| |
|
The key concept of Swedish nobility is that of introduction at the Riddarhuset (House of Knights), which was formerly a chamber of the Swedish Parliament (Riksdag), and since 1866 an independent corporation. Almost all noble families, with the exception of some foreign nobility living in Sweden, are introduced, and their members are listed in an annual calendar.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Nobility after 1561 3 Privileges 4 Related topics 5 External links |
Medieval nobility
The nobility in Sweden (and Finland) dates back to 1280 when it was agreed that magnates who could afford to contribute to the cavalry with a horse-soldier were to be exempted from tax - at least from ordinary taxes - as the clergy already had been. The archaic Swedish term for nobility, frälse, includes also the clergy while referring to their exemption from tax.
The background was that the old system of a leišangr fleet and a king on constant travels in the realm became outmoded and in need of replacement. The crown's court and castles were now to be financed through taxes on land.
Soon it was also agreed that the king should govern the realm in cooperation with a Privy Council (or State Council) where the bishops and the most distinguished among the magnates (i.e. the most prominent contributors to the army) participated. When troublesome decisions were necessary all of the frälse was summoned to diets.
The Swedish nobility had no hereditary fiefs. In case they were appointed to a castle of the crown's then their heirs couldn't claim their civil or military authority. The lands of the magnates who constituted the medieval nobility were their own and not "on lease" from a feudal king. If they by own means (including the suffering of the local peasantry) build a castle, and financed its troops, then the castle was theirs but the troops, of course, expected to serve as a part of the realm's army.
For extended periods the commander of Vyborg at the border to Novgorod/Russia did in practice function as a margrave, keeping all the crown's incomes from the fief to use for the defense of the realm's eastern border. But despite the heavy German influence during the medieval age the elaborate German system with titles such as Lantgraf, Reichsgraf, Burggraf & Pfalzgraf was never applied.
Nobility after 1561
At the coronation of Eric XIV in 1561, nobility was first stated as formally hereditary, when the higher titles of Count (greve) and Baron (friherre) were created. The House of Knights was organized in 1626. The reasons for introduction were birth into an "ancient" noble family, or nobiliation by the king. A great interest for genealogy followed.
During the 17th century, the number of the noble estate grew by a factor of five. Due to the many wars, the king needed means to award officers, and cash was not plentiful, so nobiliation and donation of land were used in stead. In less than a century, the nobility's share of Swedish land rose from 16% to over 60%, which led to considerably lower tax incomes. The "reductions" of 1655 and 1680 however brought back land to the crown.
Following the German example, all members of a noble family generally are noble. If the family is of the rank of Count or Baron, all members receive that title as well. From 1809 however, a change was made towards the British system, so only the head of the family holds the status. There are also such families where all members are noble but only the head is a Count. But this rule applies only to nobiliations made after 1809, so still the vast majority of families are of the old type.
In contrast to the United Kingdom and the Benelux countries, no hereditary titles or honours have been granted since 1902, when explorer Sven Hedin was enobled (that dignity was hereditary, but he left no heirs). After 1975 there is even no legal right of nobiliation. Deposed royal princes have been granted Luxembourgish or Belgian nobility titles in stead.
Privileges
The noble estate was never abolished in Sweden, but the privileged position has been weakened step by step from 1680 and forth. The political privileges were practically abolished by the reformation of the Riksdag of the Estates in 1866, and the last rights of precedence to certain governmental offices were removed in the 1920s. By then also the last taxation privileges were abolished.
The privileges in Sweden are nowadays limited to a protection of some additional part of the heraldic arms: the helm with open visor and the crowns marking the honor. In practice also the surnames have been protected, although surnames of extinct families can now be adopted by virtually anybody.
Related topics
External links