The Emergence of an Aristocratic Environment: The Danish Archbishops Property at Flyinge
(2026) ARKM22 20261Historical Archaeology
- Abstract
- Northeast of the Swedish town of Lund lies Flyinge which today offers various equestrian educational programs. During the Middle Ages the Danish archdiocese, located in Lund, owned a manor with stables at this location. Besides Flyinge the archdiocese owned several other properties throughout Medieval Denmark such as the main residence of Lundagård, Hammershus on Bornholm and Åhus Castle.
While contemporary sources are sparse, Flyinge housed several horses, had a moat and graveyard present while being decorated with dams and gardens. Towards the end of the fifteenth century, the manor was fortified with a curtain wall and subsequently referenced to as a castle. Why was a manor, owned by the archbishop’s see, established and later... (More) - Northeast of the Swedish town of Lund lies Flyinge which today offers various equestrian educational programs. During the Middle Ages the Danish archdiocese, located in Lund, owned a manor with stables at this location. Besides Flyinge the archdiocese owned several other properties throughout Medieval Denmark such as the main residence of Lundagård, Hammershus on Bornholm and Åhus Castle.
While contemporary sources are sparse, Flyinge housed several horses, had a moat and graveyard present while being decorated with dams and gardens. Towards the end of the fifteenth century, the manor was fortified with a curtain wall and subsequently referenced to as a castle. Why was a manor, owned by the archbishop’s see, established and later transformed so close to Lund? The aim of this thesis is to analyze Flyinge as an aristocratic environment and compare this site with Lundagård to unveil similarities and differences.
The oldest map of Flyinge, dated to the middle of the eighteenth century, shows old gardens, small dams and a larger overgrown pond. In the fifteenth century, Flyinge was fortified with a curtain wall next to a previously existing moat. These elements played an important role in showcasing one's aristocratic status in medieval society. Furthermore, a graveyard, with human remains dated from the twelfth century to the fifteenth century, existed at the site. Flyinge’s location enabled opportunities to design the surrounding landscape according to aristocratic demands.
By comparing the archbishop’s main residence of Lundagård in Lund with Flyinge, it became possible to understand Flyinge from the perspective of a medieval aristocrat. Furthermore, Flyinge could be put in a broader viewpoint amongst other contemporary aristocratic sites owned by various members of the aristocracy. While the Danish crown seized ownership after the Protestant Reformation and handed the estate over to nobility, the aristocratic space and hippological interest never ceased to exist. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9246574
- author
- Engdahl, Elias LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- ARKM22 20261
- year
- 2026
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Archdiocese of Lund Landscape archaeology Castle studies Aristocratic landscapes Medieval Denmark Triangulation
- language
- English
- id
- 9246574
- date added to LUP
- 2026-09-30 12:47:10
- date last changed
- 2026-09-30 12:47:10
@misc{9246574,
abstract = {{Northeast of the Swedish town of Lund lies Flyinge which today offers various equestrian educational programs. During the Middle Ages the Danish archdiocese, located in Lund, owned a manor with stables at this location. Besides Flyinge the archdiocese owned several other properties throughout Medieval Denmark such as the main residence of Lundagård, Hammershus on Bornholm and Åhus Castle.
While contemporary sources are sparse, Flyinge housed several horses, had a moat and graveyard present while being decorated with dams and gardens. Towards the end of the fifteenth century, the manor was fortified with a curtain wall and subsequently referenced to as a castle. Why was a manor, owned by the archbishop’s see, established and later transformed so close to Lund? The aim of this thesis is to analyze Flyinge as an aristocratic environment and compare this site with Lundagård to unveil similarities and differences.
The oldest map of Flyinge, dated to the middle of the eighteenth century, shows old gardens, small dams and a larger overgrown pond. In the fifteenth century, Flyinge was fortified with a curtain wall next to a previously existing moat. These elements played an important role in showcasing one's aristocratic status in medieval society. Furthermore, a graveyard, with human remains dated from the twelfth century to the fifteenth century, existed at the site. Flyinge’s location enabled opportunities to design the surrounding landscape according to aristocratic demands.
By comparing the archbishop’s main residence of Lundagård in Lund with Flyinge, it became possible to understand Flyinge from the perspective of a medieval aristocrat. Furthermore, Flyinge could be put in a broader viewpoint amongst other contemporary aristocratic sites owned by various members of the aristocracy. While the Danish crown seized ownership after the Protestant Reformation and handed the estate over to nobility, the aristocratic space and hippological interest never ceased to exist.}},
author = {{Engdahl, Elias}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{The Emergence of an Aristocratic Environment: The Danish Archbishops Property at Flyinge}},
year = {{2026}},
}