Editing Odense (section)

===Early history===

Odense is one of Denmark's oldest cities. Archaeological excavations in the vicinity show proof of settlement for over 4,000 years since at least the [[Stone Age]].{{sfn|Renouf|2003|p=58}}<ref name="dnet"/> The earliest community was centred on the higher ground between the [[Odense River]] to the south and [[Naesbyhoved Lake]] (now dry) to the north. [[Nonnebakken]], one of Denmark's former [[Viking ring fortress]]es, lay to the south of the river.<ref name=historienshus>{{cite web|url=http://www.historienshus.dk/odenses%20historie|title=Begyndelsen|publisher=Historiens Hus Odense|access-date=26 June 2014|language=da|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714145924/http://www.historienshus.dk/odenses%20historie|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Today, Odense's Møntergården Museum has many artefacts related to the early Viking history in the Odense area.{{sfn|Harding|2009|p=73}} The Vikings built numerous fortifications along the river banks to defend it against invaders coming in from the coast.{{sfn|Renouf|2003|p=58}}

[[File:Skt. Knud den Hellige.JPG|thumb|left|upright| [[Canute IV of Denmark]], generally considered to be the last Viking king, was murdered by unruly peasants in Odense in 1086]]

The city celebrated its thousandth anniversary in 1988, commemorating the first mention of the town's name in a letter dated 18 March 988 from the German emperor [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto III]] which granted rights to Odense and neighbouring settlements.<ref name=museum>{{cite web|url=http://museum.odense.dk/viden/historie/odenses-historie/odense-bys-historie|title=Odense Bys Historie|publisher=Odense Bys Museer|access-date=27 June 2014|language=da|archive-date=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715000213/http://museum.odense.dk/viden/historie/odenses-historie/odense-bys-historie|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first church in Odense appears to have been [[St Mary's Church, Odense|St Mary's]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/16064d.htm|title=Ancient See of Odense in Denmark|publisher=Catholic Encyclopedia at New Advent|access-date=28 June 2014 }}</ref> probably built in the late 12th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://danmarkskirker.natmus.dk/uploads/tx_tcchurchsearch/Odense_1013-1220.pdf|title=Vor Frue Kirke|publisher=Danmarks Kirker, Nationalmuseet|access-date=28 June 2014|language=da|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165603/http://danmarkskirker.natmus.dk/uploads/tx_tcchurchsearch/Odense_1013-1220.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The territory, previously part of the vast [[Archbishopric of Hamburg]], was created a [[Roman Catholic bishopric of Odense|Catholic diocese]] in 988. The first recorded bishops of Odense were Odinkar Hvide and [[Reginbert of Odense|Reginbert]], who was consecrated by Archbishop [[Æthelnoth (archbishop of Canterbury)|Æthelnoth]] of [[Archbishopric of Canterbury|Canterbury]], in 1022.{{sfn|Larson|2014|p=136}}

Recent excavations have shown that from the early 11th century, the town developed in the area around Albani Torv, Fisketorvet, Overgade and Vestergade.<ref name=historienshus/> By 1070, Odense had already grown into a city of stature in Denmark.<ref name="dnet"/> [[Canute IV of Denmark]], generally considered to be the last Viking king, was murdered by unruly peasants, discontent with the high taxes he imposed on the town, in Odense's [[St. Canute's Abbey, Odense|St Alban's Priory]] on 10 July 1086.<ref name="dnet"/> He was canonized in 1100.<ref name=dsd>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Fyn/Fyn_-_byer/Odense/Odense_%28Historie%29|title=Odense – historie|encyclopedia=Den Store Danske|access-date=26 June 2014 |language=da}}</ref> The priory no longer exists, although a church has been situated on the site since about 900. At the beginning of the 12th century, Benedictine monks from England founded St Canute's Abbey. It was here the English monk [[Ælnoth of Canterbury|Ælnoth]] wrote Denmark's first literary work, ''Vita et Passio S. Canuti'' (The Life and Passion of St Canute).<ref name=dsd/> Canute's shrine in Odense Cathedral (which was attached to the priory) attracted pilgrims throughout the Middle Ages.<ref name="Britannica">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/425058/Odense|title=Odense|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=26 June 2014}}</ref>