Luther Rose, Wittenberg tree, Mrs Inger and the reformation

This Linden tree was planted here by the Mayor of Wittenberg in July 2016. In 2013 Ørland’s Mayor also planted a tree in the so-called Luther Garden in Wittenberg. These trees mark Ørland as a key place in the history of the Norwegian reformation. Around the tree is a flower bed in the shape of the so-called Luther Rose which was the symbol of the reformation. Why is it like this? Behind you are the old stone walls of Ørland Church, and the most famous owner of Austått Manor is buried in the church’s graveyard. Henrik Ibsen referred to her as Mrs Inger and that is how she became posthumously known, even though she herself referred to herself as Ingerd. Mrs Inger and her sons in law were the first prominent family during the time of the reformation in Norway to openly embrace the Lutheran doctrine. This made the family at Austrått enemies of the Archbishop of Norway Olav Engelbrektsson. The most devout of the sons in law was perhaps the sheriff of Fosen Nils Lykke, who prior to coming to Norway stayed in Wittenberg and met Luther in person. In 1533 he was publicly accused of allowing mass to be sung in Danish at his royal estate at Storfosna. He was executed at Olav Engelbrektsson’ castle in Steinvikholm in 1535. Austrått was Archbishop Olav’s last stop on Norwegian soil before he left the country in the Easter of 1537 never to return. As a final greeting to his old enemy Mrs Inger he allowed his men to plunder Austrått for a third time.