Jørgen Friis
Encyclopedia
Jørgen Friis was a Danish lord and Governor-general of Norway
. He was probably born in Nes Castle, Denmark
and died in 1616 in Skørping
. His father Ivar Friis (died 1557) was the lord at Nes, and his mother was Sophie Andersdatter Glob (died after 1574). He was married three times, first on 2 August 1573 with Anne Pallesdatter Juel (died 19 December 1576), daughter of Palle Juel til Pallesbjerg (died 1585), the judge in Nordjylland and Anne Lykke (died 1585). His second marriage was to Else Bjørnsdatter (27 March 1558–9 October 1594), daughter of national counselor Bjørn Andersen of Bjørnsholm (1532–1583) and Sidsel Truidsdatter Ulfstand (died 1561). His third marriage was to Lisbeth Christoffersdatter Galle (died 1616), daughter of the lord of Steinvikholm, Christoffer Galle (died 1555) and Birte Clausdatter Bille (1534–1613). She served as Acting County Sheriff of the County of Vinstrupgård, Denmark, taking charge of the tenantry after the death of her first husband, Eggert Ulfeldt. She and Jørgen Friis were buried on the same day in 1616.
The Danish nobility of the period had secured to themselves a monopoly on a number of administrative offices; this preference continued until 1620. Jørgen Friis was a member of that small class of upper nobility whose members could aspire to the highest positions in Denmark-Norway, including membership on the national council (riksråd). He became Governor-general of Norway (statholder) in 1601 and initiated a major effort to revise the Norwegian law. His activity led to issuance of Christian IV
’s Norwegian Law of 1604, which as essentially a translation into Danish of the older Norwegian law of Magnus law-mender
established and recorded in Norwegian in 1274 and 1276.
, which has been traced back to at least the mid 1300-century, based on the earliest recording of their coat-of-arms. The family belonged to the leading noble circles in Jutland, and Jørgen Friis had an upbringing that was common for young men of his standing. As a young man he experienced military action when in 1576 he served in the king’s retinue during a campaign into Mecklenburg
.
Friis followed the traditional early career path of a nobleman, with service at court and as a court Junker
in 1578. In 1580s-90s he served with various smaller in Denmark, and 1595, he became a judge in North Jutland, which provided him a good knowledge of the law and its interpretation. He achieved the highest rank in 1596, when he was named to the national council (riksråd).
In 1601 he was granted Norway's most important fief, Akershus
, as well as the position of Governor-general of Norway. Friis served as Governor-general of Norway until 1608, when he returned to Denmark, where he was granted the far less labor-intensive Seilstrup feif, which he held until his death. When he assumed the role of Governor-general (statholder) from Axel Gyldenstjerne
, Christian IV
was present in Norway. Friis had to pledge that we would "listen and pay diligent heed to the complaints of the common people and help them secure justice."
His most important contributions were in translating and organizing the law. The Danish administrators found it absolutely necessary to recast the old Norwegian law, which was written in old Norse
and difficult for them to interpret and apply. Moreover, there were newer laws that were not properly entered into the older documented law record. As early as 1557 Christian III
had directed a revision of the Norwegian laws, without success. Frederick II
had also directed a revision of the law in 1572, without success. Yet another royal direction to translate the laws and add provisions for fines had been addressed to the governor, Axel Gyldenstierne, in 1592.
Christian IV
was one of the most remarkable of Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects in both Denmark and Norway. He visited Norway 26 times, more times than all his predecessors combined, and became aware of the egregious abuses of the law by fief holders like Ludvig Munk
. In 1602 Christian IV resided in Akershus
, reviewed the need to revise the laws, and the governor-general Jørgen Friis, with the support of Anders Green and various men of the law, was commanded to prepare a new law book. Under the eye of the king, the commission work quickly, and the new law book, which was printed in 1604, entered into force in January 1605 under the name, KONG CHRISTIAN DEN FJERDES NORSKE LOVBOG af 1604.
Friis' work on the Norwegian law was of great importance, since it produced a law book which was better suited to conditions that existed at that time in Scandinavia. As is common with the law, it had to be updated multiple times, including revisions by Jens Bjelke, but it served as the essential source of law until it was superseded by kong Christian 5s Norske Lov av 1687 (King Christian V’s
Norwegian Law of 1687).
With his three wives Jørgen Friis fathered 12 children, of whom 8 were sons. One of them was chancellor Christen Friis of Kragerup (1581-1639); several of the other sons died during their educational trips in Europe.
Governor-general of Norway
The Governor-general of Norway, styled Rigsstatholder in Danish or Riksståthållare in Swedish, both meaning 'Lieutenant of the realm' , was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the Monarch....
. He was probably born in Nes Castle, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and died in 1616 in Skørping
Skørping
Skørping is a town and a former municipality in Rebild municipality in Region Nordjylland in the geographic region of the Jutland peninsula known as Himmerland in northern Denmark...
. His father Ivar Friis (died 1557) was the lord at Nes, and his mother was Sophie Andersdatter Glob (died after 1574). He was married three times, first on 2 August 1573 with Anne Pallesdatter Juel (died 19 December 1576), daughter of Palle Juel til Pallesbjerg (died 1585), the judge in Nordjylland and Anne Lykke (died 1585). His second marriage was to Else Bjørnsdatter (27 March 1558–9 October 1594), daughter of national counselor Bjørn Andersen of Bjørnsholm (1532–1583) and Sidsel Truidsdatter Ulfstand (died 1561). His third marriage was to Lisbeth Christoffersdatter Galle (died 1616), daughter of the lord of Steinvikholm, Christoffer Galle (died 1555) and Birte Clausdatter Bille (1534–1613). She served as Acting County Sheriff of the County of Vinstrupgård, Denmark, taking charge of the tenantry after the death of her first husband, Eggert Ulfeldt. She and Jørgen Friis were buried on the same day in 1616.
