In Scandinavia, a seat farm (Danish: sædegård; Norwegian: setegård/setegard; Swedish: sätesgård or säteri; Finnish: säteriratsutila) was a farm where a nobleman had his permanent residence. They were found in the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden, and Finland, and enjoyed certain privileges.

The seat farm Holsteinborg in Denmark.
Artist: Jens Peter Trap (ca. 1860)

Norway edit

 
Elingård Farm in Norway. The earliest known owner was Olav Torsteinsson (Gyldenhorn) in the 15th century
 
Interior of the manor at Sturehov in Sweden

The term was originally used for any farm where a nobleman chose to reside. In 1639 the status of seat farm was restricted to farms that for at least the previous forty years had enjoyed this status.[citation needed] After 1660, when absolute monarchy was introduced in Norway, non-noble persons could also achieve this status for their farm of residence.[citation needed]

Seat farms had, especially, freedom from taxes and tithes. After 1800 the tax exemption was modified, and under the 1821 Nobility Law the exemption ended upon the death of the person owning the farm at the time of the law's enactment.[citation needed]

  • Approximate number of seat farms in 1639: 100
  • Approximate number of seat farms in 1821: 25


List of Seat farms in Norway edit

Name Place Seat farm privileges House Ref.
Akselvoll Nordhordland Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660. 1648 Mowat

1661 Bildt

Ask Askøy Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Austrått Ørland
Berby Halden
Bertnes Bodø Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Biltsgård Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660. 1648 Mowat

1661 Bildt

Birkesvoll Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Bjelland Sunnhordland Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Bleken Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Borregård Sarpsborg Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.  
Brandstorp Sarpsborg Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Brunla Larvik Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Disen Hamar Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Dønnes Dønna Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Eide Sunnhordland Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Elingård Fredrikstad Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.  
Evje Rygge
Falkensten Horten  
Finne Voss  
Folberg Nes
Fossesholm Øvre Eiker  
Fosser Rakkestad
Fossnes Stokke
Fritzøe Larvik Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Førde Volda 1599 Carsten (Karsten) Jonsson to Førde.
Giske Giske
Gjemsø Abbey Skien  
Gjeresvik
Gloppe (Halsen) Larvik
Grefsheim Ringsaker  
Hafslund Sarpsborg  
Halsnøy Abbey Kvinnherad
Hananger Farsund
Hatteberg later Rosendal Kvinnherad
Helle
Herrebrøden Halden
Herløy
Holla (Holden) Hemne
Holleby
Horne Stange
Hovinsholm Ringsaker
Hovland Tysnes
Hustad Hustavika
Håland Sunnhordland
Inndyr Gildeskål
Jarlsberg Tønsberg  
Jordanger Luster
Kambo Moss
Kanestraum Tingvoll
Kaupanger Sogndal  
Kjølberg Fredrikstad
Ytre Kroken Luster
Kvåle Sogndal
Kårhus Vindafjord
Lade Trondheim  
Landvik Grimstad
Laurvig Larvik  
Losna Solund
Lunde
Lundestad Halden
Lungegården Bergen
Lyse Abbey Os
Malkenes Tysnes
Manvik Larvik
Mel Kvinnherad
Mellø (Mela)
Melsom
Møhus/Mjøs Radøy
Mindnes Alstahaug
Nes
Nesøya Asker
Nordvi Stange
Nygård Fredrikstad
Nørholm Grimstad
Os Halden
Onarheim Tysnes
Orningsgård Stord
Rein Abbey Indre Fosen
Sakslund Stange
Samsal Ringsaker
Sande Sarpsborg
Sandviken Sunnhordland
Sandviken Nordhordland
Seim Kvinnherad
Sem (Semb) Øvre Eiker
Sem
Skapal Ringsaker
Skjelbred Øvre Eiker
Herre-Skjelbred Andebu
Skjersnes Nøtterøy
Skredshol Ringsaker
Stedje Sogndal
Stend Bergen  
Storfosen Ørland
Storhamar Hamar
Strøm
Stumberg Halden
Sørum Sørum
Svanøy Flora
Sørum (Sørheim) Luster
Tisle Kongsberg
Tjerne Ringsaker
Tomb (Tom) Råde
Torsnes Jondal
Tose (Thorsøe) Fredrikstad  
Tønnøl (Tøndel) Ørland
Tøyen Oslo  
Ulefoss Nome  
Ulven Ringsaker
Ulleland (Ulveland) Øvre Eiker
Vatne Sunnhordland
Veen (Veden) Halden
Vestnes Vestnes
Værne Abbey Rygge
Yttersø Larvik
Åker Hamar

See also edit

Literature edit