Christian I grants Alv Knutsson Solør as a fief
DN 2/808 · 11 Novbr. 1454 · Vardberg
What the letter says
At Varberg on 11 November 1454, King Christian I grants the courtier Alv Knutsson Solør as a fief for life, with all royal revenue and right, as Sigurd Jonsson had held it. The farmers in Solør are to pay land rent, fines and other dues to Alv. The letter was issued at the request of Åke Axelsson.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
We, Christiern, by the grace of God King of Denmark, Norway, the Wends and the Goths, Count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, make known: For the loyalty and willing service which the bearer of this letter, Alv Knutsson, our beloved servant and hoffsinne (courtier), has done us and our realm of Norway until now, and shall faithfully do and show hereafter as long as he lives, we have granted and enfeoffed, and grant and enfeoff him with this our open letter, for as long as he lives, our and the Crown's fief and estate of Solør, with all royal revenue and right in every way, as Sir Sigurd Jonsson held it before. Therefore we ask and command all our and the Crown's farmers and the common people who live and dwell in the said fief of Solør that you henceforth come under and answer to Alv Knutsson and give him promptly your annual land rent, sakøre (fines), service and all other rights and dues which you are obliged to give us on behalf of the Crown, and no other, as long as he lives, as is written, and in no way fail to do so. And we forbid all, whoever they may be, and particularly our bailiffs and officials, to hinder or cause to be hindered, obstruct, harass, trouble or wrong Alv, our servant, in this in any way, on pain of our royal vengeance and wrath and full breach of our letter. Given at our castle of Varberg on the day of the holy bishop Martin (11 November), under our secret (lesser seal) which is attached, in the year of our Lord 1454. Endorsement: (under the fold) The king himself, at the request of Sir Åke
Original text (excerpt)
Wy Cristiern meth gudhz natht Danmarks Norghis Wendes oc Godes koning greue j Oldenborgh oc Delmenhorst gøre widerlicht at wi fore troschap oc willigh thieniste som thenne breffuisere Alff Knutzson wor elskelighe thienere oc hoffuesind oss oc wort righe Norghe her til giort hauer. oc her effter trolighen gøre oc bewise schal oc maa swo lenge han leffuer, tha haue wi vnt oc forlent oc vnne oc forlæne meth thette wort obne breff hanum swo lenge han leffuer wort oc kronene lææn oc gotz Solløør meth
Background
Sigurd Jonsson, drottsete (steward of the realm) and owner of Giske, died in 1453, and the fief he had held in Solør became vacant. Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor was a daughter's son of Katarina Jonsdatter, Sigurd Jonsson's sister, and later became owner of the Giske estate. A fief was an area where the king let a man govern and collect the Crown's revenues in return for service, and a letter of enfeoffment such as this was both a reward and an order to the farmers about whom they were to pay. Land rent was the annual rent the farmers paid for the land, and sakøre was fines. Christian I was king of Denmark and Norway, and the grant shows how the king bound young magnates to himself. Åke Axelsson was of the powerful Tott family, and his role suggests that he supported Alv at court.
People: Alv Knutsson, Sigurd Jonsson