The Danish nobility of the period had secured to themselves a monopoly on a number of administrative offices; this preference continued until 1620. Jørgen Friis was a member of that small class of upper nobility whose members could aspire to the highest positions in Denmark-Norway, including membership on the national council (riksråd). He became Governor-general of Norway (statholder) in 1601 and initiated a major effort to revise the Norwegian law. His activity led to issuance of Christian IV
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
’s Norwegian Law of 1604, which as essentially a translation into Danish of the older Norwegian law of Magnus law-mender
Magnus VI of Norway
Magnus VI Lagabøte or Magnus Håkonsson , was king of Norway from 1263 until 1280.-Early life:...
established and recorded in Norwegian in 1274 and 1276.
Early life
Friis belonged to an early noble line from southern JutlandJutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
, which has been traced back to at least the mid 1300-century, based on the earliest recording of their coat-of-arms. The family belonged to the leading noble circles in Jutland, and Jørgen Friis had an upbringing that was common for young men of his standing. As a young man he experienced military action when in 1576 he served in the king’s retinue during a campaign into Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
.
Career
Junker
A Junker was a member of the landed nobility of Prussia and eastern Germany. These families were mostly part of the German Uradel and carried on the colonization and Christianization of the northeastern European territories during the medieval Ostsiedlung. The abbreviation of Junker is Jkr...
in 1578. In 1580s-90s he served with various smaller in Denmark, and 1595, he became a judge in North Jutland, which provided him a good knowledge of the law and its interpretation. He achieved the highest rank in 1596, when he was named to the national council (riksråd).
In 1601 he was granted Norway's most important fief, Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
, as well as the position of Governor-general of Norway. Friis served as Governor-general of Norway until 1608, when he returned to Denmark, where he was granted the far less labor-intensive Seilstrup feif, which he held until his death. When he assumed the role of Governor-general (statholder) from Axel Gyldenstjerne
Axel Gyldenstjerne
Axel Gyldenstjerne was a Danish-Norwegian official and Governor-general of Norway from 1588 until 1601.-Northern Seven Years' War:...
, Christian IV
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
was present in Norway. Friis had to pledge that we would "listen and pay diligent heed to the complaints of the common people and help them secure justice."
His most important contributions were in translating and organizing the law. The Danish administrators found it absolutely necessary to recast the old Norwegian law, which was written in old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
and difficult for them to interpret and apply. Moreover, there were newer laws that were not properly entered into the older documented law record. As early as 1557 Christian III
Christian III of Denmark
Christian III reigned as king of Denmark and Norway. He was the eldest son of King Frederick I and Anna of Brandenburg.-Childhood:...
had directed a revision of the Norwegian laws, without success. Frederick II
Frederick II of Denmark
Frederick II was King of Denmark and Norway and duke of Schleswig from 1559 until his death.-King of Denmark:Frederick II was the son of King Christian III of Denmark and Norway and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. Frederick II stands as the typical renaissance ruler of Denmark. Unlike his father, he...
had also directed a revision of the law in 1572, without success. Yet another royal direction to translate the laws and add provisions for fines had been addressed to the governor, Axel Gyldenstierne, in 1592.
Christian IV
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
was one of the most remarkable of Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects in both Denmark and Norway. He visited Norway 26 times, more times than all his predecessors combined, and became aware of the egregious abuses of the law by fief holders like Ludvig Munk
Ludvig Munk
Ludvig Ludvigsen Munk was born in 1537 in Vejle, and died 8 April 1602 at Nørlund Slot in Funen. He was a Danish-Norwegian official and Count. He was the son of Ludvik Munk , and is also referred to as Ludvig Ludvigsen Munk von Schleswig-Holstein and Ludvig Munk til Nørlund.He was a Junker at the...
. In 1602 Christian IV resided in Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
, reviewed the need to revise the laws, and the governor-general Jørgen Friis, with the support of Anders Green and various men of the law, was commanded to prepare a new law book. Under the eye of the king, the commission work quickly, and the new law book, which was printed in 1604, entered into force in January 1605 under the name, KONG CHRISTIAN DEN FJERDES NORSKE LOVBOG af 1604.
Friis' work on the Norwegian law was of great importance, since it produced a law book which was better suited to conditions that existed at that time in Scandinavia. As is common with the law, it had to be updated multiple times, including revisions by Jens Bjelke, but it served as the essential source of law until it was superseded by kong Christian 5s Norske Lov av 1687 (King Christian V’s
Christian V of Denmark
Christian V , was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, the son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
Norwegian Law of 1687).
Other interests
Most of Friis' labor went to managing the numerous fiefs for which he was responsible. He also devoted attention to his personal interests. He had inherited Krastrup manor in North Jutland from his mother. The manor house at Krastrup burned in 1612, but was restored at Jørgen Friis’ direction.With his three wives Jørgen Friis fathered 12 children, of whom 8 were sons. One of them was chancellor Christen Friis of Kragerup (1581-1639); several of the other sons died during their educational trips in Europe.