Copenhagen City was founded by Bishop Absalon (1128-1201), who was at that time adviser of King Valdemar I, and the archbishop of Roskilde, which was the capital of Denmark in the 12th century. Here he initiated the building of Roskilde cathedral, the royal burial place of Danish kings and queens for many centuries.  He was also the archbishop of Lund, a province in Sweden near Malmø. Absalon died in 1201 and is buried in the old monastery at Sorø behind the High Altar. He donated all of his belongings to the monastery and property to his twin brother Esben Snare. In the years 1160-67 Bishop Absalon built a citadel near Christiansborg Castle to protect the city. This was the first step to found the Danish capital Copenhagen. Today the remains of the original Copenhagen castle under Christiansborg can be seen by visitors. Copenhagen became the royal capital of Denmark in 1416, and in 1443 Copenhagen replaces Roskilde as the Danish capital. During the reign of the great builder King Christian IV (1588-1648), many remarkable buildings were constructed like Rosenborg Castle, The Round Tower and The Old Stock Exchange.

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