Message from the papal court about a dead servant's belongings
DN 4/163 · 14 August [1324?] · Avignon
What the letter says
The knight Bertrand de Succiolis, the king's procurator at the papal court in Avignon, writes on 14 August, probably 1324, to Bishop Audfinn of Bergen. His squire Aymeric Beronis had travelled to Norway with money and jewels for the king and the king's mother, but died there. Bertrand asks the bishop to help ensure that the belongings, which are with the Preaching Friars in Oslo and with the drottsete Erling, and the money owed to Aymeric, are handed over.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
The king's procurator at the curia. To the venerable father in Christ and his especially dear lord, Lord Audfinn, by divine providence and grace Bishop of Bergen, Bertrand de Succiolis, knight, of the castle of Poio [illegible] and lord of the town of Saint-Clément, devoted to him in all things, sends himself with every commendation of reverence and honour. You should know, my venerable lord, that I and Raymund Lamena have been at the Roman curia (the papal court) to look after and advance, as best I can, the affairs of the most exalted prince, the lord King of Norway, our lord. There I have stayed a long time waiting for an answer in the affairs of our lord the king, and I am still waiting without pause. That answer I have not yet been able to obtain, as is clearly evident from the letters of my lord the king. Furthermore, most venerable father and lord: Aymeric Beronis, my squire and household man, earnestly wished to visit his royal majesty and my lady, his mother. I was very glad of this and gave him ample money, so that he could bring jewels and necessary things to the royal highness and to his mother. According to trustworthy report he has gone the way of all flesh (died) in the kingdom of Norway, and his belongings and mine have been left with the Preaching Friars in the town of Oslo and with Sir Erling, drottsete to our lord the king. I also hear that a sum of money owed to him still remains. Therefore I ask and implore your most venerable fatherhood and g
Original text (excerpt)
Procurator regis in curia. Reverendo in Christo patri et domino suo specialissimo, domino Alfinno divina providente clemencia episcopo Bergensi, Bertrandus de [Succiolis] miles de castro de Poio . . . . et ville sancti Clementis dominus, suus ubique devotus, se ipsum cum omni recommendacione reverencie et honoris. Noveritis, mi domine reverende, quod ego et Raymundus Lamena in Romana curia pro negociis illustrissimi principis domini Norvegie regis nostri pro posse meo procurandis et expediendis,
Background
A procurator was an agent who conducted business on behalf of others, here for the Norwegian king at the papal court, which was then at Avignon in southern France. The king was the young Magnus Eriksson, born 1316, and his mother was Duchess Ingebjørg Håkonsdatter. The drottsete Sir Erling is Erling Vidkunsson of Bjarkøy and Giske, who governed the realm for the under age king from 1323. That an envoy's belongings ended up with him shows that he was the one who received people and matters on the king's behalf. The letter is a private letter and shows how Norway was linked to the networks of the church and diplomacy in Europe, with people and money travelling the long way between Avignon and Oslo. What business the king had at the curia the letter does not say.
People: Erling Vidkunsson