Elise Eskilsdotter (''Elise Eskildsdatter'') (died c. 1483) was a Norwegian noble. Elise was the daughter of Eskild Ågesen and Elisabeth Jakobsdatter Hegle. Her father was a knight from

Scania Scania ( ), also known by its native name of Skåne (), is the southernmost of the historical provinces of Sweden, provinces () of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous w ...

. Around 1420, she married the Norwegian nobleman Olav Nilsson (ca. 1400–1455) who was a member of the noble Skanke family. Olav Nilsson served as a member of the

Riksråd Riksrådet (in Norwegian and Swedish) or Rigsrådet (in Danish or English: the Council of the Realm and the Council of the State – sometimes translated as the "Privy Council") is the name of the councils of the Scandinavian countries that ...

of Norway and was knighted by King

Eric of Pomerania Erik of Pomerania ( 1381/1382 – 24 September 1459) ruled over the Kalmar Union from 1396 until 1439. He was initially co-ruler with his great-aunt Margaret I of Denmark, Margaret I until her death in 1412. Erik is known as Erik III as King of ...

in 1430 and became feudal overlord of

Ryfylke Ryfylke is a Districts of Norway, traditional district in the northeastern part of Rogaland county, Norway. The district, encompassing about 60% of the county's area is located northeast of Stavanger and east of Haugesund. It includes the mainla ...

Rogaland Rogaland () is a Counties of Norway, county in Western Norway, bordering the North Sea to the west and the counties of Vestland to the north, Telemark to the east and Agder to the east and southeast. As of 1 January 2024, it had a population of 49 ...

, Norway. He was a wealthy landowner with properties in both Norway and Denmark. Olav later served King

Christian I of Denmark Christian I ''(Christiern I)'' (February 1426 – 21 May 1481) was a German noble and Scandinavian monarch under the Kalmar Union. He was king of Denmark (1448–1481), King of Norway, Norway (1450–1481) and King of Sweden, Sweden (1457 ...

as a privateer during the Dano-Hanseatic War (1426–35). After Treaty of

Vordingborg Vordingborg () is a market town and old ferry town on the south coast of the island of Zealand in Denmark. Because of three large estates surrounding the town, a coherent urban development has not been possible, which is the reason why three sat ...

in July 1435, King Christian made peace with the

Hanseatic League The Hanseatic League was a Middle Ages, medieval commercial and defensive network of merchant guilds and market towns in Central Europe, Central and Northern Europe, Northern Europe. Growing from a few Northern Germany, North German towns in the ...

. However Olav continued to attack German merchant ships against the wishes of the king. As a consequence, in 1453 the king dismissed Olav. In 1455, Olav Nilsson was assassinated at

Munkeliv Abbey Munkeliv Abbey () was a Rule of St. Benedict, Benedictine abbey located at Nordnes in Bergen, Norway, Bergen, Norway. It was one of the oldest monasteries in Norway, and also one of the wealthiest and best-documented. There are no visible remains ...

together with his son Nils, his brother Peder Nilsson Skanke, as well as Leif Thor Olafsson, Bishop of Bergen. Following his death, Elise Eskilsdotter and her children led open warfare against the trade of the German merchant class of Bergen. Her eldest son, Olav, was killed by a shipwreck in 1465, but the youngest son Axel continued the business. Like many other members of the Norwegian nobility, she also opposed Danish rule over Norway. In 1468, King

Christian I Christian I ''(Christiern I)'' (February 1426 – 21 May 1481) was a German noble and Scandinavian monarch under the Kalmar Union. He was king of Denmark (1448–1481), Norway (1450–1481) and Sweden (1457–1464). From 1460 to 1481, he ...

confiscated her fief because he no longer trusted her loyalty. Elise died around 1483.

References

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* Carlquist, Gunnar (1937) ''Svensk uppslagsbok. Bd 20'' (Malmö: Svensk Uppslagsbok AB)

References

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