Eric Clauesson
Encyclopedia
Eric Clauesson (died 1492) was a Swedish man executed for sorcery, theft and heresy
, though in reality, this was an execution for Paganism. His case illustrates the fact that the old Pre-Christian Pagan Norse religion still lived in Sweden as late as in the 15th century.
Eric Clauesson worked as a servant to Hans Persson on Värmdö
. He was put before the court in Stockholm
. He confessed that he had sworn himself to the old Nordic god Odin
to escape poverty, and that he had stolen from his master several times. This was a peculiar case; Eric was to be judged for Paganism, which could be seen as a form of heresy, but officially for sorcery, an unusual crime in Sweden at this point, and it is hard to determine if this was a witch trial or a trial of heresy. Eric himself clearly meant the old Pagan god Odin (In Swedish:Oden); but Oden, like other Pagan gods, was by the church considered to be devils, and therefore, "Oden" was translated to "Satan" by the court, and Eric was thereby to be judged as a Devil-worshipper. This was, by all accounts, a trial of heresy against paganism.
The verdict was that he should be executed by the breaking wheel
and hanged for the theft, and for his other, religious crime, "the highest matter" against "God and his immortal soul" for having renounced God and made a pact with Satan, he was sentenced to be burned at the stake; as the religious crime was more important than the crime of theft, it was the punishment he received for the former crime that was to be carried out. The Swedish law did not actually mention such crimes at the time, and the verdict can be seen as a sign that the Catholic Church was at the point given a stronger position in Sweden, similar to that of the continent, were cases such as this were more common.
He was not the only one to be put on trial for worshipping the old gods. On 27 October 1484, Ragvald Odenskarl (Ragvald The Follower of Oden), as the court called him, was put on trial in Stockholm accused of theft of several churches in Uppland; he claimed to have served Oden for seven years and committed the thefts with Johan Land. Ragvald is believed to have been burned, and Johan saved himself by asking to be an executioner.
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
, though in reality, this was an execution for Paganism. His case illustrates the fact that the old Pre-Christian Pagan Norse religion still lived in Sweden as late as in the 15th century.
Eric Clauesson worked as a servant to Hans Persson on Värmdö
Värmdö
Värmdö can mean:*Värmdö Municipality - a municipality of Stockholm County in Sweden, named after the island Värmdön*Värmdö - a large island in eastern Sweden, in Värmdö Municipality...
. He was put before the court in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. He confessed that he had sworn himself to the old Nordic god Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
to escape poverty, and that he had stolen from his master several times. This was a peculiar case; Eric was to be judged for Paganism, which could be seen as a form of heresy, but officially for sorcery, an unusual crime in Sweden at this point, and it is hard to determine if this was a witch trial or a trial of heresy. Eric himself clearly meant the old Pagan god Odin (In Swedish:Oden); but Oden, like other Pagan gods, was by the church considered to be devils, and therefore, "Oden" was translated to "Satan" by the court, and Eric was thereby to be judged as a Devil-worshipper. This was, by all accounts, a trial of heresy against paganism.
The verdict was that he should be executed by the breaking wheel
Breaking wheel
The breaking wheel, also known as the Catherine wheel or simply the wheel, was a torture device used for capital punishment in the Middle Ages and early modern times for public execution by bludgeoning to death...
and hanged for the theft, and for his other, religious crime, "the highest matter" against "God and his immortal soul" for having renounced God and made a pact with Satan, he was sentenced to be burned at the stake; as the religious crime was more important than the crime of theft, it was the punishment he received for the former crime that was to be carried out. The Swedish law did not actually mention such crimes at the time, and the verdict can be seen as a sign that the Catholic Church was at the point given a stronger position in Sweden, similar to that of the continent, were cases such as this were more common.
He was not the only one to be put on trial for worshipping the old gods. On 27 October 1484, Ragvald Odenskarl (Ragvald The Follower of Oden), as the court called him, was put on trial in Stockholm accused of theft of several churches in Uppland; he claimed to have served Oden for seven years and committed the thefts with Johan Land. Ragvald is believed to have been burned, and Johan saved himself by asking to be an executioner.