of knowledge about early Danish history. Absalon left a legacy as the foremost politician and churchfather of Denmark in the 12th century. Absalon was equally great as churchman, statesman, and warrior. His policy of expansion was to give Denmark the dominion of the Baltic for three generations. That he enjoyed warfare there can be no doubt; yet he was not like the ordinary fighting bishops of the Middle Ages, whose sole indication of their religious role was to avoid the shedding of blood by using a mace in battle instead of a sword. Absalon never neglected his ecclesiastical duties. In the 2000s, "Absalon" was adopted as the name for a class of Royal Danish Navy vessels, and the lead vessel of the class. HDMS Absalon (L16) and Esbern Snare (L17) were launched and commissioned by Denmark in 2004 and 2005. References Further reading Saxo, Gesta Danorum, ed. Holder (Strassburg, 1886), books xvi. Steenstrup, Danmarks Riges Historie. Oldtiden og den ældre Middelalder, pp. 570–735 (Copenhagen, 1897–1905). Absalon's Testamentum, in Migne, Patrologia Latina 209,18. External links Roman Catholic archbishops of Lund 1120s births 1201 deaths 12th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Denmark Burials at Sorø Abbey Royal Danish Navy 12th century in Skåne County