Erling Vidkunsson buys Sodgar in Romsdal
DN 1/285 · 19 May 1343 · Veö
What the letter says
Bendikt, priest at the Church of the Cross on Veøy, and two other men testify that on 19 May 1343, at Bernargarden on Veøy, Geirtrud Sigleivsdatter acknowledged that her husband Asbjørn Asbjørnsson, with her consent, had sold 15 penningsbol and 6 øresbol in Sodgar in Romsdal to Erling Vidkunsson. The couple had received full payment, and Geirtrud warranted the land free of claims from others.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, Bendikt, priest at the Church of the Cross on Veøy, Ivar Ottarsson and Arne Stefansson send God's greeting and their own. We wish to make known to you that four nights after St Hallvard's Day (15 May) in the spring, in the 24th year of the reign of our worthy lord Magnus, by God's mercy King of Norway, Sweden and Scania (1343), at Bernargarden on Veøy, we were present and heard Geirtrud Sigleivsdatter acknowledge and admit that her husband Asbjørn Asbjørnsson, with her yes and consent, had sold to Sir Erling Vidkunsson 15 penningsbol (land that yields one penning in land rent) and 6 øresbol (land that yields one øre in land rent) in Sodgar in Romsdal, and that the couple had then received full payment for all the land. Geirtrud then made the land free and heimol (lawfully warranted) against every man, with buildings and house sites, shares and rights that belong and have belonged to it of old and anew, outside and inside the fence, within the boundaries towards other men. As true testimony we set our seals to this letter, which was made at the said place, on the day and in the year named above. Endorsement: (contemporary hand on the back) Letter for the land called Sodgar.
Original text (excerpt)
Ollum monnum þeim sæm þetta bref sea edr hœyra sænda Bendict prestr at Kross kirkiu j Veœy Juar Ottars son ok Arne Stefans son Q. G. ok sina. ver vilium ydr kunnikt gera, at fiorom nattom æftir Hallwardz mosso vm vaaret, aa fiorda are ok tuttughta rikis vaars virduleghs herra Magnusar med guds miskun Noreghs Swyia ok Skaane kononghs j Bernargarde j Veœy, varom ver j hia ok hœyrdum aa, er Gæirdþrud Siglæifs dotter kændizst ok vidrgek at Assbiorn Asbiarnar son husbonde hennar hafde sællt herra Erl
Background
Erling Vidkunsson was drottsete, regent, from 1323 to 1332 and gathered a great deal of land throughout western and northern Norway, including around Giske. The letter is a letter of testimony about a purchase, and the reason the wife had to acknowledge the sale was that she had a right in the land, perhaps because it was her inheritance. Penningsbol and øresbol were measures of land based on how much it yielded in annual rent, measured in penninger and øre. Veøy was an old trading and church site in Romsdal. The letter shows how a magnate built up his estate by buying small shares from farmers, and that the purchases were secured with witnesses and seals.
People: Erling Vidkunsson