Settlement over the inheritance after Sir Olav Guttormsson
DN 1/945 · 12 Septbr. 1485 · Bergen
What the letter says
On 12 September 1485, at the command of King Hans, Archbishop Gaute, Bishop Hans of Bergen and Alv Knutsson, commander of the royal residence (Kongsgården) in Bergen, mediate between Lady Botild Svalesdatter and Lady Ingegerd Erlendsdatter. The dispute concerns the inheritance after the knight Olav Guttormsson, who was Botild's sister's son and Ingegerd's husband. Ingegerd may keep seven farms in Lista, among them the main farm Hananger, for as long as she lives, and then they return to Botild or her heirs. Hananger is then to be handed over with sixteen milk cows and more livestock and household goods, and Botild pays a hundred marks of Olav's debts.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, we, Gaute, by the grace of God archbishop of Nidaros and legate of the papal see, Hans, by the same grace bishop of Bergen, and Alv Knutsson, knight and commander of the royal residence in Bergen, send loving greetings with God and St Olaf the king. We make known that in the year 1485, on the Monday within the octave of the Nativity of Mary (12 September), we were appointed by letter of command from our gracious lord King Hans to hold court between the well-born women Lady Botild Svalesdatter and Lady Ingegerd Erlendsdatter concerning the division, gifts and debts that lay between them after the well-born man Sir Olav Guttormsson, knight, God have mercy on his soul. He was Lady Botild's sister's son and Lady Ingegerd's husband. We examined and heard the case between them and tested the grounds on both sides. With us sat the well-born man Sir Niels Henriksson, knight, and the honourable and wise men Master Asgaut and Sir Olav Henriksson, canons in Trondheim, Erik Amundsson, lawman in the same place, and Sebjørn Guttormsson, lawman in Bergen. When we had heard claim and reply, we made, with the consent of both, this amicable settlement and this agreement between them: Lady Botild grants Lady Ingegerd, out of love and goodwill and in memory of her sister's son, the right to keep these farms during Lady Ingegerd's lifetime. They lie in Lista: Hananger, Grimsby, Lund, the two farms Stokke, Fridestad, Eitsland and Østre Atla. Immediately after Lady Ingegerd's death these f
Original text (excerpt)
Allom mannom theim som thetta breff see ædher høyra helssom wii Gauto medh gudz nade erchebiscop i Niderooss ock paffuelige sæthes legatus Hans medh same nadhe biscop i Berghen ock Alff Knwtzsson riddere ock høffwitzman uppa konungsgaarden i Berghen kerlige medh gudi ock sancte Olaff konung, kwnnicht gørende, at aarom effther gudz burd mcdlxxx quinto manedaghen infra octavas natiuitatis Marie. effther wor nadughe herres konung Hansses befellingge breff, wore wii skickade ath sithie ein rett i mi
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor was owner of Giske and served as the king's commander in Bergen, one of the most important posts in the realm. The letter is a settlement with the same force as a judgement, made to avoid a long lawsuit between two noble widows. Under the law the land went back to the heirs of the family when a man died without children, while the widow could receive the right to use it for life. Kyrlag means the value of one cow, a common unit of account for livestock and household goods. The letter shows how the wealth of the lesser nobility consisted of farms with tenant farmers, livestock and debts that had to be settled. Lady Ingegerd is probably the same woman who died in 1526, when Ture Jönsson and Vincens Lunge fought over the inheritance after her.
People: Alv Knutsson