Knut Alvsson's pledge of Bjørøya passes to the cathedral
DN 1/1015 · 1 July 1505 · Kalmar
What the letter says
On 1 July 1505 King Hans writes from Kalmar to Sir Nils Henriksson, official at Vardøhus, and Olav Vigfastsson, lawman in Trondheim. Archbishop Gaute had received Bjørøya in Namdalen with its appurtenant property as a pledge from Knut Alvsson for 200 marks. Knut did not redeem the pledge within four years, and the property has now been adjudged to the Crown. The king will give it to Nidaros Cathedral if the archbishop pays what the property is worth beyond 200 marks, and the two are to look into its value.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
We, Hans, by the grace of God king of Denmark, Norway, the land of the Wends and the Goths, duke in Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn and Dithmarschen, count in Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, greet you, our beloved Sir Nils Henriksson, our man, councillor and official at Vardøhus, and Olav Vigfastsson, our lawman in Trondheim, lovingly with God and our grace. Know, dear friends, that our beloved and most worthy father, Sir Gaute, archbishop of Trondheim, has made known to us that some years ago he received Bjørøya in Namdalen as a pledge from Sir Knut Alvsson for two hundred marks, with the property that lies under it and belongs to it. Sir Knut Alvsson bound himself that if he did not redeem the farm and the property within four years after he had pledged it, it should afterwards lie under Trondheim Cathedral for all time. It was nevertheless to be done in such a way that he received what the property was worth beyond the two hundred marks. Sir Knut Alvsson's obligation and conditions were not kept and fulfilled within four years, as it stands, and the property has now fallen and been adjudged to us on behalf of the Crown of Norway. We are therefore minded to grant the most worthy father the property as the possession of Trondheim Cathedral, on the condition that he pays us as much as the property is worth beyond the two hundred marks. Therefore we ask and command you, and give you full power with this our open letter, that you at once, at the very first and at a convenient time, examine, investigate and inquire into ho
Original text (excerpt)
Wii Hans mett guds naade Danmarck, Nories, Wendes oc Gottes koning, hertug i Slesuig, Holsten, Stormarn och Ditmarskenn, greffue i Oldennborg och Delmenhorst hielsæ edher oss elskelige her Niels Hendricksenn wor mand, rådt och embetzmandtt paa Warhwss och Oluff Wigastessenn wor lagmandtt i Trundhem kierligenn mett gudtt oc wor naade, wider kiere wenner att oss elskelige werdugste fadher her Gautthe erchiebischop i Trundhem haffuer oss tilkiende giffuit att hann for nogenn forledhenn aar siidenn
Background
Knut Alvsson of Tre Rosor, son of Alv Knutsson, was killed under safe conduct in 1502 after the rebellion against King Hans and then declared an outlaw. With that his property fell to the Crown, and the king could use it to reward or settle with others. A pledge meant that Knut had borrowed money with land as security, and the archbishop could use the land until the loan was paid. The letter is a royal letter of authority and shows how Knut's properties were distributed after his fall. Nils Henriksson was married to Inger Ottesdatter of Austrått, who later herself came to lay claim to parts of the Giske estate. That a nobleman had to pledge land to the archbishop suggests that Knut needed ready money, probably for soldiers and political activity.
People: Knut Alvsson