Seat farm explained

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

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. After 1660, when absolute monarchy was introduced in Norway, non-noble persons could also achieve this status for their farm of residence.

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.


List of Seat farms in Norway

NamePlaceSeat farm privilegesHouseRef.
Akselvoll NordhordlandBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.1648 Mowat1661 Bildt
AskAskøy MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
AustråttØrland Municipality
BerbyHalden Municipality
BertnesBodø MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Biltsgård Before the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.1648 Mowat

1661 Bildt

BirkesvollBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Bjelland SunnhordlandBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
BlekenBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
BorregårdSarpsborg MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
BrandstorpSarpsborg MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
BrunlaLarvik MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
DisenHamar MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
DønnesDønna MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
Eide SunnhordlandBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
ElingårdFredrikstad MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
EvjeRygge Municipality
FalkenstenHorten Municipality
FinneVoss Municipality
FolbergNes Municipality
FossesholmØvre Eiker Municipality
Fosser
FossnesSandefjord Municipality
FritzøeLarvik MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.
FørdeVolda Municipality1599 Carsten (Karsten) Jonsson to Førde.
GiskeGiske Municipality
Gjemsø AbbeySkien Municipality
Gjeresvik
Gloppe (Halsen)Larvik Municipality
GrefsheimRingsaker Municipality
HafslundSarpsborg Municipality
Halsnøy AbbeyKvinnherad Municipality
HanangerFarsund Municipality
Hatteberg later RosendalKvinnherad Municipality
Helle
HerrebrødenHalden Municipality
Herløy
Holla (Holden)Hemne Municipality
Holleby
HorneStange Municipality
HovinsholmRingsaker Municipality
Hovland Tysnes Municipality
HustadHustadvika Municipality
Håland Sunnhordland
Inndyr
JarlsbergTønsberg Municipality
JordangerLuster Municipality
KamboMoss Municipality
KanestraumTingvoll Municipality
KaupangerSogndal Municipality
KjølbergFredrikstad Municipality
Ytre KrokenLuster Municipality
KvåleSogndal Municipality
KårhusVindafjord Municipality
LadeTrondheim Municipality
LandvikGrimstad Municipality
LaurvigLarvik Municipality
LosnaSolund Municipality
Lunde
LundestadHalden Municipality
LungegårdenBergen Municipality
Lyse AbbeyBjørnafjorden Municipality
MalkenesTysnes Municipality
ManvikLarvik Municipality
MelKvinnherad Municipality
Mellø (Mela)
Melsom
Møhus/Mjøs Alver Municipality
Mindnes
Nes
NesøyaAsker Municipality
NordviStange Municipality
NygårdFredrikstad Municipality
NørholmGrimstad Municipality
OsHalden Municipality
OnarheimTysnes Municipality
OrningsgårdStord Municipality
Rein AbbeyIndre Fosen Municipality
SakslundStange Municipality
SamsalRingsaker Municipality
SandeSarpsborg Municipality
SandvikenSunnhordland
SandvikenNordhordland
SeimKvinnherad Municipality
Sem (Semb)Øvre Eiker Municipality
SemTønsberg Municipality
SkapalRingsaker Municipality
SkjelbredØvre Eiker Municipality
Herre-SkjelbredSandefjord Municipality
SkjersnesFærder Municipality
SkredsholRingsaker Municipality
StedjeSogndal Municipality
StendBergen Municipality
StorfosenØrland Municipality
StorhamarHamar Municipality
Strøm
StumbergHalden Municipality
SørumSørum Municipality
SvanøyaKinn Municipality
Sørum (Sørheim)Luster Municipality
Tisle
TjerneRingsaker Municipality
Tomb (Tom)Råde Municipality
TorsnesUllensvang Municipality
Tose (Thorsøe)Fredrikstad Municipality
Tønnøl (Tøndel)Ørland Municipality
TøyenOslo Municipality
UlefossNome Municipality
UlvenRingsaker Municipality
Ulleland (Ulveland)Øvre Eiker Municipality
Vatne Sunnhordland
Veen (Veden)Halden Municipality
VestnesVestnes Municipality
Værne AbbeyMoss Municipality
YttersøLarvik Municipality
ÅkerHamar Municipality

See also

Literature