In Scandinavia, a seat farm or manor farm (; Norwegian /; or ; ) 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.
Approximate number of seat farms in 1639: 100 Approximate number of seat farms in 1821: 25
List of Seat farms in Norway NamePlaceSeat farm privilegesHouseRef.AkselvollNordhordlandBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.1648 Mowat 1661 BildtAskAskøy MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.AustråttØrland MunicipalityBerbyHalden MunicipalityBertnesBodø MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.BiltsgårdBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.1648 Mowat
1661 BildtBirkesvollBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.BjellandSunnhordlandBefore 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.EideSunnhordlandBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.ElingårdFredrikstad MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.EvjeRygge MunicipalityFalkenstenHorten MunicipalityFinneVoss MunicipalityFolbergNes MunicipalityFossesholmØvre Eiker MunicipalityFosserRakkestad MunicipalityFossnesSandefjord MunicipalityFritzøeLarvik MunicipalityBefore the introduction of the absolutism in 1660.FørdeVolda Municipality1599 Carsten (Karsten) Jonsson to Førde.GiskeGiske MunicipalityGjemsø AbbeySkien MunicipalityGjeresvikGloppe (Halsen)Larvik MunicipalityGrefsheimRingsaker MunicipalityHafslundSarpsborg MunicipalityHalsnøy AbbeyKvinnherad MunicipalityHanangerFarsund MunicipalityHatteberg later RosendalKvinnherad MunicipalityHelleHerrebrødenHalden MunicipalityHerløyHolla (Holden)Hemne MunicipalityHollebyHorneStange MunicipalityHovinsholmRingsaker MunicipalityHovlandTysnes MunicipalityHustadHustadvika MunicipalityHålandSunnhordlandInndyrGildeskål MunicipalityJarlsbergTønsberg MunicipalityJordangerLuster MunicipalityKamboMoss MunicipalityKanestraumTingvoll MunicipalityKaupangerSogndal MunicipalityKjølbergFredrikstad MunicipalityYtre KrokenLuster MunicipalityKvåleSogndal MunicipalityKårhusVindafjord MunicipalityLadeTrondheim MunicipalityLandvikGrimstad MunicipalityLaurvigLarvik MunicipalityLosnaSolund MunicipalityLundeLundestadHalden MunicipalityLungegårdenBergen MunicipalityLyse AbbeyBjørnafjorden MunicipalityMalkenesTysnes MunicipalityManvikLarvik MunicipalityMelKvinnherad MunicipalityMellø (Mela)MelsomMøhus/MjøsAlver MunicipalityMindnesAlstahaug MunicipalityNesNesøyaAsker MunicipalityNordviStange MunicipalityNygårdFredrikstad MunicipalityNørholmGrimstad MunicipalityOsHalden MunicipalityOnarheimTysnes MunicipalityOrningsgårdStord MunicipalityRein AbbeyIndre Fosen MunicipalitySakslundStange MunicipalitySamsalRingsaker MunicipalitySandeSarpsborg MunicipalitySandvikenSunnhordlandSandvikenNordhordlandSeimKvinnherad MunicipalitySem (Semb)Øvre Eiker MunicipalitySemTønsberg MunicipalitySkapalRingsaker MunicipalitySkjelbredØvre Eiker MunicipalityHerre-SkjelbredSandefjord MunicipalitySkjersnesFærder MunicipalitySkredsholRingsaker MunicipalityStedjeSogndal MunicipalityStendBergen MunicipalityStorfosenØrland MunicipalityStorhamarHamar MunicipalityStrømStumbergHalden MunicipalitySørumSørum MunicipalitySvanøyaKinn MunicipalitySørum (Sørheim)Luster MunicipalityTisleKongsberg MunicipalityTjerneRingsaker MunicipalityTomb (Tom)Råde MunicipalityTorsnesUllensvang MunicipalityTose (Thorsøe)Fredrikstad MunicipalityTønnøl (Tøndel)Ørland MunicipalityTøyenOslo MunicipalityUlefossNome MunicipalityUlvenRingsaker MunicipalityUlleland (Ulveland)Øvre Eiker MunicipalityVatneSunnhordlandVeen (Veden)Halden MunicipalityVestnesVestnes MunicipalityVærne AbbeyMoss MunicipalityYttersøLarvik MunicipalityÅkerHamar Municipality
See also
Danish nobility Finnish nobility Norwegian nobility Swedish nobility
References
Literature Hvidtfeldt, Johan (editor): Håndbog for danske lokalhistorikere Vigerust, Tore H.: vigerust.net: Adelens setegårder, hovedgårder og jordegods i Norge til ca 1800 at vigerust.net Nationalencyklopedin: säteri at ne.se Norsk historisk leksikon: Setegård at lokalhistoriewiki.no Store norske leksikon: setegård at snl.no