Christian II gives the archbishop a free hand against fru Inger
DN 8/663 · 1 January 1532 · Oslo
What the letter says
King Christian II announces in Oslo on 1 January 1532 that he has ordered Archbishop Olav in Trondheim to wage feud against the enemies of the king and the crown and to have them seized and imprisoned on land and at sea. He names in particular Vincens, fru Inger and Nils Lykke and all their followers, men, servants and bailiffs. The king takes responsibility for all harm the archbishop and his men have done or will do to them, and forbids everyone to hinder the archbishop on pain of the king's vengeance and wrath.
The letter in modern English
We Christian, by the grace of God King of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Wends and the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn and Dithmarschen, Count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, make known to all that we have written to, ordered and commanded our beloved and most worthy father in God, Archbishop Olav in Trondheim, to harry and wage feud on all our and the crown's enemies and foes, and to have them seized and captured wherever he and his followers, friends and servants can lay hands on them, on land and at sea. This applies especially to Vincens, fru Inger, Nils Lykke and all others of their followers, men and servants, bailiffs and officers who are disobedient and unwilling towards us and the crown. We are the full warrant and defender of the said Archbishop Olav and all his followers, friends and servants, bailiffs and officials, for all the violence, imprisonment, injury and harm which they have so far done and will hereafter do to our and the realm's enemies and foes on our behalf according to this our order.
Original text
Wij Christiern met gudz naade *Dannarckis Suerigis Norgis Vendis oc Gotis konning hertug i Slesuig i Holsten Stormarn oc i Dytmersken greffue j Oldenborg oc Delmenhorst gøre alle viderligt ath wj hagde tilscreffuit befalet oc budet oss elskelige verdigste ffader met gud erkebiscop Oluff i Truendhiem ath arge oc feyde paa alle vaare oc kronenss fiende oc wuenner oc ath lade gribe och fange dem ehuor som helst han oc hanss anhengere venner oc tienere dem kunde offuerkomme til land oc vand
Background
Christian II had lost his throne in 1523 and came to Norway with an army in the autumn of 1531 to win the kingdom back. Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson went over to him, while fru Inger and her sons-in-law Vincens Lunge and Nils Lykke held fast to King Frederik I. With this letter Christian II gave the archbishop a free hand against them, and it made the great families in Trøndelag and western Norway lawful targets. To wage feud meant to make open war on an opponent, with the right to take men and goods. The letter explains why the archbishop's men later the same year had taken men and belongings from fru Inger, among other places at Austrått, Fosen and Giske.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)