Bero (bishop of Finland)

Bero
Bishop of Finland
Church	Roman Catholic
See	Koroinen (Turku)
In office	1248–1258
Predecessor	Thomas
Successor	Ragvald
Personal details
Born	Unknown Västergötland

Christianization of Finland
People
Bishops: Thomas ● Henry ●
Rodulff ● Fulco ● Bero
Popes: Alexander III ●
Innocent III ● Gregory IX
Archbishops: Anders ●
Valerius
Others: Birger Jarl ●
Sergius ● Lalli ● King Eric
Locations
Kokemäki ● Köyliö ●
Nousiainen ● Koroinen ●
Turku Cathedral
Events
Finnish-Novgorodian wars
First Swedish Crusade
Second Swedish Crusade
Third Swedish Crusade

Bero (Björn) was the first certainly Swedish Bishop of Finland in the mid-13th century. His historicity is not questioned.

According to Paulus Juusten's chronicle Chronicon episcoporum Finlandensium from the mid-16th century, Bero was in office during 1248-58. He is also mentioned in another mid-15th century chronicle of the same name. Presumably from Västergötland, Bero was said to have given "Finns' tax to the king". It is assumed, that he was installed as the bishop during the so-called Second Swedish Crusade around 1249 and was not only religious, but also the secular leader of the conquered Finland. He succeeded in office Bishop Thomas, who had resigned three years earlier.

Bero seems to have been the same "Bishop B. of Finland" (B episcopus de Finlandia) who is listed among other Swedish bishops in a document from 1253, the first so appearing. The original letter has survived, with bishop's seal. No other records of the bishop remain.

According to the older Chronicon, Bero was the first bishop to be buried in Räntämäki, apparently in Koroinen, the semi-fortified episcopal residence near Turku along the Aura river. Archaeological excavations have revealed three episcopal graves from the church ruins, rather certainly belonging to Bero and his two successors that were all claimed to have been buried there. It is not known, when the see was moved to Koroinen, but Bishop Thomas is known to have worked in Nousiainen still in 1234. Some historians believe that the see was moved to Koroinen already before Bero, even as early as 1229, but that remains speculative.

The modest cathedral in Koroinen, entirely made of wood at the time of Bero, was dedicated to Saint Mary, like the previous see in Nousiainen. Cathedral's dedication to Saint Mary continued also later, when it was moved to its current location in Turku at the end of the 13th century.

In addition to Koroinen, there were larger Swedish garrisons four kilometers along the Aura river inland, later known as the "Old Castle of Lieto".

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Wikipedia