Knut Alvsson
Encyclopedia
Knut Alvsson was a Norwegian
nobleman and politician descended on his paternal grandfather’s side from the influential and wealthy Swedish Tre Rosor noble family, who was active during the period of the Kalmar Union
.
Knut Alvsson was the son of Norwegian National Council member Alv Knutsson
and his wife Magnhild Oddsdotter, and served as fief-holder in southern-central Norway. He was the country's foremost Norwegian-born noble in his time; he inherited the Giske
and Sudreim potential claim
to the Norwegian throne in accordance with the order of succession
agreed to by Norwegian nobility and religious leadership when the Sverre dynasty became extinct. From 1497 to 1498 he served as commander of Akershus Fortress
but was removed in 1499 when he lost King Hans' confidence. In 1502 he led a rebellion against King Hans in Norway. He met his death at the hands of Pro-Danish Henrich Krummedige
’s men in spite of a promise of safe conduct, effectively ending the rebellion as well as the feud which had started with their fathers, Hartvig Krummedige
and Alv Knutsson
.
and Sudreim properties from his father, one of the largest estate owners in Norway, as well as goods and property in Romerike
from his brother Odd Alvsson. He also held extensive properties in Sweden through his first marriage to the Swedish noblewoman Gyrvel Gyllenstjerna.
’s family. As a member of the pro-Swedish faction on the Norwegian council of the realm
, Knut was in natural opposition to Henrich, who was a key member of the Pro-Danish faction.
In the autumn of 1497 Knut's sheriff to Romerike, Lasse Skjold, was killed by the people of the district. Knut Alvsson received an open letter about the incident, which proclaimed that common people in the Nes
and Ullensaker
stood together in the action in protest of his oppressive tax collection practices.
Knut discussed the rebellion of his people with the Danish and Norwegian councils of the realm, and following their recommendation, asked the offenders to apply for amnesty but they held Knut responsible for his sheriff’s actions. The farmers chose to exercise their ancient right to summon a thing
at Aker
to submit their grievances and hear their defense for what they believed was a justified killing. They also intended to summon Knut to the thing
These actions, combined with signs that the rebellion was spreading throughout the sønnafjells (region of Norway south of the Dovre mountains
). Knut was unable to quell the farmers' rebellion. The rebellion grew such that he was forced to request assistance from the commander of the Norwegian Båhus fortress
, his rival and enemy, Henrich Krummedige
, since Krummedige had demonstrated his ability to work constructively with his local land owners. Henrich not only failed to support Knut, but informed the King of the matter. Knut Alvsonn was relieved of his command of Akershus Fortress and replaced by Peder Griis, a Danish nobleman loyal to the king.
) in Northern Germany. Knut Alvsson, who had married the granddaughter of Swedish King Karl Knutsson
, and was involved with the Swedish Independence Party, concluded it was time to act. While in Sweden he participated in the Swedish National Council meeting in Vadstena Castle
in 1501, at which the council approved the revolt against King Hans of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Alvsson directed harsh accusations against King Hans' control in Norway and was provided Swedish support for his return to Norway, based on the belief that a Norwegian uprising would quickly follow the Swedish uprising. In 1501 he led Swedish forces in an attack on Båhus Fortress on the Swedish-Norwegian border, which Henrich Krummedige still commanded. Krummedige was able to hold his fief of Båhus, but Alvsson captured Akershus Fortress
in March of 1502, although the citizens of Oslo
remained pro-Danish while the nobles and bishops of the country remained neutral — presumably waiting to see which side prevailed.
King Hans dispatched his son Christian (later crowned King Christian II of Denmark and Norway
) at the head of Danish forces; they relieved the siege of Båhus Fortress, and also captured Älvsborg Fortress
across the river from Båhus Fortress in Gothenburg
. Krummedige then led forces north to finish off the rebellion by recapturing Tønsberg Fortress
and investing Akershus Fortress, which Alvsson was defending.
When it became clear that the rebellion was stalemated, Alvsson came on board one of Krummedige's ships under a safe conduct. Krummedige’s men killed Alvsson on 18 August 1502, either by treachery or, as alleged by Krummedige’s men, in response to Alvsson's own violence. Breaking the rules of safe conduct was considered a grave treachery after the old Norse laws, which were still used in Norway at the time. However, the court in Oslo deemed Krummedige to have acted justly. The conditions for this judgement have been discussed by historians for years.
