Land in Gudbrandsdalen as compensation for a killing
DN 1/927 · 17 Oktbr. 1480 · Vaage
What the letter says
On 17 October 1480 Anders Sigurdsson, member of the lawcourt in Vågå, with the consent of his brother Arne and his sister Ingeborg, gives Sir Alv Knutsson and Lady Magnhild the share his father Sigurd List owned in Bu by Breiden in Holleia in Gudbrandsdalen. In return the siblings and their heirs are to be free of all claims from Alv and Magnhild in the case in which their father was unwittingly present when Sir Bent Hartviksson was struck dead. A canon in Hamar and Sigurd Daffinson also set their seals under the letter.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see and hear this letter, Anders Sigurdsson, member of the lawcourt in Vågå, sends greeting and makes known with this letter the following. With the consent of Arne, my brother, and Ingeborg, my sister, I have transferred, given and handed over to the well-born man Sir Alv Knutsson and Lady Magnhild, his wife, as their property for ever as much as Sigurd List, my father, owned in Bu, which lies by Breiden in Holleia in Gudbrandsdalen, as it stands in the old letters written about it. This is done on the condition and with the wording that I and my siblings and our heirs are quit, free and released towards Sir Alv, Lady Magnhild and their heirs in the case that my father Sigurd List unwittingly became involved in, because he was present at the time when Sir Bent Hartviksson was struck dead. For further firmness and truth about this I ask two trustworthy men for their seals on this letter together with mine. Their names are Sir Halvard Eisteinsson, canon in Hamar, and Sigurd Daffinson. Written on the Tuesday after Winter Nights (the beginning of winter in mid October) in the year of our Lord 1480.
Original text (excerpt)
Allom mannom thæm som thette breff see ok høre hæilsær Anders Sigurdson logretes man a Wagha, ok gør witerlikt meder thette breff, at meder samtykt Arne broder mins ok Ingeborghe syster minne, hafuer ek sæeth gefued ok afhent welbyrdoghom man her Alff Knudhson ok fru Maghnildhe hans hustru til æuerdelige æighe swa mykit som Siugurder liisth, fadher min aatte i Bw som liggie widh Bræidhene i Hollæidhene i Gudbransdalom ok ludher i thy gamle brefuene som ther om giorth er, i swa matthe ok for ordh
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor owned the Giske estate from 1466 and was one of the most powerful men in the realm. The letter is a letter of settlement in which land is used as compensation for a killing. In the Middle Ages a killing could be settled with payments to the dead man's kin, and the payment was often made in land. The letter does not explain why Alv and Magnhild in particular had the right to the compensation. It suggests that they were heirs of Bent Hartviksson or had taken over the claim, but the letter does not say so. The case shows how the great estates grew through fines and settlements as well as purchase and inheritance.
People: Alv Knutsson, Magnhild Oddsdatter