Jöns Gerekesson

Who was Jöns Gerekesson?

Jöns Gerekesson was a controversial Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden 1408–1421, and of Iceland 1426–1433 until he was drowned. It is not known when Jöns Gerekesson was born, but it is believed to have been around 1380.

Gerekesson's uncle, Peder Lodehat, was Bishop of Roskilde, Denmark and Chancellor to the Scandinavian queen, Margareta. Jöns studied at the University of Cologne and then worked as a canon in Aarhus before he became chancellor to the Scandinavian King Eric of Pomerania. On the death of the archbishop Birger Gregersson, the King appointed Jöns to take his place, despite protests from the cathedral chapter. Jöns was of Danish descent and had no connection to Uppsala. Jöns cared mainly for his own pleasure, and left his duties to the chapter. He held parties with female company, and lived a life of luxury and abundance. When his money ran out, he took bribes and borrowed money, eventually putting him in debt, which in return forced him to embezzle Church property.

He took a young woman from Stockholm as a mistress; she bore him two children. Finally, the chapter complained to Pope Martin V and, after an investigation, in 1421 the Pope dismissed him from office.