The crown judged Alvsson a traitor and Alvsson's property was forfeit to the crown. Krummedige had prevailed, although Gjerset reports he was compelled to leave Norway and the uprising was not totally quelled until 1504. Alvsson's death at the hand of Krummedige’s minions solidified the Danish-Norwegian ties and marked the last attempt at Norwegian independence for over 300 years.
. Ibsen characterized the period of the Scandinavian Union
and the subsequent Dano-Norwegian union
(1387—1814) — as "Four Hundred Years of Darkness" as part of the Norwegian nationalistic romantic literature upwelling in the close of 18th century. For example it was used to set an anti-Danish tone in Ibsen's play Fru Inger til Østeraad
, when he has Olaf Skaktavl acclaim: "Recall the afternoon when Hendrik Krummedike came before Akershus fortress with his fleet? The captains of the fleet offered to discuss peace terms; and, trusting a safe conduct, Knut Alfsøn went onboard. Only three hours later we had to carry him through the fortress gate ... Norway's bravest heart was lost when Krummedike's minions struck him down..."
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
nobleman and politician descended on his paternal grandfather’s side from the influential and wealthy Swedish Tre Rosor noble family, who was active during the period of the Kalmar Union
Kalmar Union
The Kalmar Union is a historiographical term meaning a series of personal unions that united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway , and Sweden under a single monarch, though intermittently and with a population...
.
Knut Alvsson was the son of Norwegian National Council member Alv Knutsson
Alv Knutsson
Alv Knutsson was a Norwegian nobleman who descended on his father’s side from the influential and wealthy Swedish Tre Rosor noble family. He was a member of the Norwegian council of the realm and also served as commander of the royal castle in Bergen.-Landholdings:Alv Knutsson held over 276 farms...
and his wife Magnhild Oddsdotter, and served as fief-holder in southern-central Norway. He was the country's foremost Norwegian-born noble in his time; he inherited the Giske
Giske
Giske is an island and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It lies north-northwest of the town of Ålesund in the Sunnmøre traditional district. The municipal center is the village of Nordstrand on the island of Valderøy. Other population centers include the villages of Roald and...
and Sudreim potential claim
Sudreim claim
Sudreim-Bjarkøy-Giske was a dynasty of claimants and heirs to the Norwegian throne in 14th and 15th centuries.-History:When in the early 14th century it was foreseeable that the male line of Sverre dynasty would go extinct, Norwegian lords spiritual and temporal arranged the Order of succession of...
to the Norwegian throne in accordance with the order of succession
Order of succession
An order of succession is a formula or algorithm that determines who inherits an office upon the death, resignation, or removal of its current occupant.-Monarchies and nobility:...
agreed to by Norwegian nobility and religious leadership when the Sverre dynasty became extinct. From 1497 to 1498 he served as commander of Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
but was removed in 1499 when he lost King Hans' confidence. In 1502 he led a rebellion against King Hans in Norway. He met his death at the hands of Pro-Danish Henrich Krummedige
Henrich Krummedige
Henrich Krummedige , was born circa 1464 in Norway and died in 1530. He was a Danish-Norwegian nobleman and a member of both the Norwegian and Danish National Councils and played an extensive role in the politics of the era...
’s men in spite of a promise of safe conduct, effectively ending the rebellion as well as the feud which had started with their fathers, Hartvig Krummedige
Hartvig Krummedige
Hartvig Krummedige was a Danish nobleman who was born circa 1400 in southern Jutland, Denmark and died in 1476 at Akershus Fortress, Norway.-Family:...
and Alv Knutsson
Alv Knutsson
Alv Knutsson was a Norwegian nobleman who descended on his father’s side from the influential and wealthy Swedish Tre Rosor noble family. He was a member of the Norwegian council of the realm and also served as commander of the royal castle in Bergen.-Landholdings:Alv Knutsson held over 276 farms...
.
