Christen Jensen Lodberg (31 October 1625 - 12 June 1693) was a Danish bishop.
Born in Todbøl, Lodbjerg Parish, his father, Jens Christensen, was a farmer. In his eleventh year he went to the small
grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a Latin school, school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented Se ...
in
Thisted
Thisted is a town in the municipality of Thisted in the North Denmark Region of Denmark. It has a population of 13,505 (1 January 2025)Viborg, from Viborg perhaps to
Odense
Odense ( , , ) is the third largest city in Denmark (after Copenhagen and Aarhus) and the largest city on the island of Funen. As of 1 January 2025, the city proper had a population of 185,480 while Odense Municipality had a population of 210, ...
and finally to
Roskilde
Roskilde ( , ) is a city west of Copenhagen on the Danish island of Zealand. With a population of 53,354 (), the city is a business and educational centre for the region and the 10th largest city in Denmark. It is governed by the administrative ...
school, from which he graduated in 1647. During his studies, he returned to the farm to help out.
After completing his theological studies and accumulating some money, he traveled abroad in 1652, partly helped by a scholarship. Beset by lack of funds, he may have enlisted as a soldier on his travels, first in
Naples
Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...
, where he is said to have become acquainted with a Spanish general, under whom he served one and a half years in the Spanish guard.
After his return in 1657, he took a master's degree, gave philosophical lectures and released some physico-astronomical theses, one of which, ''Philosophical-theological study on the first 2 verses of Genesis'', attracted attention.
After again having been abroad, as the steward of a young nobleman, he became in 1663 professor at Sorø Academy, which had been in decline. In 1665 he was called to court as tutor to the King of Denmark's younger son,
Prince George of Denmark
Prince George of Denmark and Norway, Duke of Cumberland (; 2 April 165328 October 1708), was the husband of Anne, Queen of Great Britain. He was the consort of the British monarch from Anne's accession on 8 March 1702 until his death in 1708.
...
. He was appointed dean of Roskilde in 1666, while continuing to be the prince's confessor. In 1681, he became bishop of
Ribe
Ribe () is a town in south-west Jutland, Denmark, with a population of 8,367 (2025). It is the seat of the Diocese of Ribe. Until 1 January 2007, Ribe was the seat of both a surrounding municipality and county. It is now part of the enlarged E ...
and the following year a doctor of theology.
In 1671, he married Johanne Eilertz #1649-1714#, daughter of Alderman Jacob Eilertz of Copenhagen.
He died in Ribe, and was buried in Roskilde Cathedral.
His son Jacob Lodberg was bishop of Odense.
''Based on text from the ''
Dansk biografisk leksikon
''Dansk Biografisk Leksikon'' (usually abbreviated DBL; title of first edition written ''Dansk biografisk Lexikon'') is a Danish biographical dictionary that has been published in three editions. The first edition, ''Dansk biografisk Lexikon, til ...