Editing Odense (section)

===Middle Ages===
[[File:Braunius Odense.jpg|thumb|right|Braunius map of Odense from 1593]]
In the Middle Ages, a number of churches and monasteries were built in the town. [[St. Canute's Cathedral|St Canute's Church]] (''Skt. Knuds Kirke''), now the cathedral, dates from the end of the 13th century and was closely connected to the [[Benedictine Order]]. The town's other old churches are St Mary's (''Vor Frue Kirke'') and St John's (''Skt. Hans Kirke'') with its adjacent monastery. Greyfriars Monastery (''Gråbrødre Kloster'') was founded by the [[Franciscan Order|Franciscans]] in 1279.<ref name=museum/>

In 1247 Odense was burned by [[Abel, King of Denmark|Abel of Denmark]] during conflicts with his brother [[Eric IV of Denmark|King Erik IV]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dengang.dk/abel-og-hans-soenner/|title=Abel og hans sønner|publisher=Dengang.dk|access-date=28 June 2014 |language=da}}</ref> The cathedral had to be completely rebuilt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://museum.odense.dk/boern-unge/boern-unge/undervisning/moentergaarden/tro-mord-kaerlighed/faktaportal/13-skt-knuds-kirke|title=Snt Knuds Kirke|publisher=Odense Bys Museer|access-date=28 June 2014|language=da|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721074457/http://museum.odense.dk/boern-unge/boern-unge/undervisning/moentergaarden/tro-mord-kaerlighed/faktaportal/13-skt-knuds-kirke|archive-date=21 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Nevertheless, the town continued to flourish as a commercial centre, and was charted in 1335.<ref name="Britannica"/> The city thrived economically during the Middle Ages, attracting many merchants and craftsman who traded their goods.{{sfn|Renouf|2003|p=58}}

In 1482 Bishop Karl Rønnov brought the German printer [[Johann Snell]] to Odense to print a short prayer book, ''Breviarium Ottoniense'', considered to be the first work to be printed in Scandinavia. In parallel Snell printed ''De obsidione et bello Rhodiano'', an account of the Turkish siege of the island of [[Rhodes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kulturarv.dk/1001fortaellinger/en_GB/johan-snell-s-printing-works|title=John Snell's Printing Works|publisher=Kulturarv|access-date=27 June 2014|archive-date=31 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831181140/http://www.kulturarv.dk/1001fortaellinger/en_GB/johan-snell-s-printing-works|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Kunst_og_kultur/Bog-_og_biblioteksv%C3%A6sen/Boghistorie_og_bogtryk/Johann_Snell|title=Johann Snell|encyclopedia=Den Store Danske|access-date=27 June 2014 }}</ref>

After the [[Danish Reformation]], involving the suppression of the Catholic bishopric in 1536, the city enjoyed a sustained period of prosperity from the 1530s to the mid-17th century, becoming northern Funen's commercial centre. One of the main sources of income was the sale of cattle, providing substantial funds for the construction of fine [[half-timbered]] houses for the local merchants. The local nobility also participated in the city's development by building residences where they spent the winter months. But the city's prosperity came to an abrupt end in the late 1650s heavy taxes were imposed after the end of the [[Dano-Swedish War (1657–58)|Swedish Wars]]. A period of stagnation ensued until the end of the 18th century.<ref name=dsd/>

From the 16th century the town was the meeting-place of several parliaments, and until 1805 Odense was the seat of the provincial assembly of Funen.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Odense|volume=20|page=2}}</ref> By 1700 Odense's population was about 4,000.{{sfn|Renouf|2003|p=58}}