Ribe () is a town in south-west

Jutland Jutland ( da, Jylland ; german: Jütland ; ang, Ēota land ), known anciently as the Cimbric or Cimbrian Peninsula ( la, Cimbricus Chersonesus; da, den Kimbriske Halvø, links=no or ; german: Kimbrische Halbinsel, links=no), is a peninsula of ...

, Denmark, with a population of 8,257 (2022). It is the seat of the

Diocese of Ribe The Diocese of Ribe (Danish: ''Ribe Stift'') is a diocese within the Church of Denmark. Ribe Cathedral serves as the central cathedral within the diocese. Since 2014, the bishop has been Elof Westergaard. The former Roman Catholic Diocese of ...

covering southwestern Jutland. Until 1 January 2007, Ribe was the seat of both a surrounding

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

and

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

. It is now part of the enlarged

Esbjerg Municipality Esbjerg Municipality () is a municipality (Danish, '' kommune'') in Region of Southern Denmark on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula in southwest Denmark. Its mayor is Jesper Frost Rasmussen, from the Venstre (Center-Right Party) political pa ...

in the

Region of Southern Denmark The Region of Southern Denmark ( da, Region Syddanmark, ; german: Region Süddänemark, ; frr, Regiuun Syddanmark) is an administrative Regions of Denmark, region of Denmark established on Monday 1 January 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish Munici ...

History

The town was a center of commercial activity in the early 8th century, and this may have originated with royal influence. Coins may have been struck there in 720. Whichever king was involved in the digging of the Kanhave Canal may have been involved in the establishment of Ribe also. Trade contacts were mostly with

Frisia Frisia is a cross-border cultural region in Northwestern Europe. Stretching along the Wadden Sea, it encompasses the north of the Netherlands and parts of northwestern Germany. The region is traditionally inhabited by the Frisians, a West Ger ...

and England. Of the over 300

sceat A ( ; ang, sceatt , ) was a small, thick silver coin minted in England, Frisia, and Jutland during the Anglo-Saxon period that normally weighed 0.8–1.3 grams. History Its name derives from Old English ', meaning "wealth", "money", and "c ...

as found in Denmark, 216 come from in or around Ribe, most of them the Wodan type, and these were likely minted in Ribe in the early eighth century. The Ancient Diocese of Ribe was established in 948 with the consecration of

Leofdag of Ribe Leofdag of Ribe was the first Bishop of Ribe in Denmark, later regarded as a local saint but never canonized. Ribe was established as a diocese for Leofdag in 948 under the supervision of the Archbishop of Hamburg, who was authorized by the Roman C ...

as its first bishop. Early in the ninth century a 2-meter wide ditch (a demarcation rather than a fortification) was dug around the town, enclosing a 12-hectare area. Later that century the ditch was replaced by a moat, 6 to 7 meters wide. Archeological evidence shows Ribe was "an active and impressive market place" in the eighth and ninth centuries, and again at the end of the eleventh century, but there is little evidence from the period in between; the town may have dwindled or even disappeared. When archbishop

Ansgar Ansgar (8 September 801 – 3 February 865), also known as Anskar, Saint Ansgar, Saint Anschar or Oscar, was Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen in the northern part of the Kingdom of the East Franks. Ansgar became known as the "Apostle of the North" b ...

set out to christianize Scandinavie, he requested (in about 860) of King

Horik II Horik II (died after 864), also known as Hårik or, in late sources, Erik Barn (Danish: "Erik the Child"), was King of the Danes from the fall of Horik I in 854 to an unknown date between 864 and 873. During his reign the Danish kingdom showed ...

of Denmark that the first Scandinavian church be built in Ribe, which at the time was one of the most important trade cities in Scandinavia. However, the presence in Ribe of a bishop, and thus a cathedral, can only be confirmed from the year 948. Recent archaeological excavations in Ribe, however, have led to the discovery of between 2,000 and 3,000 Christian graves. They have been dated to the ninth century, indicating that a large Christian community was already living peacefully together with the Vikings at the time. Excavations conducted between 2008 and 2012 have also revealed more details of the original church built by Ansgar. Construction on the

Ribe Cathedral Ribe Cathedral or Our Lady Maria Cathedral ( da, Ribe Domkirke or ''Vor Frue Maria Domkirke'') is located in the ancient city of Ribe, on the west coast of southern Jutland, Denmark. It was founded in the Viking Era as the first Christian church in ...

started in 1150, on top of an earlier church, most probably

's church, built in 860. The

Treaty of Ribe The Treaty of Ribe ( da, Ribe-brevet meaning The Ribe letter; german: Vertrag von Ripen) was a proclamation at Ribe made in 1460 by King Christian I of Denmark to a number of Holsatian nobles enabling himself to become Count of Holstein and gain ...

was proclaimed in 1460. In October 1634 a

storm tide A storm surge, storm flood, tidal surge, or storm tide is a coastal flood or tsunami-like phenomenon of rising water commonly associated with low-pressure weather systems, such as cyclones. It is measured as the rise in water level above the no ...

flooded the city. The Catholic diocese was dissolved in 1536 during the

Reformation The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...

