born probably 801, near Corbie, Austrasia
died Feb. 3, 865, Bremen, Saxony; feast day February 3
Missionary, first archbishop of Hamburg, and patron saint of Scandinavia.
He was sent by Louis I (the Pious) to help King Harald Christianize Denmark and King Bjorn Christianize Sweden. He initiated a mission to all Scandinavians and Slavs and was appointed archbishop of Hamburg (832). But Sweden and Denmark returned to paganism by 845, and Ansgar had to repeat all his work. He thwarted another pagan rebellion and was recognized as a saint soon after his death.