Axelorecclesiastically Absalon

Axel, or ecclesiastically Absalon, Archbishop of Lund and Primate of Denmark in the twelfth century, was the trusted counsellor of Waldemar I. and Canute IV., whom he served with the sword as well as with the crozier, freeing the country from pirates and defeating the Pomeranians. He restored Dantzic and enlarged Copenhagen. The famous Saxo Grammaticus was in his service, and has left many memorials of his patron's career. He died in 1201 at the age of 73.