Sigurd Jonsson
Encyclopedia
Sigurd Jonsson was a Norwegian
nobleman, knight
and the supreme leader of Norway during two interregnum
s in the mid-15th century.
nobleman Jon Marteinsson and Agnes Sigurdsdotter. Agnes was the great-granddaughter of King Haakon V of Norway
, through his illegitimate daughter, Agnes Hakonardottir (1290-1319) and Havtore Jonsson (1275-1320). Sigurd Jonsson was the grandson and the heir of Sigurd Havtoresonn, one of the two sons of Agnes Hakonardottir.
At the time of Sigurd's birth, Jon Marteinsson was a resident in Norway and a member of the Norwegian Council of the Realm
(rigsrådet). Sigurd grew up at the family's estate in Sudreim (modern Sørum
), east of Oslo
. He had two sisters and a brother, but his brother did not survive to reach maturity. Sigurd therefore inherited his father's estates, and also great landholdings from his mother's relatives.
As a direct descendant of the old Norwegian royal family, Sigurd was mentioned as a possible candidate for the Norwegian throne. Sigurd was married to Philippa, daughter of Count Hans of Eberstein who was in the service of King Erik of Pomerania and was apparently a relative of the king.
and Akershus Castle. Amund Sigurdsson belonged the noble Bolt family from Våler
in Østfold
. The Norwegian nobility remained loyal to King Erik. Sigurd Jonsson helped to enter into a ceasefire with Amund Sigurdsson. In September 1439, King Erik gave Sigurd Jonsson the title of drottsete, under which he was to rule Norway in King Erik's name. Sigurd was at the king's court in Visborg
in Gotland
when he was appointed and he was at the same time made a knight by King Eric.
In 1440, the Norwegian Council of the Realm was compelled to follow the example of Sweden and Denmark, and depose King Eric. Sigurd thus became the ruler of the country, as drottsete, during the interregnum while a new king was sought. Norway followed Denmark and Sweden in electing Christopher of Bavaria
as the new king, thus maintaining the union between the three countries. After Christopher's coronation in Oslo on 2 July 1442, Sigurd relinquished the title of drottsete. During Christopher's reign, Sigurd remained a prominent member of the Norwegian Council. He was the commander of Akershus Fortress
from 1440 to 1445, and one of the leading proponents of the anti-Hanseatic
policies in Norway during King Christopher's reign. He was at this time probably the largest land-owner in Norway.
In January 1448, King Christopher died suddenly. Sigurd again became the ruler of the country. In a letter from June the same year, he is referred to as guardian of the realm (rikens forstandare). After King Christopher's death, Sweden and Denmark elected different kings, and there was talk of Norway also electing its own king. Sigurd Jonsson, as a direct descendant of King Haakon V, was the most likely candidate. However, he himself declined this possibility, and instead put his weight behind King Christian I of Denmark
as the new king of Norway. Christian won the power struggle against King Charles VIII of Sweden
in July 1449 and was crowned as king of Norway in 1450. Sigurd was at the coronation of Christian in Trondheim
and the signing of the Norwegian-Danish union treaty in Bergen
in August 1450. After the election of King Christian, Sigurd's title was changed to "National Captain in the King's Absence" (rikets høvedsmann i kongens fravær), a title he probably retained for life. He is mentioned for the last time alive in a letter from December 1452, and presumably died shortly after this.
When Sigurd Jonsson died, his only son, Hans Sigurdsson inherited large estates, both in Norway
and Shetland. Hans, who had been betrothed to Ingeborg Ågesdatter, died unmarried in 1466. Sigurd's nephew, Alv Knutsson
, inherited the Sørum estate in Romerike and Giske estate in Sunnmøre. Alv Knutsson was the son of Catherine Jonsdotter, the sister of Sigurd Jonsson.
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, knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
and the supreme leader of Norway during two interregnum
Interregnum
An interregnum is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order...
s in the mid-15th century.
Background
Sigurd Jonsson was born at some point between 1390 and 1400. He was the son of the SwedishSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
nobleman Jon Marteinsson and Agnes Sigurdsdotter. Agnes was the great-granddaughter of King Haakon V of Norway
Haakon V of Norway
Haakon V Magnusson was king of Norway from 1299 until 1319.-Biography:Haakon was the younger surviving son of Magnus the Lawmender, King of Norway, and his wife Ingeborg of Denmark. Haakon was descended from king Saint Olav and is considered to have been the last Norwegian king in the Fairhair...
, through his illegitimate daughter, Agnes Hakonardottir (1290-1319) and Havtore Jonsson (1275-1320). Sigurd Jonsson was the grandson and the heir of Sigurd Havtoresonn, one of the two sons of Agnes Hakonardottir.
At the time of Sigurd's birth, Jon Marteinsson was a resident in Norway and a member of 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...
