annika björklund Both male and female servants were testament witnesses in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, although no servant is a witness after 1323.56 Many of the servant witnesses have the title villicus, but alsopuer, famulus, famula, prouisor bonorum, andcoquus are found. These servants were obviously highly trusted by their masters and mistresses. In Karl Estridsson’s testament of 1286 several of his ‘servant boys’ (pueris meis)arewitnesses.57 In Kristina Johansdotter’s testament of 1293, her faithful servant (fidelis famula) Margareta is among the witnesses.58 And, as we saw above, in Elisabeth’s testament in 1303 two of her mistress Ramborg’s female servants (famule domine) were witnesses.59 Why servant witnesses disappear after 1323 is unknown. Many servants seem deeply cared for, not only in Swedish testaments.60 Already the fact that servants were remembered in the written testaments of their mistresses/masters shows this, and indicates a personal relationship, perhaps also coloured by charity.61 The closeness between testator and servant is emphasized in particular in testaments where the testator describes a long duration of service, such as in Cecilia Knutsdotter’s testament in 1270 when Estrid, for her long service, is given landed property.62 In 1322 Katarina, the wife of Nils Björnsson, gives money to her male and female servants for their “long and faithful service”.63 In1368 Arvid Kettilsson grants landed property to Bothild, who has served him and his mother “long and faithfully”.64 Similar phrases are found in testaments e.g. of German burghers, of English merchants, and in Venice.65 345 56 In1286(SDHK1336); in 1293 (SDHK1600); in 1302 (SDHK1985); in 1303 (SDHK1994, SDHK2039, SDHK2040); in 1308 (SDHK2264); in 1310 (SDHK2358); in 1323 (SDHK 3209). 57 SDHK1336. 58 SDHK1600. 59 SDHK2040. 60 Goldberg 1992, pp. 182f; Goldberg 2022; Baur 1989, p. 202; Wysmulek 2021, p. 233. 61 For a discussion see Laumonier 2022, pp. 339ff. 62 SDHK897: Estridi que diu in nostro obsequio exstitit. 63 SDHK3166: qui a longo tempore in meo seruicio manserant. 64 SDHK9375: Botildis, que matri mee felicis memorie et michi diu et laudabiliter seruierat. 65 Baur 1989, pp. 202ff; Goldberg 2022, p. 390; Masè 2013, p. 167. Trusted and beloved servants
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