King Hans on the threats from the Stures and Knut Alvsson
DN 8/451 · 6 August 1501 · Stockholm
What the letter says
On 6 August 1501 King Hans writes from Stockholm to Henrik Krummedike, commander at Båhus. He complains that the tax is being withheld in Sweden, that the common people are being made disobedient and that his bailiffs are being killed. Sten Sture, Svante Sture, the bishop-elect of Linköping and Knut Alvsson send him threatening letters with demands, and Knut is said to want the Danish bailiffs in Norway removed. The king expects no good settlement and asks Henrik to act accordingly.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
Hans, by the grace of God king of Sweden, Denmark, Norway etc., duke in Schleswig and in Holstein, Stormarn and Dithmarschen. First our special favour. Know, dear Sir Henrik, that our tax here in the realm is being withheld from us. In many fiefs that belong to our fatebur (the king's treasury) the common people are being made firmly disobedient towards us. Our bailiffs and officials are struck dead and seized, and this is done against us by rogues and loose rabble, and none of the greatest will take the blame for it. Nevertheless some of them lay their cards on the table so openly that every man can see and know the truth of it. Sir Sten Sture, the bishop-elect of Linköping, Sir Svante and Sir Knut Alvsson write their letters to us every other day, sealed with all their seals together, and threaten that they will do us no faithful service until we do what they want, with many strange articles. Yet we do not fear that there shall be found any fault or neglect on our part here in the realm in any way since we became king here, and on that you can rely safely. Of Sir Knut it is said that he wants the Danish bailiffs in Norway removed, so they can act accordingly [uncertain interpretation]. Sir Svante writes to us separately that we should not doubt his faithful service, and at the same time he writes threatening letters together with the others. What lies beneath will soon become clear. After this we expect no good settlement, for all this has been done after everything had been well settled. De
Original text (excerpt)
Hans met gudz nade Suerikes Danmarcks Norikes etc. konnung hertug vdi Slesuig oc i Holsten Stormarn oc i Ditmersken. Wor søndherlig gunst till foren, Wiider kære her Henrick at wor skatt her i riikit forbywdes oss, i mange leen som ligge till wor fadbur almwgen gøres oss fast oludug fore wore fogeter oc embitzmen slages i heel oc gripes oc thette gører oss skalkæ oc løst party oc engen aff the største wele haffue ther skildt fore, doc slaar swmme noger theres stycke swo obenbarlig vppo, at hwer
Background
Knut Alvsson of Tre Rosor owned Giske and large parts of the estate in Norway, and he held fiefs from the king. King Hans was king over all three Nordic realms, but in Sweden the opposition from the Sture party was strong. Knut had married into the Swedish nobility and had much property there, and he joined the Stures. The demand that the Danish bailiffs in Norway be removed shows the discontent among Norwegian magnates that the king gave fiefs and offices to Danish and German noblemen. Henrik Krummedike was one of the king's foremost men in Norway, and the following year he was behind the killing of Knut Alvsson under safe conduct. The letter is a private royal letter or missive, part of the ongoing correspondence between the king and his commanders, and it shows how the king saw the crisis only weeks before the rebellion broke out.
People: Knut Alvsson