Knut Alvsson confirms the division of inheritance in Skara
DN 18/168 · 25 January 1500 · Skara
What the letter says
Herr Erik Eriksson, knight of Fogelvik, makes known that he and the other heirs, herr Knut Alvsson, Abraham Eriksson, Kristina Eriksdatter and Sigrid Eskilsdatter, held a friendly division of inheritance on 25 January 1500 in the Franciscan friary in Skara after their mother and their mother's sister. The inheritance was divided by drawing lots according to Swedish law. Land found later or won back in court was to be evened out among the shares without the division being redone. The town properties still undivided were to be shared at the first meeting of lords in Sweden the next summer.
The letter in modern English
I, Erik Eriksson, knight of Fogelvik, make known with this my open letter that in the year after God's birth 1500, on St Paul's day conversionis [the Conversion of St Paul, 25 January], we who are written hereafter, Knut Alvsson, knight, Abraham Eriksson, Kristina Eriksdatter and Sigrid Eskilsdatter, herr Nils Eriksson's widow, were gathered [uncertain reading] in the Franciscan friary in Skara for a friendly division among siblings after our dear mother and mother's sister, may God have mercy on their souls. It concerned all the inheritance that fell to us, and it was divided by lot and lot stick [drawing lots], so that each should keep what the letter of division contains, according to the law of Sweden. Should it happen that more land can be traced, or that we can win anything back by legal proceedings, that land shall be evened out on each share according to what it lacks [uncertain reading], and the division shall not be made anew. Further, we bind ourselves that we or our authorised envoys shall meet this coming summer at the first meeting of lords that can be held here in Sweden, and there divide the town property [town houses] that still stands undivided, together with everything else that is also undivided. For further certainty and safer keeping we all press our seals beneath this letter, which is written in the year and on the day written above.
Original text
Jak Erik Eriksson rider j Foglewig gør viterlig met thetta mith opna breff ath anno effther gwsbyrdh twsendefemhwndret sancti Pauli dag conuersionis vore wij efftherscreffne Knwd Alson riddere Abram Erikson Cristin Erikszdotther Sigrith Eskylsdotther her Niels Eriksons efftherlewerska vore wij *skyskad j grabrodracloster j Skare offwer eth venligt syskæna skiftæ effther wor kare modher oc modhersøster hwes syele gud nade om alth thet arff som oss til faal met lodh och lodkaffle swo ath hwer
Background
The letter belongs with Sigrid Eskilsdatter's letter of the same day (DN 16/333) and confirms the whole division after Kristina Karlsdotter and Magdalena Karlsdotter, the daughters of King Karl Knutsson. Knut Alvsson took part as brother-in-law of the Gyllenstierna siblings, because his first wife Görvel was their sister. She was dead, and Knut acted on behalf of their children. A herremøte was a meeting of the great men of the realm, which suggests that the heirs expected to meet there in any case. The town properties were divided only in 1509, when Bodil Knutsdatter appeared for Knut's children (DN 16/347).
People: Knut Alvsson