Walborg and Karin Jota

Walborg and Karin Jota (1350), was two Swedish women who, according to legend, was appointed jurymen after the great Black Plague. If the legend is true, they had a unique position for their time.

The legend say, that when the judge of the county of Värmland reassembled the court, after the great black plague had passed Sweden in 1350, they were two members short. Instead ot the stipulated twelve jurymen, they were only ten left. Also, it was not possible to elect two new men to fill their places, because of the great death numbers of the plauge. The judge therefore decided to call upon these two women, Karin Jota from Kallhyttan and Walborg from Nordmarkshyttan, to fill the places of jurymen of the court to make the number complete. This was not only formal positions; the two women took an active part in the affairs of the court. According to the legend, the judge had great respect for their judgement and wisdom, he often asked for their opinion and advise, and often followed it.

References

* http://runeberg.org/sqvinnor/0433.html