Haagen Sonesen graduated in 1631, and from that time took on the
surname of Rønneby, that being the name of the town of his
birthplace. He was the curate for Rønne-Knudsker parish in 1640 and
afterwards was the pastor for Klemensker parish from 1645 until his
death. In Rønne's church journal he is characterized as "brav og
nidkær" (honest and dedicated). In Danish times Ronneby was the most
important trading
place in Blekinge, partly as a port for exporting firewood, with an
excellent position about 15 km from the sea on the Ronnebyn. One of
the important roads to Småland also ran from there, as well as a
coastal road east and west. In 1658 Bornholm was lost in war to the
Swedes, and a man named Johan Printzenskjld was appointed Commandant
(Oberst) of the army on Bornholm. Not too long after this
Printzenskjld was "invited" to a party at the parsonage (præstegrd)
of Klemensker parish. At that party Haagen Rnneby and one of his
daughters let their admiration and sympathy for the Danish king be
known. For this insult the Swedish Commandant made his host "give"
him a silver jug and the best horse on the farm! On December 8, 1658
the Bornholm people rebelled against their new Swedish overlords;
this began with Commandant Johan Printzenskjld being executed in
Rnne. The rebellion's chief leader was Jens Pedersen Kofoed (1628-
1691), who went on to force the capitulation of the Swedish army
stationed in the northern Bornholm fortress of Hammershus. He would
then take as prisoners-of-war Swedish re- inforcement troops as they
landed at Sandvig during Christmas-time. See his entry for more
information.

On the history of the Lutheran Church in Danmark: The Reformation
penetrated the Scandinavian countries in the early 1500s. The
introduction of Protestantism was supported by merchants and
peasants, and by devout priests who had become followers of Martin
Luther. King Frederik I (reigned 1523-1533), who became quite
religious in his later years, strongly promoted the establishment of
the Lutheran Church. He allowed the leading Danish religious
reformer, Hans Tavsen, to preach in the church at Viborg and ordered
many Catholic churches in the region destroyed, despite violent
protests. It was King Christian III (reigned 1534-1559), son of
Frederik I, who established the state Lutheran Church in Danmark.
With the support of the Rigsrad - his advising council of lay members


- the king ordered all Catholic property turned over to the crown and


declared the Lutheran Church the national church of Danmark with the
king as its head. From 1660 to 1849, a period of absolute monarchy in


Danmark, all Danes were compelled to profess the Lutheran faith.

Om Haagen fortælles, at da Danmark tabte Bornholm til Sverige i krig
1658 og Johan Printzenskjold var blevet kommandant over hæren på
Bornholm, "inviterte" han ham til barselsgilde, og der blev store
diskusioner, da Haagen og en af hans døtre sympatiserede for Danmark,
blev Printzenskjold så fornærmet og lod sig kun formilde med en
sølvkande og præstens bedste hest. I et oprør ledet af Jens Kofoed
blev Printzenskjold skudt og Bornholm blev atter dansk.

Præstegården brændte pinseaften 1652 alle dokumenter og kirkebøger
brændte.