Good news of Knut Alvsson in Norway
DN 22/19 · 20. februar 1502 · Skara
In the winter of 1502 Knut Alvsson, lord of Giske, carried the rebellion against King Hans into Norway. The letter shows that the Sture side in Sweden followed his campaign closely and saw it as part of the same war.
What the letter says
Arvid Siggesson, parish priest of Fellingsbro, writes from Skara on 20 February 1502 to the marshal herr Svante Nilsson. Duke Christiern was in Varberg with the lords of Scania and probably intended to move into Norway against herr Knut, but he went back to Denmark. Good news has come that Knut has made good progress with the common people in Norway, while Henrik Krummedike's bailiffs and men have withdrawn into the castle. There are various rumours about King Hans. In an enclosed slip Arvid advises Svante on Örebro and Stockholm and thinks that a Swedish advance would frighten the Danes, so that Knut could more freely finish what he had begun.
The letter in modern English
My humble, loving greetings always sent with our Lord. Dear herr Svante, you should know that in this part of the country there is no news other than good, God be praised. I was in these days at Ørsten [uncertain place name]. There was no sure news there from Denmark, other than that Duke Christiern was in Varberg with the lords of Scania, so that his force could be estimated at three or four hundred men fit to bear arms, and that he meant to go to Båhus. As one may think, he then intended to move into Norway against herr Knut, but what drew him away from there is not yet known. He went back to Denmark again and has issued a summons to the towns and the nobility that they are to be in Kalmar fourteen days before Whitsun, with provisions until Michaelmas. There is no sure news here of King Hans. Some say that he is out of his mind [uncertain reading], others think that he is in Germany to hold his daughter's wedding, and that he will come here into the realm with the same wedding party. However it stands with his business, may God and St Eric give his intent no success etc. Good news has now also come here of herr Knut, that he has made good progress with the common people in Norway, so that his enemies are asking for news of him.
Original text
Mine ødmyke kerlige helso altiid sænde medh Waar Herre. Kære hær Swanthe mage J withe ath j thenne landzænde ære inge tydinge annen æn gode Gud tess loffuith. Oc waar jach nw j tæss dage paa Ørsteen. Jnge tydinge wære ther for wisse aff Danmarch andre æn ath hærtog Cristyern waar j Wardbergh medh the skaniske hærrer saa hanss makt kwnne forslaas til iij eller iiijc wæraktige oc wille waret pa Baahwss.
Background
Duke Christiern was the son of King Hans and later became King Christian II. The letter shows that the Sture side in Sweden followed Knut Alvsson's campaign in Norway closely and saw it as part of the same war against King Hans. The castle where Krummedike's men gathered was probably Båhus, where he was commander. Fellingsbro lies in Västmanland on the border with Närke, not far from Örebro. Arvid's advice to supply the castle from the countryside rather than in Stockholm says something about how costly it was to keep a manned castle in wartime.
People: Knut Alvsson