Mariefred Charterhouse

Mariefred Charterhouse, also known by its Latin name Monasterium Pacis Mariae or Pax Mariae, and sometimes referred to as Gripsholm Charterhouse, was the sole Carthusian monastery established in Scandinavia. Its foundation marked a significant, albeit brief, presence of this contemplative order in the region, and it stood as one of the last monasteries to be founded in Sweden prior to the Reformation.

History and Foundation

The establishment of Mariefred Charterhouse was a concerted effort by prominent church figures and the Regent of Sweden. Jakob Ulvsson, Archbishop of Uppsala, and Kort Rogge, Bishop of Strängnäs, were instrumental in persuading Sten Sture the elder, Regent of Sweden, in 1493 to invite monks and lay brothers from the Marienehe Charterhouse near Rostock to Sweden. Following this, Sten Sture enfeoffed the Carthusians with the Gripsholm estate in Selebo härad, Södermanland, and later granted them additional lands nearby. The monastery church was formally dedicated on February 15, 1504, the same year Sten Sture was interred there, highlighting his patronage.

Printing and Devotion

An notable aspect of Mariefred Charterhouse was its early adoption of printing technology. In 1498, the lay brothers established a printing press. The single known publication from this press is a tract associated with the 'Brotherhood of the Psalter of the Virgin Mary,' an ecstatic devotional movement focused on the veneration of the rosary. This publication achieved wide distribution across Europe and is recognized for its substantial influence on late medieval devotional practices.

Secularization and Legacy

The existence of Mariefred Charterhouse was relatively short-lived. In 1526, it became one of the first monasteries to be secularized by King Gustav Vasa. Gustav Vasa asserted a claim to the monastery's assets, which was legitimized by the Privy Council. Consequently, the monastic buildings were dismantled, primarily for use in the construction of Gripsholm Castle. Today, virtually no trace of the original monastic structures remains visible above ground, though archaeological investigations have uncovered remnants of cellars and walls south of the modern Mariefred Church. A small collection of stones from the monastery site is preserved in the church tower. The Sten Sture stone, erected in 1905 next to the church, commemorates the founder and his burial place at the site.