(rigsrådet). Sigurd grew up at the family's estate in Sudreim (modern Sørum
Sørum
Sørum 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 Sørumsand. Sørum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
), east 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...
. He had two sisters and a brother, but his brother did not survive to reach maturity. Sigurd therefore inherited his father's estates, and also great landholdings from his mother's relatives.
As a direct descendant of the old Norwegian royal family, Sigurd was mentioned as a possible candidate for the Norwegian throne. Sigurd was married to Philippa, daughter of Count Hans of Eberstein who was in the service of King Erik of Pomerania and was apparently a relative of the king.
Career
Sigurd is first mentioned as a member of the Norwegian Council of the Realm (Rigsrådet) in 1434. In 1436, a peasant rebellion led by Amund Sigurdsson Bolt rebelled against King Erik and his officials, besieging OsloOslo
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...
and Akershus Castle. Amund Sigurdsson belonged the noble Bolt family from Våler
Våler, Østfold
Våler is a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of "Våler i Østfold". The parish of Vaaler was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 .- Name :...
in Østfold
Østfold
is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden , while Buskerud and Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The seat of the county administration is Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad is the largest city.Many manufacturing facilities are situated here. Moss and...
. The Norwegian nobility remained loyal to King Erik. Sigurd Jonsson helped to enter into a ceasefire with Amund Sigurdsson. In September 1439, King Erik gave Sigurd Jonsson the title of drottsete, under which he was to rule Norway in King Erik's name. Sigurd was at the king's court in Visborg
Visborg
Visborg refers to a fortress in the town of Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland. There was no one fortress called "Visborg", rather it refers to successive fortresses built in Visby...
in Gotland
Gotland
Gotland is a county, province, municipality and diocese of Sweden; it is Sweden's largest island and the largest island in the Baltic Sea. At 3,140 square kilometers in area, the region makes up less than one percent of Sweden's total land area...
when he was appointed and he was at the same time made a knight by King Eric.
In 1440, the Norwegian Council of the Realm was compelled to follow the example of Sweden and Denmark, and depose King Eric. Sigurd thus became the ruler of the country, as drottsete, during the interregnum while a new king was sought. Norway followed Denmark and Sweden in electing Christopher of Bavaria
Christopher of Bavaria
Christopher of Bavaria or Christopher the Bavarian; as king named Christopher ; Danish and Norwegian: Christoffer af/av Bayern; Swedish Kristofer av Bayern was union king of Denmark , Sweden and Norway .-Biography:He was probably born at Neumarkt in...
as the new king, thus maintaining the union between the three countries. After Christopher's coronation in Oslo on 2 July 1442, Sigurd relinquished the title of drottsete. During Christopher's reign, Sigurd remained a prominent member of the Norwegian Council. He was the 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 :...
from 1440 to 1445, and one of the leading proponents of the anti-Hanseatic
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
policies in Norway during King Christopher's reign. He was at this time probably the largest land-owner in Norway.
In January 1448, King Christopher died suddenly. Sigurd again became the ruler of the country. In a letter from June the same year, he is referred to as guardian of the realm (rikens forstandare). After King Christopher's death, Sweden and Denmark elected different kings, and there was talk of Norway also electing its own king. Sigurd Jonsson, as a direct descendant of King Haakon V, was the most likely candidate. However, he himself declined this possibility, and instead put his weight behind King Christian I of Denmark
Christian I of Denmark
Christian I was a Danish monarch, king of Denmark , Norway and Sweden , under the Kalmar Union. In Sweden his short tenure as monarch was preceded by regents, Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna and Erik Axelsson Tott and succeeded by regent Kettil Karlsson Vasa...
as the new king of Norway. Christian won the power struggle against King Charles VIII of Sweden
Charles VIII of Sweden
Charles VIII of Sweden , Charles I of Norway, also Carl, , was king of Sweden and king of Norway ....
in July 1449 and was crowned as king of Norway in 1450. Sigurd was at the coronation of Christian in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
and the signing of the Norwegian-Danish union treaty in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
in August 1450. After the election of King Christian, Sigurd's title was changed to "National Captain in the King's Absence" (rikets høvedsmann i kongens fravær), a title he probably retained for life. He is mentioned for the last time alive in a letter from December 1452, and presumably died shortly after this.
When Sigurd Jonsson died, his only son, Hans Sigurdsson inherited large estates, both in Norway
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...
and Shetland. Hans, who had been betrothed to Ingeborg Ågesdatter, died unmarried in 1466. Sigurd's nephew, 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...
, inherited the Sørum estate in Romerike and Giske estate in Sunnmøre. Alv Knutsson was the son of Catherine Jonsdotter, the sister of Sigurd Jonsson.
Sources
- Hamre, Lars Norsk historie frå omlag år 1400 (Oslo, 1968)