King Hans takes Knut Alvsson's fiefs and property
DN 8/452 · 9 Septbr. 1501 · Vestergarn
What the letter says
On 9 September 1501 King Hans writes from Vestergarn on Gotland to Henrik Krummedike. Knut Alvsson has openly risen against the king, gone over to Sten Sture, Svante Sture and the bishop-elect of Linköping and sent the king a letter renouncing his allegiance. The king has therefore taken his fiefs in Norway from him and ordered the bailiffs to seize his inherited property. Henrik is to do the same in his fief, oppose Knut with all his might so that he cannot raise the common people, and tell Knut Knutsson how he is to conduct himself.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
Hans, by the grace of God king of Denmark, Sweden, Norway etc. [title as in the previous letter]. First our special favour. Know, dear Sir Henrik, that Sir Knut Alvsson has openly risen against us and given himself over to Sir Sten Sture, Sir Svante and the bishop-elect of Linköping. We have received Sir Knut's letter of renunciation about this. Therefore we have by our letters taken from him the fiefs he held from us and the Crown in Norway. We have also written to our bailiffs and officials in Norway that they are to take in, on behalf of us and the Crown, the inherited property he has lying in each of their fiefs. We ask you lovingly that you also take in for the needs of the castle the inherited property he has lying in your fief, and that you work against him with all your might, so that he does not gain the power to raise any of the common people there in the realm. It is of great importance to us and to you yourself. Also give Knut Knutsson word of how he is to conduct himself there in the realm with the fiefs we have enfeoffed him with. In this you do us a special service. We commend you to God and St Olaf. Written on the Thursday after the Nativity of Our Lady (8 September) 1501 at Vestergarn on Gotland, under our signet. Endorsement: Address as in the previous letter; variant: Båhus.
Original text (excerpt)
Hans met gudz nade *Dammarcks Suerikes Norikes etc. konning [o. s. v .som i foreg. No.] Wor sønderlig gunst till foren. Wiider kære her Henrick at her Knwd Alson haffuer obenbarlig satt sig wpp emod oss oc giffuet sig jnd till her Sten Sture her Swante oc electus i Lincopingh oc haffue wij ther vppo for her Knwdz vndsegelse breff, oc ther fore haffue wij met wore breff, tagit fran hanum the wore oc kroneñ leen han haffde i Norikæ, Thesligest haffue wij screfuit wore fogeter oc embitzmen till i N
Background
Knut Alvsson of Tre Rosor owned Giske and was one of the largest landowners in Norway, and he held fiefs from the king. With the letter of renunciation he formally renounced his allegiance to King Hans, as a nobleman did before he went to open war against his lord. The king's answer was to take both the fiefs, which were Crown property that Knut administered, and the inherited property, which was Knut's own. It was this that put the Giske estate in play for several decades to come. The letter is a royal missive, an ongoing letter to one of the king's commanders. Knut Knutsson (Baad) was a Norwegian squire who held fiefs from the king, and the following year he was among those who brought the case against Knut Alvsson after the killing. The rebellion ended in August 1502, when Knut Alvsson was killed under safe conduct near Oslo.
People: Knut Alvsson