Bo Jonsson (Grip)

Bo Jonsson (Grip) (early 1330s – 20 August 1386) was head of the royal council and marshal under the regency of Magnus IV of Sweden. Also in the council was his friend and colleague, Karl Ulfsson av Ulvåsa, eldest son of Saint Birgitta. From 1369, during Albert of Sweden’s reign, he was "Officialis Generalis" (the king's highest official) and from 1371 Lord High Steward ("drots" in Swedish).Emilsson, Erik Örjan (2005). [http://www.handels.gu.se/epc/archive/00004617/01/nybok.pdf "Before 'The European Miracles'. Four Essays on Swedish Preconditions for Conquest, Growth and Voice"] . Doctoral Dissertation at the Department of Economic History, Göteborg University. Publication no 93, 2005. ISBN 9185196614, p. 20.]

Bo Jonsson dominated the political life of Sweden and Finland for decades. He was the most influential representative to the council of aristocracy that deposed Magnus IV of Sweden in 1365 and installed Albrecht von Mecklenburg on the Swedish throne. His position as the new king's "Officialis Generalis" granted him vast fiscal and administrative control. By 1374, he had gained title to all of Finland. [ [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-26086 Finland] . (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 29 May 2007.]

The family name, Grip, is Swedish for "Griffin", and a coat of arms of "Or, a griffin rampant Sable, armed and langued Gules", has been attributed to Bo Jonsson and was later also adopted as the coat of arms of Södermanland. The original family arms were "Argent, a griffin's head erased Sable and langued Gules", traced back to Tomas Jonsson Grip from around 1299. [cite web
url= http://home.planet.nl/~artrako/Scandinavie/Zweden-EN.html
title= The Medieval Grip Family
work= Grip from Sweden
language= English
date=2007-10-22
accessdate=2008-07-03] [cite web
url= http://home01.wxs.nl/~artrako/Scandinavie/ZwAdel-EN.html
title= Het hoogadellijke geslacht Grip
work= The Noble Grip Family
language= English
date=2003-12-19
accessdate=2008-07-03] [Jan Ranecke, "Svenska medeltidsvapen"]

Advancement

Through inheritance and unprejudiced methods, Jonsson came to control the largest private non-royal wealth Sweden has ever seen. The lord usurped 1,500 farms in 350 parishes throughout Sweden, from Kalmar to Falun, through economic and political means. He became Sweden's (and Finland's) largest landowner ever. The quantity of land under his control exceeded 1/3 of the entirety of the Swedish realm, [Kalmar Länsmuseum (1996). [http://medeltiden.kalmarlansmuseum.se/niva3/1-11-6.phtml?userid=0 Bo Jonsson Grip] . "Medieval history at the Museum", Kalmar Län. In Swedish. Retrieved 29 May 2007.] surpassing even the ruling king's national land holdings. In 1363 he was the leader of an aristocratic rebellion. He solicited support from Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg and in 1365, he became instrumental in removing Magnus Eriksson from the Swedish throne and offering it to the Duke's son.

Authority

From the Gripsholm Castle in Mariefred, which he built, [ [http://www.royalcourt.se/theroyalpalaces/gripsholmcastle/thecastle/history.4.19fe5e61065eb9aeea80008889.html Gripsholm Castle] . "History". The Royal Court of Sweden. Retrieved 29 May 2007.] Bo Jonsson governed the entire valley of Lake Mälaren, Hälsingland, all of Finland, large parts of Västergötland, Eastern Östergötland, and the Småland coast, including the city of Kalmar. He secured the Finnish fiefs as a reward for having assisted Albert to the throne of Sweden. [Kirby, David (2006). "A Concise History of Finland". Cambridge University Press, 2006. ISBN 0521539897, p. 10. [http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521539890&ss=exc Excerpt: A medieval marchland] . Retrieved 29 May 2007.]

He controlled a dozen fortresses, among which were Finnish Åbo Castle, Tavastehus and Viborg, Swedish Kalmar Castle and Nyköping Castle, in addition to ones built under his own direction: Bjärkaholm, Ringstaholm, and his most prized holding, Gripsholm.

As the head of the governing council and through his personal usurption of large areas of the country, Jonsson indirectly curtailed the concentration of royal power as well as German and Danish influence. However, he also solicited foreign intervention from Denmark and Mecklenburg in order to instal the nobility party's puppet kings on the Swedish thrown.

Marriage

Bo Jonsson married twice during his life. His first marriage took place with the wealthy Margareta Porse, who died shortly thereafter while undergoing childbirth. Jonsson allowed the baby to be delivered, though it died but one day later. Rumours held that Jonsson allowed the procedure to ensue in order to receive the inheritance right of his wife.

His second wife was the beautiful German Margareta Dume, who had many admirers. One of her many suitors was Karl Nilsson, a nobleman from Södermanland. Nilsson was stabbed in front of the high altar at the church of the Greyfriars (Franciscans), nowadays known as Riddarholmskyrkan, in Stockholm, Sweden. Contemporary sources held Bo Jonsson Grip to be guilty, acting in a jealous rage, but Jonsson maintained his innocence in witnessed testimonies, swearing his presence to have been elsewhere. Due to his powerful position, he was never charged. [ [http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?a=177260 Blev en riddare mördad och begravd i Riddarholmskyrkan?] "Svar om stockholmiana". Dagens Nyheter, 2 September 2003. (Q&A with DN's specialist Martin Stugart). In Swedish. Retrieved 29 May 2007.] Nine days later, the estate formerly belonging to Karl Nilsson fell into the hands of Jonsson.

Death

Jonsson died 20th August 1386 and donated in his will a substantial part of his wealth to monasteries and churches in Sweden. In particular he gave aid to the monastery in Vadstena, operated by the Bridgittine Order and dedicated to Saint Birgitta whom Jonsson had dedicated a big part of his life to get canonized. To ensure that the rest of his possessions would not fall into the hands of king Albert of Sweden whom Bo did not hold in very high regard he appointed a council of lords who would govern them in his name. The struggle between the king and this council concerning the huge estates Jonsson left behind would eventually lead to the Kalmar Union.

Progeny

Lord Bo's first wife, who died at childbirth, bore him a son "Jon Bosson", who died the same day. With his second wife "Margreta Lambrektsdotter" (Dume), he had at least two children, history tells about his son Knut Bosson Grip who was once castellan of Turku castle, and daughter "Margareta Bosdotter" who married Detler Bylow. The second marriage possibly produced other daughters too, but they are unnamed in historical sources.

He was influential in the expansion of the medieval Finnish economy and his descendants were created barons in 1561 (see Grip av Vinäs). For modern day descendants, see Lineage from Bo Jonsson of Gripsholm to Casimir Ehrnrooth.

References

Further reading

*Engström, Sten (1935). "Bo Jonsson till 1375". Uppsala University, PhD thesis, 1935.
*Ramklint, Ulla Britta (2003). "Svenska kungar och mäktiga män - tio historiska porträtt". Historiska Media, Lund, 2003. ISBN 91-89442-28-8
*Riddarhusdirektionen (1957). "Äldre svenska frälsesläkter". Vol II:1.
*Rosman, Holger (1923). "Bjärka-Säby och dess ägare". Uppsala, 1923.