The Pope takes Skule and his property under protection
DN 1/6 · 5 Decbr. 1220 · Lateran
What the letter says
Pope Honorius III writes at the Lateran in Rome on 5 December 1220 to Skule, whom he calls Duke of Norway. At Skule's own request the Pope takes him and all he rightfully owns, and all he may later acquire lawfully, under the protection of St Peter and the Pope. No one may break this protection.
The letter in modern English
Bishop Honorius etc. to the noble man S[kule], Duke of Norway. The filial devotion which you show to us and to the Roman Church rightly deserves that we embrace your person with the privilege of love and grace, raise you up with protection and support you with our favour. Therefore, beloved son in the Lord, we gladly assent to your petition, and we take your person, with all the goods which you now rightfully possess or which you may in future, with the Lord's help, acquire by just means, under the protection of blessed Peter and ourselves, and we fortify it with the protection of this present letter. Let no one therefore etc. break our protection. But if anyone etc. Given at the Lateran on the nones of December [5 December] in our fifth year [1220].
Original text
Honorius episcopus etc. Nobili viro S[culoni] Duci Norwegie. Filialis devotionis affectus, quem erga nos & Romanam ecclesiam exhibes, laudabiliter promeretur, ut personam tuam prerogativa dilectionis et gratie amplexantes, te attollamus presidiis et favoribus foveamus. Eapropter dilecte in domino fili, tuis supplicationibus grato concurrentes assensu, personam tuam cum omnibus bonis, que inpresentiarum rationabiliter possides, aut in futurum prestante domino iustis modis poteris adipisci, sub
Background
Skule Bårdsson (1189 to 1240) was jarl and ruled Norway together with the young King Håkon Håkonsson after 1217. He belonged to the Giske family through his great-grandmother Tora Skoftesdatter, who had married into Rein. A papal letter of protection was a way for a great man to secure himself in troubled times. Anyone who touched his person or property risked the punishments of the Church. That Skule himself asked for the protection suggests that he wished to strengthen his position against the king and other great men. In the Latin he is called «dux», even though he was still only jarl. He became duke only in 1237.
People: Skule Bårdsson