How to Propagate a Crusade Visually? The Danish Crusade in Estonia in the Late 12th Century and Early 13th Century in the Light of Sacral Architecture
How to Propagate a Crusade Visually? The Danish Crusade in Estonia in the Late 12th Century and Early 13th Century in the Light of Sacral Architecture

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to analyse the construction of the round churches in Denmark in the context of the crusades against the Estonians. In the existing historiography of the Baltic Crusades, visual material has mainly played an illustrative role, whereas in the current article it is the chief source. The construction of the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Denmark and in the surrounding regions is primarily reflected in the political rhetoric of two Valdemars: the Great and the Conqueror. During the reign of Valdemar I (1157– 1182), the main message of the round churches was to support the power of the new Christian elite, showing them as God’s elect, who had the mandate to rule. During the age of Valdemar II (1202–1241), the message seemed to acquire a more militaristic meaning, calling on people to fight for the faith.

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