Aslak Bolt

Aslak Bolt Harniktsson (* 1375, † probably 1450 ) was Norwegian archbishop. He sat down for the strengthening of the church, particularly their economic basis, a. His record of the church belonging goods is one of the most important sources for the history of Norwegian economy this time.

Family

His parents were councilman in Bergen Harnikt Henningsson (mentioned in 1389 ) and his wife Sigrid Aslaksdatter Bolt (mentioned 1410). There are strong indications that he made ​​one of the most distinguished families of Norway, Rømer, came. Therefore he brought the coat of arms of this family.

Bishop of Bergen

Aslak was elected in 1407 to the Bishop of Oslo. But already in 1408 he took over at the instigation of the regent Margaret I, with the support of Pope Gregory XII. the diocese of Bergen. He immediately began to create a directory of goods of the diocese. He took in 1426 in the negotiations between King Erik of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and King James I of Scotland, the. Renewal of the treaty of 1226 between King Magnus Håkonsson lagabætir and Alexander III its subject, in part. But above all he was concerned with the strengthening of the economic foundations of the diocese administration. In the religious field, he was an admirer of St. Bridget of Sweden and had a copy of their "visions". He sat down also seek a to rededicate the Benedictine Munkeliv in a Birgittinerkloster for the nuns from the monastery Maribo. By letter dated November 26, 1421 Pope Martin V agreed to the request of King Erik's to that.

Archbishop of Nidaros

1428 elected him the chapter in Nidaros Archbishop. He took office in 1430 after Pope Martin V had confirmed the election. In the meantime, 1429 Bergen was attacked by the brothers Vitali led by Bartholomew Voet. Aslak Bolt had to take refuge on an English ship. He drew up a list of all valuables, which he had brought in 20 boxes Add to Nidaros Nidaros. This directory is an important source for what items at that time were part of a bishop's household: utensils, carpets, furniture, theological books, etc. In general, he tried to identify the possessions of the archbishopric and catalog.

1432 burned down the cathedral. It was all the more important, particularly for reconstruction, to gain over the economic foundations of the Diocese of clarity. So Aslak Bolts Jordebok was undertaken and completed in 1433. This Product Classification is one of the main sources of the Middle Ages in Norway. The Archdiocese had about 3,000 estates and places wholly or partly within Trøndelag and also scattered throughout the country. By describing the waste places and the reduced rental income gives his work a unique insight about the population decline and the economic consequences of the plague epidemic of 1349. The list also shows that the Archdiocese acquired many more estates during his tenure.

The proceeds were used in part of poor relief. Aslak Bolt revived the forgotten rules that the Michaelmas fair and the day of St. Olav alms were to give to the poor, he made ​​the appropriate arrangements with the farmers. However, should the grain that was paid for the charity, will no longer exist as it used to directly to the poor, but to the 14 altars of the cathedral. The canons who served at these altars should sing daily Mass for all the living for peace and good harvest and read another for all Christian souls. He also tried to let the pious gifts that had been promised earlier archbishops voluntarily revive. He insisted that the various recurring gifts were recorded in writing. In Trøndelag and North Norway Officer of the Archdiocese took the economic interests of the Archdiocese.

In the tenure Aslak Bolts also the Council of Basel fell. There it was to limit the power of the Pope. One of the principles was that the bishops were to be elected by the cathedral chapter. When the Archbishop was the election valid, he could consecrate the bishop without papal approval. It is also a considerable saving was at the local dioceses, as the Pope called for considerable fees for his approval. Aslak Bolt joined this council movement and occupied in accordance with the provisions of Council in 1434 the single had become bishop's throne in Bergen. He also tried to revive the provincial councils again. The first was convened in 1435 in Bergen, but was poorly attended. After the compulsory attendance of all the bishops inculcated again appeared on the provincial council in it, all the bishops of Oslo, who was in Oslo except the currently in Denmark year. The 21 decisions of the Council clearly show Aslak Bolt's desire to preserve the spiritual and economic interests of the Church. Every bishop should send at least one local clergyman to university. He pursued the goal of the Norwegian church offices with locals to occupy rather than Danes. For this part of the arms tithes could be used. There also the custom of the concubines ( Frille ) was convicted. Those who are not separated from them or not married, should be excluded from the Sacrament after one year. Even more ecclesiastical penalties for raising the standard of morality were introduced. This council was the last provincial council in Norway. It was planned another council in Tønsberg for 1441, but could not be held.

In agreement with the pope, the king had set his confidants to the episcopal sees. This gave the king some control over the Imperial Council, in which the number of the laity was gradually declining. Aslak Bolt now pursued the goal of weakening the Unionskönigtum. If the position of the Imperial Council against the royal power to be strengthened, so the demand for free election of bishops and the occupation Norwegian church offices with local candidates left instead of the current track easier with Danes. This was already in line with the Council of Basle. In addition, in Sweden, the resistance against King Erik was great. As a member of the Imperial Council he was involved with the aftermath of the uprising Engelbrekt Engelbrektssons and the uprising of the peasant leader Amund Bolt in Sweden in 1436. He played obviously a central role in the treaty of 1437 between the Imperial Council and the insurgents.

At the end of his life, politics had come increasingly to the fore. After the death of Christoffer of Bavaria in 1448 Sweden and Denmark each chose their own king. This led to a split in the Norwegian Imperial Council. It formed a Sweden faction led by Aslak Bolt and the knight Eirik Sæmundsson and Denmark Group under the leadership of the Imperial Vicar Sigurd Jonsson, the Bishop of Oslo Jens Jakobsson and the main man at Akershus, Hartvig Krummedike. For both kings were crowned in Nidaros. Aslak Bolt looked but later but forced to adhere to Christian I.. In the election capitulation Christians from July 2, 1449 Aslak Bolt was determined together with Sigurd Jonsson to the royal governor in Norway. But that did not prevent him to crown Charles Knudsson in the same year in the cathedral of Nidaros king. In its election capitulation of the Treaty of 1277 between the church and royal power was confirmed. Shortly afterwards died Aslak Bolt, probably 1450th

Among many preserved objects Aslak Bolts is particularly the French splendor Bible mention that he had apparently bought in Copenhagen.