Sigurd Jonsson hands over Båhus to Kolbjørn Gerst
DN 2/743 · 21 January 1441 · Bahus
What the letter says
At Båhus on 21 January 1441, the squire Kolbjørn Gerst confirms that he has received the castle of Båhus with its fief from the drottsete Sigurd Jonsson. He promises to hold the castle for King Eric and the realm of Norway and to deliver it back without evasion when the king, or Sigurd on his behalf, demands it. Members of the Council of the Realm, among them the provost of St Mary's Church in Oslo, set their seals below.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
I, Kolbjørn Gerst, squire, openly acknowledge with this my letter: I have received Båhus with the fiefs that belong to it from the well-born man Sigurd Jonsson, drottsete (the realm's highest official) in Norway. This is done on the condition and with the castle pledge that I have promised and promise on my good faith to hold the said castle of Båhus on behalf of my gracious lord King Eric and the realm of Norway. When the said gracious lord King Eric, or the said Sigurd Jonsson on his or the realm's behalf, demands it back, I or my heirs shall surrender it again without any evasion. For stronger security and greater certainty I have asked the honourable and well-born men Sir Simon Bjørnsson, provost at St Mary's Church in Oslo, and Mattis Jepsson, Simon Bjørnsson and Henrik Skakt, squires and members of the Council of the Realm, to hang their seals together with mine on this letter. It was done at Båhus on the day of the virgin and martyr Agnes (21 January) in the year of our Lord 1441 etc. Endorsement: On the back in another hand: Sir Sigurd Jonsson handed over Båhus to Kolbjørn Gest on King Eric's behalf, 1441.
Original text (excerpt)
Jak Kolbiørn Gerst a vapn widerkennis vpenbarligha medh thesso mino nærwarendis brefue at jak anamat hauer Bahws medh the lææn som ther till lighia aff vælbornum manne Sighurd Jonsson drozste j Norghie j swa dana matto ok j swa dana slotzlowen at jak loffuat haffuer ok loffuar vpa mina godha tro at jak thet samma forscreffna *skoot Bahws halda skal til miins nadhugha herra konung Eriks ok Noreghes rikes hand ok nar forscrifuen miin nadughe herre konung Erik hæller Sighurd Jonson forscrifwen vpa
Background
Sigurd Jonsson was a daughter's son of Sigurd Havtoresson and Ingebjørg Erlingsdatter, who owned Giske: his mother Agnes was the daughter of Sigurd Havtoresson and Ingebjørg Erlingsdatter, and he later got Giske after a long inheritance dispute. As drottsete (steward of the realm) he was the highest official in Norway. King Eric of Pomerania had been deposed in Denmark and Sweden in 1439, but in Norway the Council of the Realm still held on to him for a while, and Båhus was one of the most important castles on the border with Sweden. The letter is a castle pledge (slottsløfte), a written oath in which the commander promises to hold the castle for the king and the realm, and such pledges were meant to prevent a feudal lord of the fief from taking the castle for himself in a turbulent time. The letter shows Sigurd Jonsson's power in the government of the realm during the union crisis.
People: Sigurd Jonsson