Gautbert

Gautbert also called AUTBERT or GAUZBERT, one of the earliest missionaries of Sweden. He was a nephew of archbishop Ebbo (q.v.), and was appointed bishop of Sweden by St. Ansgar. Accompanied by his nephew Nithard and several other priests, he set out in 834 for Sweden, and at once began to preach the Gospel. He built the first Christian church of Sweden at Birka. A large number of pagans were soon converted, and the prospects of the mission appeared to be brilliant, but the pagan priests raised a tumult against the missionaries, in which Nithard was killed, while Gautbert had a narrow escape, being chained and transported with his companions across the frontier. All of them repaired to the monasteries of Welnau (now Münsterdorf, in Holstein), in order to await there a favorable occasion for returning to Sweden. As, however, no new opening seemed to present itself, he accepted, in 845, the see of Osnabruck, which he administered until April 11, 860, when he resigned. He died three or four years afterwards. (A.J.S.)