Knut Alvsson's properties
He inherited the GiskeGiske
Giske is an island and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It lies north-northwest of the town of Ålesund in the Sunnmøre traditional district. The municipal center is the village of Nordstrand on the island of Valderøy. Other population centers include the villages of Roald and...
and Sudreim properties from his father, one of the largest estate owners in Norway, as well as goods and property in Romerike
Romerike
Romerike is a traditional district located north-east of Oslo, in what is today south-eastern Norway. It consists of the Akershus municipalities Fet, Lørenskog, Nittedal, Rælingen, Skedsmo, Sørum and Aurskog-Høland in the southern end , and Ullensaker, Gjerdrum, Nannestad, Nes, Eidsvoll and Hurdal...
from his brother Odd Alvsson. He also held extensive properties in Sweden through his first marriage to the Swedish noblewoman Gyrvel Gyllenstjerna.
The Alvson-Krummedige feud
Knut Alvson also inherited a long-standing feud with Henrich KrummedigeHenrich Krummedige
Henrich Krummedige , was born circa 1464 in Norway and died in 1530. He was a Danish-Norwegian nobleman and a member of both the Norwegian and Danish National Councils and played an extensive role in the politics of the era...
’s family. As a member of the pro-Swedish faction on the Norwegian council of the realm
Rigsraadet
Rigsraadet, or Riksrådet, , is the name of the councils of the Scandinavian countries that ruled the countries together with the kings from late Middle Ages to the 17th century...
, Knut was in natural opposition to Henrich, who was a key member of the Pro-Danish faction.
In the autumn of 1497 Knut's sheriff to Romerike, Lasse Skjold, was killed by the people of the district. Knut Alvsson received an open letter about the incident, which proclaimed that common people in the Nes
Nes, Akershus
Nes is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Årnes.-Name:...
and Ullensaker
Ullensaker
Ullensaker is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Jessheim. It has a population of approximately 30,000 inhabitants...
stood together in the action in protest of his oppressive tax collection practices.
Knut discussed the rebellion of his people with the Danish and Norwegian councils of the realm, and following their recommendation, asked the offenders to apply for amnesty but they held Knut responsible for his sheriff’s actions. The farmers chose to exercise their ancient right to summon a thing
Thing (assembly)
A thing was the governing assembly in Germanic and introduced into some Celtic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by lawspeakers, meeting in a place called a thingstead...
at Aker
Aker
Aker is a surname.Aker can also refer to:In places:* Aker, Norway, a former municipality in NorwayIn other uses:* Aker , mentioned only in the Greek Apocalypse of Ezra* Aker , a god in ancient Egyptian mythology...
to submit their grievances and hear their defense for what they believed was a justified killing. They also intended to summon Knut to the thing
These actions, combined with signs that the rebellion was spreading throughout the sønnafjells (region of Norway south of the Dovre mountains
Dovrefjell
Dovrefjell is a mountain range in central Norway that forms a natural barrier between Eastern Norway and Trøndelag, the area around Trondheim. As a result, it has been heavily trafficked during and probably preceding historical times...
). Knut was unable to quell the farmers' rebellion. The rebellion grew such that he was forced to request assistance from the commander of the Norwegian Båhus fortress
Bohus Fortress
Bohus Fortress lies along the old Norwegian - Swedish border in Kungälv, Bohuslän, Sweden, north east from Hisingen where the Göta river splits into two branches...
, his rival and enemy, Henrich Krummedige
Henrich Krummedige
Henrich Krummedige , was born circa 1464 in Norway and died in 1530. He was a Danish-Norwegian nobleman and a member of both the Norwegian and Danish National Councils and played an extensive role in the politics of the era...
, since Krummedige had demonstrated his ability to work constructively with his local land owners. Henrich not only failed to support Knut, but informed the King of the matter. Knut Alvsonn was relieved of his command of Akershus Fortress and replaced by Peder Griis, a Danish nobleman loyal to the king.
Alvsson's rebellion
In 1500 King Hans of Denmark, Sweden and Norway made an ill-fated attempt to conquer the Ditmarshes (DithmarschenDithmarschen
Dithmarschen is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Flensburg, Rendsburg-Eckernförde, and Steinburg, by the state of Lower Saxony , and by the North Sea.-Geography:The district is located on the North Sea...
) in Northern Germany. Knut Alvsson, who had married the granddaughter of Swedish King Karl Knutsson
Charles VIII of Sweden
Charles VIII of Sweden , Charles I of Norway, also Carl, , was king of Sweden and king of Norway ....
