Jon Sigurdsson gives Alv Knutsson authority over an inheritance
DN 2/844 · 21 May 1462 · Grefsheim
What the letter says
At Grefsheim on 21 May 1462, Jon Sigurdsson gives Sir Alv Knutsson full authority over the fixed property left by Halvard Berdorsson, his mother's cousin, whose only rightful heir Jon believes he is. Jon promises to accept everything Alv does in the matter. The lagrettemenn (lay judges) Kolbjørn Herleiksson and Sakse Vigleiksson set their seals below together with him.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all who see or hear this letter, Jon Sigurdsson sends God's greeting and his own, and makes known with this my open letter that I have given the well-born man Sir Alv Knutsson, knight, full and lawful ombud [authority] over all the fixed property that fell as inheritance after Halvard Berdorsson, my mother's brødrung [cousin on the father's side], God have mercy on his soul, as far as I can claim it by law, according to what the rettarbøter [royal amendments to the law] of the worthy lord Håkon, by the grace of God King of Norway etc., lay down. For I know before God that I am the rightful heir after him, and no other. All that Sir Alv does under this authority I will accept and abide by, without any further claim. In witness of this I ask for the seals of these good men together with mine under this letter: Kolbjørn Herleiksson and Sakse Vigleiksson, lagrettemenn. The letter was written at Grefsheim on the twelfth day before the calends of June (21 May) in the year of our Lord 1462. Endorsement: On the back, somewhat later: Letter about the inheritance that had fallen after Halvard Berdorsson.
Original text (excerpt)
Ollom monnom them som thetta breff sea eder høra sender Jon Sigurdson q. gudes ok sina kunnught gørande med tesso myno opno breffwe at iek haffuer fenghit welbornom manne herra Alffue Knwtzsyni riddere fult ok loglight vmbodh om swa mykit fastha gotz som feldh epter Halword Berdorson mynna modor brødhrwngh gud hans saal nade som iek med laghum wel maa til at tala epter thwi som wattar i rettharbothom wørdelighens herra Hakonar med gudz nadh Noregx koningx etc. Thwi at iek wett fore gudi at iek e
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor, later owner of Giske, lived at Grefsheim in Hedmark and was one of the most powerful men in eastern Norway. A minor heir such as Jon Sigurdsson hardly had the power to collect an inheritance alone, and by giving ombud, that is authority, to a knight he gained a strong advocate. Alv may also have had his own interest in the matter, for example by buying the land later, but the letter does not say so. Rettarbøter were additions and amendments to the law that the king issued, and Jon refers to King Håkon's rettarbøter on inheritance from more distant relatives. The letter shows how the nobility's accumulation of estates also went through such powers of attorney.
People: Alv Knutsson