Bjarkøy passes from Knut Alvsson to the cathedral in Nidaros
DN 1/1019 · 24 August 1506 · Kallundborg
What the letter says
King Hans announces at Kalundborg on 24 August 1506 that Archbishop Gaute of Nidaros held Bjarkøy and the Bjarkøy estate in pledge from Knut Alvsson, probably for 200 mark. The Council of the Realm has now adjudged the estate to the Crown because Knut waged hostility against the king and the realm. The archbishop has had the estate valued at 136 mark more than the pledge sum, and in return for this sum the king gives Bjarkøy and the estate to the cathedral in Nidaros to own for ever.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
We, Hans, by the grace of God King of Denmark, Norway, the Wends and the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn and Dithmarschen, Count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, make known to all: Our dear, most reverend father Lord Gaute, Archbishop of Nidaros (Trondheim) etc., has informed us that some time ago he received Bjarkøy and the Bjarkøy estate in pledge from Lord Knut Alvsson for ij mark [uncertain reading: probably 200 mark, as the editor reads it], as the deed of pledge between them sets out. Now this estate has rightfully fallen to us on behalf of the Crown of Norway and been adjudged to us by our dear Council of the Realm of Norway, for the hostility (avindskjold) and the other plots the said Lord Knut Alvsson waged against us and the realm. Therefore the said most reverend father Archbishop Gaute asks to receive Bjarkøy and the Bjarkøy estate from us as property, to have and to keep for the cathedral in Nidaros. He has had the estate inspected and valued to see how much more it is worth than the [ij] mark for which he has held it in pledge, and it has been valued at 136 mark more. For this sum of money we have, of our special favour and grace, granted and permitted, and by this our open letter we grant and permit, that the said most reverend father Archbishop Gaute and his successors as archbishops of Nidaros may and shall enjoy, use and keep Bjarkøy and the Bjarkøy estate for the cathedral in Nidaros as their property for ever, with everything that belongs to it, whatever it may be, without any exception, in accordance with the said pledge
Original text (excerpt)
Wii Hans mett guds naade Danmarck, Nories, Wenndes och Gottes koning, hertug wdj Slesuig, Holsten Stormarnn och Ditmerskenn, greffue i Oldennborg och Delmennhorst giøre alle witterligtt att oss elskelig werdugste fader her Gautthe erchiebischop i Trundhemm etc. haffuer oss tilkienne giffuitt att hand for nogen tiidtt siidenn fick i pantt aff her Knudt Alssenn Børiø oc Børiøs gotzs for ij march effther som thett pantte breff them ther om emellom giortt er kandtt ther for giøre skell, och nu effth
Background
Bjarkøy in Troms was the old northern seat of the Bjarkøy family, the same family that owned Giske, and it had passed by inheritance together with Giske down to the Tre Rosor family. Knut Alvsson rebelled against King Hans in 1501, was killed under safe conduct near Oslo in 1502 and was afterwards declared an outlaw, so that his estate fell to the Crown. It appears that Knut had pledged Bjarkøy to Archbishop Gaute Ivarsson before the rebellion, perhaps to raise money. The letter is a royal deed of conveyance: instead of redeeming the pledge himself, the king let the archbishop pay the difference and keep the estate. The Bjarkøy estate was especially valuable because of the fishing and the stockfish trade in the north, and now it left the family for good.
People: Knut Alvsson