women as issuers of testaments in medieval denmark sued at least fourteen letters of protection or privileges, which must have arrived in Denmark by the time of the settlement.25 The testament dealt only with legacies in land to various beneficiaries. In 1257 Ingerd issued another testament dealing only with legacies in movables – money, jewelry, clerical vestments, household items, and the like – as well as settling her debts.26 Some of the beneficiaries were the same persons and institutions as in her first testament, but she also remembered members of her household, as well as her friends. Significantly, she left nothing to her nephew or niece. Even as powerful and well-connected a lady as Ingerd had to heed the interests of the legal heirs. Once she had made the necessary exchange, though, she could go ahead with her plans. And the convent of Saint Clare in Roskilde was by no means left destitute; eventually, it became one of the richest convents for nuns in Denmark. My other example tells a somewhat different story. Ida Falk of Gladsax, who lived from 1358 to 1399, was another very wealthy lady. She was married twice and had two daughters, both of whom died before her.27 In her will, dated August 11, 1398, Ida remembered her relatives and her servants with many generous legacies.28 In particular, she seems to have wanted to do something for her female beneficiaries, and even in the legacies for families she stressed that women and children should have their fair share. In addition, she left money for lepers and for the poor, for churches in eastern Denmark, as well as for every convent of nuns in eastern Denmark and for many of the monasteries. The largest and most generous legacy of all in her testament, however, was for the foundation of a convent of Dominican nuns at her residence in Gladsax in Scania. To that end, she left a large bequest. For executors she selected Margrete, the de facto ruler of the three Nordic kingdoms, as well as the Bishop of Roskilde, whom she called ‘my very 25 They were issued January 3–17, 1257, DDan. II:1, nos. 200–202, 204–210; and January 21–March 1, 1258, DDan. II:1, nos. 245, 246, 248, 249. 26 The testament dealing with movables is published inDDan. II:1, no. 240. 27 On Ida Falk, see Wallin 1954. 28 Ida’s testament is published inDDan. IV:6, no. 617. 158
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