, and was involved with the Swedish Independence Party, concluded it was time to act. While in Sweden he participated in the Swedish National Council meeting in Vadstena Castle
Vadstena Castle
Vadstena Castle is a former Royal Castle in Vadstena, the province of Östergötland, Sweden.-History:Vadstena Castle was originally built by King Gustav Vasa in 1545 as a fortress to protect Stockholm from enemies from the south...
in 1501, at which the council approved the revolt against King Hans of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Alvsson directed harsh accusations against King Hans' control in Norway and was provided Swedish support for his return to Norway, based on the belief that a Norwegian uprising would quickly follow the Swedish uprising. In 1501 he led Swedish forces in an attack on Båhus Fortress on the Swedish-Norwegian border, which Henrich Krummedige still commanded. Krummedige was able to hold his fief of Båhus, but Alvsson captured Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
in March of 1502, although the citizens of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
remained pro-Danish while the nobles and bishops of the country remained neutral — presumably waiting to see which side prevailed.
King Hans dispatched his son Christian (later crowned King Christian II of Denmark and Norway
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II was King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden , during the Kalmar Union.-Background:...
) at the head of Danish forces; they relieved the siege of Båhus Fortress, and also captured Älvsborg Fortress
Älvsborg Fortress
Älvsborg, also Elfsborg Fortress, is a sea fortress located in today's Gothenburg , Sweden. Situated on the mouth of the Göta Älv river, it served to protect Sweden's access to the Atlantic Ocean and the nearby settlement of today's Gothenburg and its four predecessors. The fortress was relocated...
across the river from Båhus Fortress in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
. Krummedige then led forces north to finish off the rebellion by recapturing Tønsberg Fortress
Tønsberg Fortress
Tønsberg Fortress was a medieval fortress, located in Tønsberg, Norway which was defended by the fortress for over 300 years.-History:...
and investing Akershus Fortress, which Alvsson was defending.
When it became clear that the rebellion was stalemated, Alvsson came on board one of Krummedige's ships under a safe conduct. Krummedige’s men killed Alvsson on 18 August 1502, either by treachery or, as alleged by Krummedige’s men, in response to Alvsson's own violence. Breaking the rules of safe conduct was considered a grave treachery after the old Norse laws, which were still used in Norway at the time. However, the court in Oslo deemed Krummedige to have acted justly. The conditions for this judgement have been discussed by historians for years.
The crown judged Alvsson a traitor and Alvsson's property was forfeit to the crown. Krummedige had prevailed, although Gjerset reports he was compelled to leave Norway and the uprising was not totally quelled until 1504. Alvsson's death at the hand of Krummedige’s minions solidified the Danish-Norwegian ties and marked the last attempt at Norwegian independence for over 300 years.
Alvsson in literature
The death of Alvsson has been romanticized to serve as a centerpiece for Norwegian Romantic NationalismRomantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism is the form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs...
. Ibsen characterized the period of the Scandinavian Union
Kalmar Union
The Kalmar Union is a historiographical term meaning a series of personal unions that united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway , and Sweden under a single monarch, though intermittently and with a population...
and the subsequent Dano-Norwegian union
Denmark–Norway
Denmark–Norway is the historiographical name for a former political entity consisting of the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway, including the originally Norwegian dependencies of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands...
(1387—1814) — as "Four Hundred Years of Darkness" as part of the Norwegian nationalistic romantic literature upwelling in the close of 18th century. For example it was used to set an anti-Danish tone in Ibsen's play Fru Inger til Østeraad
Lady Inger of Oestraat
Lady Inger of Oestraat is a play by Henrik Ibsen, inspired by the life of Inger, Lady of Austraat. The play, the third work of the Norwegian's career, reflects the birth of Romantic Nationalism in the Norway of that period, and had a strongly anti-Danish sentiment...
, when he has Olaf Skaktavl acclaim: "Recall the afternoon when Hendrik Krummedike came before Akershus fortress with his fleet? The captains of the fleet offered to discuss peace terms; and, trusting a safe conduct, Knut Alfsøn went onboard. Only three hours later we had to carry him through the fortress gate ... Norway's bravest heart was lost when Krummedike's minions struck him down..."