Trond Torleivsson Benkestok
Encyclopedia
Trond Torleivsson Benkestok (c. 1495 – 14 February 1558) was a Norwegian knight
and lensherre (lord) of Bergenhus Fortress
.
Trond was born around 1495 (or before 1500) in Bergen
to nobleman Torleiv Trondson Benkestok
and Adelus Eriksdotter Kruckow. In 1532, Trond actively supported Johan Kruckow, who wanted Frederik I
on the Norwegian throne. As Frederick won the struggle, Trond was awarded the title of væpner (squire
). He was probably a supporter of Roman Catholicism until the last Catholic archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson
fled Norway in 1537.
Among other places, he owned much land in Meløy
, Nordland
which he had as his main farm from no later than 1540. In 1541 he received taxes from the church of Meløy and from Sunnfjord
len. He was awarded Sunnmøre
len, the land of Stigten in 1547, and around the same time he was also promoted to knight.
In 1555 he took charge of Bergenhus Fortress, and in the years 1555-56 he was commander-in-chief during the absence of Christopher Huitfeldt. Claus Bille once described Trond as the "most respected and wise nobleman North of the mountains".
Trond was married to Anna Jonsdotter Haard (c. 1510 - 27 November 1567), who together had sons Jon and Tord, and daughters Adelus, Kristin and Brynild. Trond died on February 2, 1558 in Vanse.
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 lensherre (lord) of Bergenhus Fortress
Bergenhus Fortress
Bergenhus fortress is a fortress located in Bergen, Norway. Bergenhus fortress is located in the entrance to the harbor in Bergen. This is one of the oldest and best preserved castles in Norway.-History:...
.
Trond was born around 1495 (or before 1500) 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 , ....
to nobleman Torleiv Trondson Benkestok
Torleiv Trondson Benkestok
Torleiv Trondson Benkestok was a Norwegian nobleman.Torleiv was a son of the nobleman Trond Tordson Benkestok and Birgitte . Torleiv is mentioned in only one known source while alive, at a sentence in Bergen in 1502...
and Adelus Eriksdotter Kruckow. In 1532, Trond actively supported Johan Kruckow, who wanted Frederik I
Frederick I of Denmark
Frederick I of Denmark and Norway was the King of Denmark and Norway. The name is also spelled Friedrich in German, Frederik in Danish, and Fredrik in Swedish and Norwegian...
on the Norwegian throne. As Frederick won the struggle, Trond was awarded the title of væpner (squire
Squire
The English word squire is a shortened version of the word Esquire, from the Old French , itself derived from the Late Latin , in medieval or Old English a scutifer. The Classical Latin equivalent was , "arms bearer"...
). He was probably a supporter of Roman Catholicism until the last Catholic archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson
Olav Engelbrektsson
Olav Engelbrektsson was the last Catholic Archbishop of Norway. As well as being a religious leader, Olav was also a political figure;...
fled Norway in 1537.
Among other places, he owned much land in Meløy
Meløy
Meløy is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Salten traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ørnes, while Glomfjord is only slightly smaller. Meløy was separated from the municipality of Rødøy on 1 January 1884.The municipality...
, Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
which he had as his main farm from no later than 1540. In 1541 he received taxes from the church of Meløy and from Sunnfjord
Sunnfjord
Sunnfjord is a traditional district in Western Norway located in Sogn og Fjordane county. It includes the municipalities of Askvoll, Fjaler, Flora, Førde, Gaular, Jølster, Naustdal, and the southernmost parts of Bremanger...
len. He was awarded Sunnmøre
Sunnmøre
Sunnmøre is the southernmost traditional district of the western Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. Its main city is Ålesund. The region comprises the municipalities of Giske, Hareid, Herøy, Norddal, Sande, Skodje, Haram, Stordal, Stranda, Sula, Sykkylven, Ulstein, Vanylven, Volda, Ørskog,...
len, the land of Stigten in 1547, and around the same time he was also promoted to knight.
In 1555 he took charge of Bergenhus Fortress, and in the years 1555-56 he was commander-in-chief during the absence of Christopher Huitfeldt. Claus Bille once described Trond as the "most respected and wise nobleman North of the mountains".
Trond was married to Anna Jonsdotter Haard (c. 1510 - 27 November 1567), who together had sons Jon and Tord, and daughters Adelus, Kristin and Brynild. Trond died on February 2, 1558 in Vanse.
Sources
- Brandt, Wilhelmine: Slægten Benkestok (facsimile ed. 1997), Damms antikvariat, Oslo. ISBN 82-90438-07-9 ib. Original edition: Christiania 1904.
- Bjørkvik, Halvard, Trond Benkestokk – utdypning (NBL-artikkel), Store norske leksikon
- NRK Fylkesleksikon, Trond Benkestok