Erling Vidkunsson and Sigurd Havtoresson accept Håkon as king
SDHK 4906 (DN 2/258) · 15. august 1343 · Varberg
Erling Vidkunsson stands first among the Norwegian magnates who accept Håkon as king, and his seal shows the Giske lion. Also present are Sigurd Havtoresson, later Erling's son in law, and probably his son Bjarne.
What the letter says
Norwegian knights and squires, with Erling Vidkunsson first, announce at Varberg Castle on 15 August 1343 that King Magnus, at a council meeting there, has made his younger son, Junker Håkon, king in Norway, and that they at once accepted Håkon as their king. They promise loyalty to Håkon and his mother Queen Blanka, but King Magnus is to rule until his son comes of age. They promise to resist the elder son, Junker Erik, if he tries to take power in Norway, and not to help Håkon if he tries to force his way into Sweden. If one of the brothers tries to break their father's arrangement with foreign help, both realms are to stand together against him. Among the squires are Sigurd Havtoresson and Bjarne Erlingsson. All the issuers seal the letter.
The letter in modern English
To all Christ's faithful to whom this letter comes, Erling Vidkunsson, Ivar Ogmundsson, Jon Havtoresson, Håkon Ogmundsson, Ogmund Guttormsson and Ulv Saksesson, knights, and Sigurd Havtoresson, Bjarne Erlingsson, Ogmund Finnsson, Gerder Smidsson and Olav Olavsson, squires, send eternal greeting in the Lord. We make known by this letter that in the year of the Lord 1343, at Varberg Castle, on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (15 August), when we came together in council before the most excellent prince, our lord Magnus, the illustrious king of Norway, Sweden and the lands of Scania and Halland, we understood that he wished, with grateful and considered mind, to carry out what we had earlier wished to ask of him with full zeal and united mind. For he wished his younger son, our Junker Håkon, to be king over the realm of Norway. We strive for this with all our strength. Therefore our lord King Magnus, led by heavenly grace, healthy and unharmed, in our presence, to secure the peace between his sons and between the realms of Norway and Sweden, has made and installed this his younger son, our said Junker Håkon, as king over Norway and the lands, provinces and tributary islands belonging to that realm. He gave him the realm of Norway itself and the name of king with all honour and lordship, revenues and benefits, services and homage due to a true king of Norwa
Original text
Vniuersis christi fidelibus ad quos presentes peruenerint Erlingus vidkunni. Jwarus ogmundi. Johannes Hafthorie. Haquinus ogmundi. Ogmundus guthormi. Vlfo saxonis Milites. Sighwardus Hafthorie. Bernerus erlingi. Ogmundus finnonis. Gerderus smidonis et Elaws elaui. Armigeri. salutem in domino. sempiternam. Notum facimus per presentes quod Anno domini. M°. CCC°. quadragesimo tercio in Castro Vardberghis in festo assumpcionis. beate Marie virginis Conuenientibus nobis. in consilio coram Excellentis
Background
Erling Vidkunsson (c. 1292 to 1355) had been drottsete (steward of the realm) during King Magnus Eriksson's childhood, and here he stands first of all. The first seal on the letter is his, and SDHK describes it as a rampant lion. This is the Giske lion, on which the municipal coat of arms is based today. Sigurd Havtoresson of Sudreim was a grandson of King Håkon V through his mother and married Erling's daughter Ingebjørg, who received Giske from her father in 1354. Four years earlier Sigurd had been in open conflict with King Magnus, and now he stands as a squire beside Erling. His brother Jon Havtoresson is among the knights. The squire Bjarne Erlingsson is probably Erling's son, Bjarne the younger. Håkon was three years old. The letter was the first step towards Norway and Sweden each having their own king again, and the magnates wanted a king who grew up in Norway. The original is in the National Archives of Norway in Oslo.
People: Erling Vidkunsson, Sigurd Havtoresson, Bjarne Erlingsson den yngre