speculated that he was baptized on the Danish "Absalon" [[name day]], 30 October.<ref name="bricka"/> He was the son of [[Asser Rig]], a [[magnate]] of the ''[[Hvide]]'' clan from Fjenneslev on [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]],<ref name="Britannica">{{EB1911|inline=1|wstitle=Absalon|volume=1|pages=73–74|first=Robert Nisbet|last=Bain|author-link=Robert Nisbet Bain}}</ref> and [[Inger Eriksdotter]]. He was also a kinsman of [[Eskil of Lund|Archbishop Eskil of Lund]].<ref name="bricka">[[Carl Frederik Bricka]] (ed.), ''Dansk Biografisk Lexikon'', vol. I [Aaberg – Beaumelle], 1887. A.D. Jørgensen, "Absalon" [https://runeberg.org/dbl/1/0088.html pp.70–81]</ref> He grew up at the castle of his father, and was brought up alongside his older brother [[Esbern Snare]] and the young prince Valdemar, who later became King [[Valdemar I of Denmark]].<ref name="gyldendal"/> During the civil war following the death of [[Eric III of Denmark]] in 1146, Absalon travelled abroad to study [[theology]] in [[Paris]], while Esbern fought for Valdemar's ascension to the throne. In Paris, he was influenced by the [[Gregorian Reform]] ideals of churchly independence from monarchical rule.<ref name="gad">"Gads Historieleksikon", 3rd edition, 2006. Paul Ulff-Møller, "''Absalon''", p.10. {{ISBN|978-87-12-04259-4}}</ref> He also befriended the canon [[William of Æbelholt]] at the [[Abbey of St Genevieve]], whom he later made abbot of [[Eskilsø Abbey]].<ref name="bricka"/>

Absalon first appears in [[Saxo Grammaticus]]'s contemporary chronicle ''[[Gesta Danorum]]'' at the end of the civil war, in the brokering of the peace agreement between [[Sweyn III of Denmark|Sweyn III]] and Valdemar at St. Alban's Priory in [[Odense]].<ref name="bricka"/> He was a guest at the subsequent [[Roskilde]] banquet given in 1157 by Sweyn for his rivals [[Canute V of Denmark|Canute V]] and Valdemar. Both Absalon and Valdemar narrowly escaped assassination by Sweyn on this occasion, and escaped to [[Jutland]], whither Sweyn followed them.<ref name="Britannica"/> Absalon probably did not take part in the following [[battle of Grathe Heath]] in 1157, where Sweyn was defeated and slain. This led to Valdemar ascending to the Danish throne. On [[Good Friday]] 1158, bishop {{interlanguage link|Asser of Roskilde|qid=Q12302360}} died, and Absalon was eventually elected [[Roskilde (titular see)|bishop of Roskilde]] on Zealand with the help of Valdemar,<ref name="bricka"/> as the king's reward for ''Hvide'' family support.<ref name="pajung">Stefan Pajung, [http://www.danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/absalon-ca-1128-1201/ Artikel: Absalon ca. 1128–1201], [[Aarhus University]], 20 June 2009</ref>