; it was succeeded by the

, governed by the newly established protestant

Church of Denmark The Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark or National Church, sometimes called the Church of Denmark ( da, Folkekirken, literally: "The People's Church" or unofficially da, Den danske folkekirke, literally: "The Danish People's Church"; kl, ...

. On 1 January 2007, the Municipality of Ribe ceased to exist as it merged with the municipalities of

Esbjerg Esbjerg (, ) is a seaport town and seat of Esbjerg Municipality on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula in southwest Denmark. By road, it is west of Kolding and southwest of Aarhus. With an urban population of 71,698 (1 January 2022)

and

Bramming Bramming is a railway town in Esbjerg Municipality, Region of Southern Denmark in Denmark. It is located at the Lunderskov-Esbjerg line, Lunderskov-Esbjerg railway line and has a population of 7,111 (1 January 2022).

, now forming the new municipality of Esbjerg.

Notable buildings

* Ribe Kunstmuseum * Mandø Island

nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...

, about southwest

Notable people

The arts

* Anders Bording (1619–1677), poet *

Kristen Feilberg Kristen Feilberg or Christen Schjellerup Feilberg (1839–1919) was an early Danish photographer who is known mainly for his images captured far beyond the borders of Denmark. From the 1860s until the 1890s, Feilberg participated in expeditions to ...

(1839 in Vester Vedsted – 1919), photographer of the peoples and landscapes of Sumatra and Singapore *

Jacob Riis Jacob August Riis ( ; May 3, 1849 – May 26, 1914) was a Danish-American social reformer, "muckraking" journalist and social documentary photographer. He contributed significantly to the cause of urban reform in America at the turn of the twen ...

(1849–1914), an American immigrant photographer, wrote ''

How the Other Half Lives ''How the Other Half Lives: Studies among the Tenements of New York'' (1890) is an early publication of photojournalism by Jacob Riis, documenting squalid living conditions in New York City slums in the 1880s. The photographs served as a basis ...

'' * Bodil Hauschildt (1861–1951), photographer * J. Bodewalt Lampe (1869–1929), American composer, arranger, performer *

Jens Olsen Jens Olsen (27 July 1872 – 17 November 1945) was a clockmaker, locksmith and astromechanic who built the famous Jens Olsen's World Clock, world clock located in the city hall of Copenhagen, the Copenhagen City Hall, Rådhus. He was born in R ...

(1872–1945), a clockmaker and locksmith *

Astrid Noack Astrid Noack (30 January 1888 – 26 December 1954) was a Danish sculptor who specialized in the human figure, creating works such as the statue of Anna Ancher in Skagen, and her ''Standing Woman (Noack), Standing Woman'' which was included in th ...

(1888–1954), a Danish sculptor *

Rued Langgaard Rued Langgaard (; born Rud Immanuel Langgaard; 28 July 1893 – 10 July 1952) was a late-Romantic Danish composer and organist. His then-unconventional music was at odds with that of his Danish contemporaries but was recognized 16 years afte ...

(1893–1952) a late-Romantic composer and organist at

* Kjeld Abell (1901–1961), playwright, screenwriter and theatrical designer * Børge Ring (1921–2018), animated short film writer, director and animator *

Annemette Kure Andersen Annemette Kure Andersen (born 1962) is a Danish poet and literary editor. Her poetry has been translated into several languages including English. Biography Born in Ribe, Andersen matriculated from Ribe Cathedral School in 1981. She went on to stu ...

(born 1969), poet and literary editor *

Per Vers Per Uldal, better known by the stage name Per Vers or at times just Per V (born in 1976 in Gram in Denmark) is a Danish rapper, songwriter and performer. Per Vers started rapping in 1991 appearing in the finals of rap fight held in Jylland. In ...

(born 1976), rapper

Politicians, clergy, and officials

Valdemar II of Denmark Valdemar (28 June 1170 – 28 March 1241), later remembered as Valdemar the Victorious (), was the King of Denmark (being Valdemar II) from 1202 until his death in 1241. Background He was the second son of King Valdemar I of Denmark and Sophi ...

(1170–1241), King of Denmark *

Hans Tausen Hans Tausen (Tavsen) (1494 – 11 November 1561) was the leading Lutheran theologian of the Danish Reformation in Denmark. He served as Bishop of Ribe and published the first translation of the Pentateuch into Danish in 1535. Background Ha ...

(1494–1561), leader of the

Reformation in Denmark The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...

Bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

of Ribe 1542–1562. *

Peder Palladius Peder Palladius (1503–1560) was a Danish theologian, Protestant reformer, and bishop of Zealand. As the first protestant bishop in Denmark, he oversaw the conversion of ecclesiastic affairs. He helped create the church ordinance which founded th ...

(1503–1560), theologian, priest and bishop * Maren Spliid (c.1600–1641), victim of the persecution of witches *

Hans Schack, 2nd Count of Schackenborg Hans Schack, Count of Schackenborg (4 March 1676 – 22 September 1719) was a Danish nobleman and enfeoffed count ( da, lensgreve). He was the second holder of the County of Schackenborg from 1683 to 1719. Biography Hans Schack was born on 4 M ...

(1676 in Ribe – 1719), nobleman * Hans Adolf Brorson (1694–1764), Danish

Pietist Pietism (), also known as Pietistic Lutheranism, is a movement within Lutheranism that combines its emphasis on biblical doctrine with an emphasis on individual piety and living a holy Christianity, Christian life, including a social concern for ...

clergyman and hymn writer * Friderich Christian Hager (1756–1795), colonial commander and governor of the

Danish Gold Coast The Danish Gold Coast ( da, Danske Guldkyst or ''Dansk Guinea'') comprised the colonies that Denmark–Norway controlled in Africa as a part of the Gold Coast (roughly present-day southeast Ghana), which is on the Gulf of Guinea. It was coloni ...

Elisabeth Dons Christensen Elisabeth Dons Christensen (born 14 May 1944) is a Danish Lutheran theologian who served as bishop for the Diocese of Ribe from 2003 until her retirement in 2014 at the age of 70. Biography Dons Christensen was one of several brothers and sisters, ...

(born 1944), theologian, bishop of the

2003–2014 *

Holger K. Nielsen Holger Kirkholm Nielsen, known as Holger K. Nielsen (born 23 April 1950), is a Danes, Danish politician, member of the Folketing for the Socialist People's Party (Denmark), Socialist People's Party. He was Denmark's Minister for Foreign Affairs ( ...

(born 1950), former leader of the Socialist People's Party

Science and business

Vibeke Jensdatter Vibeke Jensdatter (17 October 1638 – 17 October 1709) was a Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * ...

(1638–1709), merchant *

Emil Christian Hansen Emil Christian Hansen (8 May 1842 – 27 August 1909) was a Danish mycologist and fermentation physiologist. Born in Ribe, he financed his education by writing novels. He was awarded a gold medal in 1876 for an essay on fungi, titled ''De dans ...

(1842–1909), brewmaster and mycologist *

Cathrine Horsbøl Cathrine Mathilde Horsbøl (10 June 1872 – 4 May 1947) was one of Denmark's earliest female master carpenters and furniture designers. Always keen to learn carpentry, she joined a workshop in Ribe when she was 13 and trained further at Aksel ...

(1872–1947), furniture designer * Jens Rasmussen (1926–2018), professor * Erik Hansen (1927–2016), architect

Sport

* John Lauridsen (born 1959), footballer * Martin Rauschenberg (born 1992), footballer * Mikael Uhre (born 1994), footballer

Education

The town of Ribe has a long history as a center of learning. The

cathedral school Cathedral schools began in the Early Middle Ages as centers of advanced education, some of them ultimately evolving into medieval universities. Throughout the Middle Ages and beyond, they were complemented by the monastic schools. Some of these ...

(

Ribe Katedralskole , motto_translation = Literature and heArts , image = Katedralskolen, Ribe 2022a.jpg , location = , streetaddress = Puggaardsgade 22, 6760 , region = , city = Ribe , county ...

) has its roots in the Latin School of Ribe, dating back to at least 1145, when the bishop officially handed over the chapter's school. The school provided religious education of priests and clergymen up until 1805 and is nowadays a gymnasium (Danish high school). Ribe Katedralskole celebrated its 850th anniversary in 1995, and is the oldest continuously existing school in Scandinavia.

Schools

Ribe Katedralskole , motto_translation = Literature and heArts , image = Katedralskolen, Ribe 2022a.jpg , location = , streetaddress = Puggaardsgade 22, 6760 , region = , city = Ribe , county ...

* The State College of Education in Ribe (Teacher Training College), part of ''The University College of West Jutland'' * Ribe Business College * VUC (''Adult Education Center'')

Demographics

The following table shows the population of Ribe. Data from before the eighteenth century are estimates, the rest are taken from the official census.

Twin cities and towns

References

Sources

* ''The New Cambridge Medieval History''. Cambridge University Press, 1995. . * s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Ancient See of Ribe in Denmark (Jutland)

External links

Official Tourism website
{{Authority control 700s establishments Populated places established in the 8th century Cities and towns in the Region of Southern Denmark Viking Age populated places Esbjerg Municipality 8th-century establishments in Europe