Thorfinn of Hamar

Who was Thorfinn of Hamar?

Thorfinn of Hamar was the Bishop of the Ancient Diocese of Hamar in medieval Norway.

Thorfinn was born at Trondheim in Norway, and may have been a Cistercian monk before becoming Bishop of Hamar. Although he achieved a fair amount of fame as a saint, comparatively few details of his life are clearly known.

Thorfinn and many other bishops of the area disagreed with the sitting King Eric II of Norway regarding a number of issues, including episcopal elections. King Erik received the nickname "Priesthater" from his less than successful relations with the church.

There had been an agreement, the Tønsberg Concord signed in 1277 between King Magnus VI of Norway and Jon Raude, the Archbishop of Nidaros confirming certain privileges of the clergy, the freedom of episcopal elections and similar matters. In 1282, King Eric repudiated this agreement, and a fierce dispute between Church and state ensued. Eventually the King outlawed Archbishop Jon Raude, and his two chief supporters, Bishop Andres of Oslo and Bishop Thorfinn of Hamar. Bishop Thorfinn, after many hardships including shipwreck, made his way to the Abbey of Ter Doest at Lissewege, near Bruges, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. He died there on January 8, 1285.