Sigurd Jonsson sells Crown land in Sandsvær
DN 5/779 · 11 Decbr. 1452 · Tunsbergshus
What the letter says
On 11 December 1452, the knight Sigurd Jonsson, commander over the realm of Norway while King Christian is away and commander at Tønsberghus, sells 9 øresbol in the northern farm of Linthveit in Efteløt parish in Sandsvær to Dyre Bjørnsson. He sells on behalf of the Crown, and the land goes to Dyre and his heirs to own for ever. Dyre has paid in full.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
I, Sigurd Jonsson, knight, commander over the realm of Norway while my gracious lord King Christian is away, and in particular commander at Tønsberghus, acknowledge with this my present open letter that I have sold to Dyre Bjørnsson 9 øresbol (land that yields 9 øre in annual land rent) in the northern farm of Linthveit, which lies in Efteløt parish in Sandsvær, with all rights old and new that belong to it and have belonged to it, outside and inside the fence. The land is free and without claim from me and my descendants on behalf of the Crown, and goes to the said Dyre and his heirs to own for ever with full right of disposal. The said Dyre has paid me for the land of Linthveit, 9 øresbol, so that I am well content. In witness I hang my seal on this letter, which was made at Tønsberghus on the Tuesday after St Nicholas' Mass (6 December) in the year of our Lord 1452.
Original text (excerpt)
Jæk Sigwrdh Joonsson riddare Norgis rikens høffuitz man j mins nadughæ herra konungh Cristierns fra wero oc synnerlighæ høffuitz man vppa Tonsbergx hws kennis med thesse mino nerwarandis vpne breffue at jæk haffuer sælt Dyre Biornssyni ix aure bool jordher j nørdre gardenom j Lintweitom som ligger j Effte løyte sokn j Sandswerff med allo(m) lunindom fornom oc nygiom som til ligger oc legit haffuer vthen gardz oc innen frialsse oc akærelause fore mæk oc mine effterkomande vpa konong domsens wegne
Background
Sigurd Jonsson had won Giske in the inheritance dispute and was one of the most powerful men in Norway in the union period. He was the son of Jon Marteinsson and Agnes Sigurdsdatter and a great-grandchild of Erling Vidkunsson. Christian I became king in Norway in 1450 and lived mostly in Denmark, and Sigurd then governed the realm as commander in the king's absence. Here he sells Crown land, that is land that belonged to the Crown, which shows that he had authority over the king's properties. An øresbol is land that yields one øre in annual land rent. The letter is a deed of purchase, written the year before Sigurd died in 1453.
People: Sigurd Jonsson