Meet the Middle Ages
BackBo Jonsson Grip
Bo Jonsson Grip was a nobleman who, by being clever and cunning, acquired so many manors and counties that he finally owned and controlled two thirds of Sweden.
Towards the end of the 1360 ´s Bo began to obtain land in Tjust. From 1377 and onwards he rapidly increased his estate. In Tjust, one farm after another became his. Around 1378, he took control of Stäkeholm ´s Castle at the estuary of Gamlebyviken. The entire county of Stäkeholm was now pledged to him. Some years before, he had become the owner of Kalmar County.
Bo Jonssons manor house was called Vinäs. It lay in the parish of Västra Ed.
For about twenty years, Bo Jonsson Grip was very influential in Tjust. In 1386, he died. There were a lot of quarrels and conflicts about who should inherit all his land, his castles and his property. Bo Jonsson ´s sons, king Albrekt and Queen Margareta all wanted to take possession of his estate. During the battles which were fought in Tjust, the church in Lofta was burned down.
Bo Jonsson is known to us as a harsh man. One might wonder what it would have been like to be one of his tenant farmers.
Read more about Bo Jonsson Grip in "Meet the Middle Ages" society, people in power.