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Canute the Great:
Granting of Fiefs, 1028


The fief combined the principal characteristics of the bencficium of the Romans, and the personal relationship of the comitatus of the Germans. Whereas the beneficium was held only for life, or for a limited period of time, the fief was hereditary. The first documentary evidence of a fief is to be found in the ninth century. In the process of feudalizing Norway the practice of enfeoffing subjects was a step in the engrossing of political power by the Scandinavian kings.

Then King Canute proceeded; and, to be short in our tale, did not stop until he came to Trondheim, and landed at Nidaros. In Trondheim he called together a Thing for the eight districts, at which King Canute was chosen king of all Norway. Thorer Hund, who had come with King Canute from Denmark, was there, and also Harek of Thjotta; and both were made sheriffs of the king, and took the oath of fealty to him. King Canute gave them great fiefs, and also right to the Lapland trade, and presented them besides with rich gifts. He enriched all men who were inclined to enter into friendly accord with him both with fiefs and money, and gave them greater power than they had before.


Source:

Samuel Laing, ed., The Heimskringla, A History of the Kings of Norway, (New York: The Norroena Society, 1911), p. 552; reprinted in Roy C. Cave & Herbert H. Coulson, A Source Book for Medieval Economic History, (Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1936; reprint ed., New York: Biblo & Tannen, 1965), pp. 330-331.

Scanned by Jerome S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton. The text has been modernized by Prof. Arkenberg.


This text is part of the Internet Medieval Sourcebook. The Sourcebook is a collection of public domain and copy-permitted texts related to medieval and Byzantine history.

Unless otherwise indicated the specific electronic form of the document is copyright. Permission is granted for electronic copying, distribution in print form for educational purposes and personal use. If you do reduplicate the document, indicate the source. No permission is granted for commercial use.

© Paul Halsall, October 1998
[email protected]



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