The verdict after the killing of Knut Alvsson
DN 5/990 · 26 Aug. 1502 · Oslo
With this verdict all Knut Alvsson's property was placed under the Crown, including his share of the Giske estate. It had great consequences for the family, and his son Karl Knutsson recovered the family estate only around 1515.
What the letter says
The lawmen Erik Eriksson of Oslo and Tormod Jonsson of Tønsberg make known that herr Henrik Krummedike and the others who were present when herr Knut Alvsson was killed came to them in the market square in Oslo on Friday 26 August 1502. Three dozen men judged that anyone who openly rises against the king is a traitor and has forfeited peace, goods and odal land. They also found that Knut himself had broken his safe conduct by coming with far more men than agreed, by seizing Bishop Herman of Hamar and by planning to burn Oslo. The killers were declared free of guilt, Knut's estate was adjudged to the king and the Crown of Norway, and his body to the king's mercy.
The letter in modern English
We, Erik Eriksson, lawman of Oslo, and Tormod Jonsson, lawman of Tønsberg, who are written here, make known to all that on the Friday after St Bartholomew's day [26 August] in the year of the Lord 1502 we were in the public market square in Oslo, while the whole community there was gathered and present. There came to us the honourable and well-born men herr Henrik Krummedike, knight, Henrik Åkesson, Herman Fleming, Eiler Stygge, Tønne Stygge, Knut Knutsson and Mats Olsson, squires, and as many of their servants and followers as were present when herr Knut Alvsson was slain. They demanded that we tell them what Norway's law book contains and shows concerning those men who take land and subjects away from their king, as it is now proven throughout the whole realm of Norway and in other places that the said herr Knut has done so openly in the past year. We then summoned three dozen [36] men with burgomasters, aldermen and members of the law court, and we read and made known to them the law of Norway on such murderous and harmful deeds as the said herr Knut had done against his rightful lord and king and against the realm of Norway.
Original text
Vij efftherscreffne Eric Ericsson laghman j Oslo oc Tormodh Jonsson laghman j Tonsbergh gøre alle viderligt at fredaghen nest effter sancti Bartholomei dagh anno domini md2o vore wij vppa almennelig torgh j Oslo, all menighethen ther sammestedz forsamblede oc nerwarendes, komme ther til oss hederlige oc velbyrdige men her Henric Krwmdige riddere Henric Aghesson Hermen Flæming Eyler Stygge, Thønne Stygge, Knwd Knwtsson oc Matz Olsson aff wapn oc swa monge theres thenere oc metfølghere som ner
Background
Knut Alvsson was killed on 18 August 1502 during negotiations over Akershus, after he had been granted safe conduct, a written guarantee of safe passage. The verdict came eight days later and was given by lawmen and men on the king's side, while Krummedike himself presented the evidence. Many historians have seen the verdict as an attempt to justify the killing after the event. For the family the verdict had great consequences: all Knut's property, movable and fixed, was placed under the Crown, and this included his share of the Giske estate. His son Karl Knutsson recovered the family estate only around 1515. Among those acquitted was Henrik Åkesson, who a few days later wrote to fru Anne Rud about the events (DN 10/290).
People: Knut Alvsson