King Hans gives orders for the siege of Älvsborg
DN 9/434 · 28 August 1497 · Kalmar
What the letter says
On 28 August 1497 King Hans writes from Kalmar to the knights Henrik Krummedige and Knut Alvsson and to Ebbe Munk about the siege of Älvsborg castle. If they cannot take the castle by negotiation or storm, they are to get the garrison to promise to stay quiet without new supplies until the king himself comes with Swedish councillors of the realm. He sends authority to let the garrison go free, asks them to collect gjengjerd (an extra tax) in the fief of Älvsborg and orders them to punish disobedient farmers together with Mats Kavle, «and cut off a hand or a foot from them».
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
Hans, by the grace of God king of Denmark, Norway, the Wends and the Goths, elected king in the realm of Sweden, duke of Holstein, Stormarn and Dithmarschen, count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst etc. First our sincere favour. Dear friends. You write to us about Älvsborg, and we understand that those who hold the castle are hardening themselves and intend to hold it. If you can in any way get hold of the castle as soon as possible, by negotiation or otherwise, then do your best, which we do not doubt you will gladly do. Sir Anders Mus' servant says that there were rumours in the skerries that those who lie up there are supposed to have said that they will give up the castle if they do not receive relief within four weeks after St Lawrence's Day (10 August). If they will not, and you notice that there is no possibility of getting the castle soon, either by negotiation or with fire or storm, then do your best to get such an agreement: that they remain sitting in the castle and live on what they have there, without bringing in more men, provisions or weapons, and without anything else to defend themselves with, until we ourselves, God willing, can come there with some of the Council of Sweden. Further, that they do not harm you, the town, the fief or the common people in any way [uncertain interpretation], and that you can have their open, sealed letter on this, and some others as surety that it will be kept. Or arrange it as best you can, to the benefit and permanence of us and the realm, as soon as possible. In this way you can, with the men you now have, sa
Original text (excerpt)
Johannes dei gracia rex Dacie Noruegie Slauorum Gotorumque etc. electus regi in regno Swecie dux Holsacie Stormarie et Ditmercie comes in Oldenborgh et Delmenthorst etc. Premisso nostro sincero fauore. Kære wenner som i scriffue oss tiill om Elwitzborg tha fornemmæ wy at the forherde them fast och acktæ at holdet, kwnne i nogherledis ramme tiill och fonge slotthet met deytinghen eller i andher mode met thet første tha giøre ther eders beste tiill som oss icke twiller i gernæ giøre, Her Anders Mw
Background
Knut Alvsson of Tre Rosor was the son of Alv Knutsson and heir to Giske, and in 1497 he was one of King Hans' foremost military leaders. King Hans was king of Denmark and Norway and in 1497 waged war against the Swedish regent Sten Sture to become king of Sweden as well, which he achieved that same autumn. Älvsborg lay at the mouth of the Göta älv and was Sweden's only gateway to the west, while Båhus and Varberg were Danish-Norwegian border castles nearby. The letter is a royal letter of command and shows that Knut served the king he later rebelled against in 1501 and 1502. The harsh order to mutilate farmers shows how the war also struck the common people in the borderland. The letter says little about Giske, but was included because it shows Knut Alvsson's role in union politics.
People: Knut Alvsson