Meet the Middle Ages
BackRikmodh, a merchant woman from Kalmar
On May 25, in 1346, Rikmodh from Kalmar stands before the Town Council. She is the widow of the merchant Vinald. Vinald sailed between Kalmar and Lübeck. One of his ships is still in Lübeck. Since Vinald is dead, the ship now belongs to his wife. She has been to Lübeck to inform its Council that she is now the owner of the ship. The skipper and captain of the ship is Herman the Deaf. The merchants of Lübeck refuse to let the ship go, since they suspect that Rikmodh will make further demands. Perhaps she also wants the ship´s cargo.
On May 25, Rikmodh asks the Council of Kalmar to write a letter to the Councillors in Lübeck, explaining that she will not make any further demands.
The members of the Town Council write a polite letter in order to explain the situation to the Lübeck Council. They seal the letter with Kalmar´s own seal to prove that the promise will be kept.
We do not know what happened to Rikmodh and her ship. But the letter still exists to this day. It was sent from Kalmar on Ascension Day in 1346.