The archbishop exchanges land with Karl Knutsson of Giske
DN 1/1049 · 29 June 1516 · Throndhjem
What the letter says
Archbishop Erik Valkendorf of Nidaros makes an exchange of land on 29 June 1516 with the squire Karl Knutsson of Giske. Karl receives Rørvika on Vigra and half of Gjuv on Godøy, which together yield 2½ kyrlag a year. In return the archbishop receives a number of farms in Trøndelag, in Soknedal, on Inderøy, in Skaun and Beitstad, and a share in Myklebostad in Sunnmøre. The archbishop promises to replace the land with equally good property if anyone rightfully wins it from Karl.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
We, Erik Valkendorf, by the grace of God Archbishop of Nidaros and legate of the Holy See, make known to all and acknowledge by this our open letter, for ourselves and our successors as archbishops of Nidaros, that we have made a friendly exchange (swap of land) with the honourable and well-born squire Karl Knutsson of Giske. He and his heirs shall have and keep as their property for ever these farms and estates: Rørvika on Vigra, which yields 1½ kyrlag (land rent worth a cow) a year, and half of Gjuv on Godøy, which yields one kyrlag a year. In return we and our successors as archbishops of Nidaros shall have and keep as our property for ever, by way of exchange, these farms and estates: first Asmundhus in Soknedal, which yields one spann (spann rent, land rent measured in spann of butter), further Kjesbu on Inderøy, which yields 4 øre, further Grennes in the same place, which yields one øre, further Vernes in Skaun [uncertain reading], which yields two øre, further southern Vada in Beitstad, which yields ½ øre, further lower Vada in the same place, which yields ½ spann, further Brattreid in the same place, which yields one øre, further Malme in the same place, which yields one øre, and further a goat [uncertain reading] in Myklebostad in Sunnmøre. Therefore we bind ourselves and our said successors to clear and warrant the said farms and estates for the well-born squire Karl Knutsson and his heirs against every claim from anyone. Should it happen that the said farms and estates are adjudged away from him or his
Original text (excerpt)
Vii Eric Walckendorff met gwdes nade erchebiscop i Trondem oc paffwelig sædes legatt gøre witterligt alle oc kændes met thette wort obne breff ffor oss oc wore effterkommendes erchebiscoppe i Trondem at wii haffwe giort et wenligt mageskiffte met erlig oc wælbyrdig swænd Karl Knwdzsson til Gitzske wæpnere vdj saa maade at han oc hans arffwinge skwlle haffwe oc beholde til ewindelig eie thesse effterskreffne gaarde oc godz som ære Rørwighen i Wegrem oc rænther aarlige iɉ kørlag oc halffdelen i Gi
Background
Karl Knutsson of Giske was probably the son of Knut Alvsson, who was killed in 1502, and he held Giske in the years that followed. An exchange (makeskifte) is a swap of land, and both parties gained by gathering their properties near where they themselves lived: Karl got land on the islands around Giske, and the archbishop got land in Trøndelag near Nidaros. Kyrlag and spann are measures of land rent, the annual rent the tenant farmer paid, reckoned in the value of a cow or in spann of butter. Erik Valkendorf was archbishop from 1510 and papal legate, and he was one of the most powerful men in Norway in the union period. The letter is sealed by the archbishop, the lawman in Trondheim and two canons to give it full force as evidence.
People: Karl Knutsson