Harald gives Erling Vidkunsson land in Lofoten
DN 1/175 · 22 Septbr. 1324 · uden Sted
What the letter says
A man named Harald announces on 22 September 1324 that he has given Erling Vidkunsson one spann's rent of land in Leiknes in Boknes parish in Lofoten. The letter is short and mentions nothing given in return.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, Harald sends God's greeting and his own. I wish to make known to you that I have given Sir Erling Vidkunsson one spann's rent (spannsleie: land rent measured in spann, a unit for butter) of land in Leiknes in Lofoten, in Boknes parish. As true testimony I set my seal to this letter, which was made seven nights before Michaelmas (29 September) in the sixth year of the reign of our worthy lord Magnus, King of Norway, Sweden and Götaland (1324). Endorsement: (hand from around 1500 on the back) Concerning Legnessøy.
Original text (excerpt)
Ollum monnum þeim sem þetta bref sia æda hœyra sendir Haralder Q. G. ok sina ek uil yder kunnikt gera at ek heuir geuit herra Erlingi Uikunnar syny spansz leigu iardar j Leik nesi j Lofot ok j Boknes sokt ok til sansz vitnis burdar setti ek mit insigli firir þetta bref er gort uar siau natom firir Mikials messo a seta are rikis vars uirdulegs herra Magnus Noregs Swia ok Gota kungns.
Background
Erling Vidkunsson of Bjarkøy and Giske was drottsete, regent, for the young King Magnus Eriksson from 1323, and was the most powerful man in the realm. The letter is a deed of gift, and one spann's rent means land that yielded one spann of butter in annual rent. Why Harald gave the land the letter does not say, but gifts to powerful men could be payment for protection, a settlement or a debt. Lofoten was the centre of the winter fishery for skrei, and the stockfish from there was Norway's most important export through Bergen. Land at the fishing stations therefore gave access to the income from fishing, and the Bjarkøy family had long had strong interests in northern Norway.
People: Erling Vidkunsson