Seat farm

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

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.

Norway

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

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

1661 Bildt

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

See also

Literature