King Frederik: fru Inger has received some of Nils Henriksson's fiefs
DN 7/579 · 30 March 1524 · Gottorp
What the letter says
From Gottorp on 30 March 1524 King Frederik I answers Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson, who has asked for the fiefs held by the late herr Nils Henriksson. The king cannot promise anything, because the regent north of the mountains, Vincens Lunge, has written that he has granted some of the fiefs to Nils' widow fru Ingerd and Vardøhus to Erik Ugerup. The king thanks the archbishop for a gift and asks him to come to him by St John's day at the latest, as they have important matters for the realm of Norway to discuss.
The letter in modern English
Frederik, by the grace of God elected king of Denmark and Norway, duke of Schleswig, Holstein and Stormarn, etc., count in Oldenburg, etc. [Latin:] With reverence first offered and with our sincere favour. Dear lord and father, you write to us that you have learned in truth that herr Nils Henriksson in Norway has died and passed away, God have mercy on his soul, and ask that we grant you the fiefs he held in fief from the crown of Norway, for such service and dues as are customarily paid from them. Then you shall know that in these last days there was a messenger with us from our beloved herr Vincens Lunge, our regent in Norway north of Lindesnes. He wrote to us about these same fiefs that he has granted some of them to our beloved fru Ingerd, the said herr Nils' widow, and Vardøhus to our beloved Erik Ugerup, and he asked that we would let it stand as he had done it on our behalf in our absence. So we do not know whether any fiefs are left ungranted that belong to us and the crown. When, God willing, you come to us and we have learned how matters stand, we will gladly know and further your benefit both in that matter and in others. We thank you warmly for the gift you have now sent us with the bearer of this letter, your servant, and we will warmly repay you for it in every way, so that you shall thank us for it.
Original text
Fredericus dej gracia electus rex Dacie ac Noruegie dux Sleszuicensis Holsacie Stormarie etc. comes in Oldhenborigh etc.Premissa reuerencia cum nostro sincero fauore. Kiere here oc fadher szomj oss tiilskriffwe athi haffwe forfareth i sandhedth at her Niels Henricksson i Norghe er dødth oc affgenghen hwes sell gwd nadhe, oc war begherendis atwi wille wndhe etther hues len szom hand haffde i forleningh aff Norgis krone fore sliigh thenist oc affgiiffth szom ther pleyer affatgaa, Tha mwj widhe at
Background
Nils Henriksson of Austrått was a knight and councillor of the realm and the husband of fru Inger, and he died in 1523. In the same year Frederik I was elected king of Denmark after Christian II had been driven out, but he had not yet been acclaimed in Norway, and so he calls himself «elected king». A fief (len) was a crown district where the feudal lord of the fief collected taxes and other revenues for the king and kept a share in return for service and dues. Vincens Lunge was married to Inger's daughter Margrete and governed on the king's behalf north of Lindesnes, and he had made sure that his mother-in-law kept fiefs after her husband. Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson also wanted the fiefs, and the letter shows that the struggle for power in the north was already under way in 1524. From DN 9/614 we know that in 1528 fru Inger held Sunnmøre, Edøy, Fosen and Stjørdal as fiefs.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)