Jens Andersen Beldenak

Jens Andersen Beldenak, (the Bald), Danish bishop, born in the village of Brøndum, the Limfjord, died 20 January 1537.

Jens Andersen Beldenak was the son of a poor shoemaker. He was only taught in a convent school and then studied in Cologne and Rome, where he also worked in the papal office. When he returned to Denmark, he was employed at the King John's office and soon distinguished himself for his sharp intellect, his eloquence and his legal knowledge and in 1501 became bishop of the Diocese of Funen, where he soon fell into a long-standing conflict with the nobility. King Christian II hired him often on diplomatic missions and in 1503 he was the envoy to the peace meeting in Lübeck, where he exceeded his instructions by promising compensation to Lübeck for mobilizing ships during the war. Partly because of this action he was accused in 1517 of the king, who claimed a large indemnity, and he was followed several years in prison. He however managed to regain the king's confidence and traveled to Sweden 1520-1521. He could, through their legal knowledge, the single Privy Council in the Grey Friar's Abbey in Stockholm, to recognize the King Christian's succession to the crown of Sweden. He was also a member of the court, which sentenced Sten Sture the Younger and others of heresy. As a reward, he received episcopal chair to the murdered Bishop Mattias in Strangnas. He became a member of the government after King Christian's departure would steer Sweden and combating of Gustav Vasa led the liberation struggle. He participated in the Battle of Brunnbäck Ferry (April 1521). Then he pulled even with Didrik Slagheck, he returned to Denmark and was imprisoned there at Hammershus on Bornholm. He regained his diocese in 1523 by King Frederick but still had a strained relationship to the nobility until 1529 when he withdrew his diocese to Knut Gyldenstierne against an annual maintenance and yard Kjærstrup on Taasinge. After some indiscreet comments about the king, he was sentenced in 1530 to honor loss. In 1533 he was transferred to Kjærstrup by Daniel Rantzau, was abducted and beaten to Holstein. After six months in captivity, he was bought free of any relatives in Lübeck, where he spent his last days.

Jens Andersen Beldenak are depicted in the altarpiece of the church Faaborg.