BORNHOLM  , an

island in the Baltic Sea, 22 M . S.E. of the Swedish coast, belonging to Denmark, lying on 15° E., and between 55° and 55° 18' N., and measuring 24 M. from S.E. to N.W. and 19 (extreme) from E. to W . Pop . (1901) 40,889 . The surface is generally hilly; the scenery is fine in the north, where the cliffs reach a height of 135 ft., and the granite hill of Helligdomsklipper dominates the island . Besides freestone, exported for building, limestone, blue marble, and porcelain-clay are worked . A little coal is found and used locally, but it is not of good quality . Oats, flax and hemp are cultivated . The inhabitants are employed in agriculture, fishing, brewing, distillation and the manufacture of earthenware . Weaving and clock-making are also carried on to some extent . The capital is Ronne (115 m. by sea from Copenhagen), and there are five other small towns on the island—Svanike, Nekso, Hasle, Allinge, and Sandvig . A railway connects Ronne with Nekso (22 m .

E. by S.), where a bust commemorates J . N .

Madvig, the philologist, who was born there in 1804 (d . 1886) . Blanch's Hotel, to m . N. of Ronne, is the most favoured resort on the island, which attracts many visitors . On the north-west coast are the ruins of the castle of Hammershus, which was built in 1158, and long served as a state prison; while another old castle, erected by Christian V. in 1684, and important as commanding the entrance to the Baltic, is situated on Christianso, one of a small group of islands 15 M . E. by N . The island of Bornholm has had an eventful history . In early times it was long the independent seat of marauding Vikings . In the 12th century it became a fief of the archbishop of Lund . In 1510 it was captured by the Hanseatic League, in 1522 it came under Danish sway, and in 1526 it was made directly subject to the city of Lubeck .

In 1645 the Swedes took it by

storm, and their possession of it was confirmed by the peace of Roskilde in 1658; but the sympathies of the people were with Denmark, and a popular insurrection succeeded in expelling the Swedish forces, the island coming finally into the possession of Denmark in 166o .