Johannes Lauritsson (c. 1540 – c. 1620) was a wealthy Norwegian landowner. Through marriage, he was associated with the prominent Galte family of Jondal in Hardanger.Handegård, Odd (2008),
Vår felles slektshistorie. Hardanger, Sunnhordland og Ryfylke m.m. 1170-1650
', p. 314

Plot and arrest

He is mentioned as living at Valen in Kvinnherad from 1563 to 1578."''Jondal kommune, Gards- og slektssoge, bind II''" Around 1567, during the Northern Seven Years' War (1563-1570), Lauritsson joined his cousin Enno Brandrøk in

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

in his scheme to aggravate King Frederick II of Denmark-Norway. Lauritsson was after some time sent back to

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

with a letter for the nobility, describing great hostilities and suggesting they should kill as many

Danes Danes ( da, danskere, ) are a North Germanic ethnic group and nationality native to Denmark and a modern nation identified with the country of Denmark. This connection may be ancestral, legal, historical, or cultural. Danes generally regard t ...

as possible. Due to this, Lauritsson was captured and sentenced to be executed. However he was set free after paying 100 daler. This was probably due to Enno's sister Anna Tronds and the fact that the lord of

Bergenhus Fortress Bergenhus fortress ( no, Bergenhus festning) is a fortress located in Bergen, Norway. Located at the entrance of Bergen harbour, the castle is one of the oldest and best preserved stone fortifications in Norway. History The fortress contains ...

, Erik Rosenkrantz (1519-1575) was also Enno's cousin.

Later life

Lauritsson is not mentioned again after his return from Sweden until 1578, when he was trustee for his mother in the case against the brothers Sebjørn and Tore Toresson. At this time he still lived at the farm Valen. He was married around 1583–85 to Herborg Torbjørnsdatter Sandven (c. 1565–1633) of Sandven in Kvam. Through this marriage, he received Jondal farm in Hardanger, one of the two farms at Torsnes which she in turn had inherited from her grandfather or great-grandfather Peter Nilsson på Torsnes (c.1450-1530). Lauritsson also inherited land from Guttorm Nilsson. By 1603 he was, together with his wife's brother Olav Torbjørnson Sandven (1560-1637), one of the wealthiest landowners in Hardanger and Sunnhordland. Lauritsson was juror in 1590, 1599 and 1610. In 1591, he was the representative from the parish of

Strandebarm Strandebarm is a former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The original municipality was large, spanning both sides of the central part of the Hardangerfjorden. It also included the island of Varaldsøy. Over time, the municipa ...

at the celebration at

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...

for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway.

References

1540 births 1620 deaths People from Hordaland People from Kvinnherad Norwegian landowners Norwegian jurists 16th-century Norwegian people 17th-century Norwegian people Norwegian prisoners sentenced to death Prisoners sentenced to death by Norway {{Norway-bio-stub