Slottslän
A slottslän (Finnish: linnalääni) was an administrative division in Sweden and Finland (formerly part of Sweden) from late 13th century to 1634. The term slottslän can be translated as "castle fief". Although the word "län" literally means fief, in Sweden it is translated as "county" and in Finland as "province".
Slottsläns were established by Birger Jarl and King Magnus III of Sweden to replace the old Ledung system. It was replaced with the taxation of farming and agriculture.[1] Taxes were paid to the castle or manor which was the administrative centre of the slottslän. The slottsläns were disbanded in 1634 following Axel Oxenstierna's land reform and replaced with counties.[2]
Slottsläns in Sweden
| slottslän | administrative centre | modern region(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Axevalla län | Axevalla hus | Västra Götalands län |
| Dalaborgs län | Dalaborg Castle | Västra Götalands län |
| Ekholms län | Ekholm Castle | Västra Götalands län |
| Gullbergs län | Gullbergs hus | Västra Götalands län |
| Hofs län | Östergötlands län | |
| Karlsborgs län | Karlsborg Fortress | Västra Götalands län |
| Lindholmens län | Borgen Lindholmen | Västra Götalands län |
| Lödöse län | Lödösehus | Västra Götalands län |
| Olsborgs län | Olsborg Castle | Västra Götalands län |
| Openstens län | Opensten Castle | Västra Götalands län |
| Orreholmens län | Orreholmens kungsgård | Västra Götalands län |
| Ringstaholms län | Östergötlands län | |
| Stegeborgs län | Östergötlands län | |
| Stynaborgs län | Stynaborg Castle | Västra Götalands län |
| Telgehus län | Telge hus | Södermanlands län |
| Vadstena län | Vadstena Castle | Stockholms län, Östergötlands län |
| Älvsborgs län | Älvsborg Castle | Västra Götalands län |
Slottsläns in Finland
| ||||
| slottslän Swedish name |
administrative centre | est. | disest. | modern region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porvoon linnalääni Borgå län |
Porvoo | 1523 | 1619 | Uusimaa, eastern half without northern part of Hyvinkää from Kymenlaakso: southwestern part of Kouvola |
| Kastelholman linnalääni Kastelholms län |
Kastelholm Castle | 1388 | 1634 | Åland |
| Korsholman linnalääni Korsholms län |
Korsholm Castle | 1384 | 1634 | Central Ostrobothnia Kainuu Northern Ostrobothnia Coastal Ostrobothnia without Kaskinen, Korsnäs, Kristinestad and Närpes Southern Ostrobothnia without Isojoki, Karijoki, Soini and Ähtäri Lapland, southernmost part |
| Kokemäenkartanon linnalääni Kumogårds län |
Kokemäki Castle Kokemäenkartano Pori |
1331 | 1634 | Satakunta without Eura, Rauma and southern part of Eurajoki Pirkanmaa without Akaa, Pälkäne, Urjala and Valkeakoski from Coastal Ostrobothnia: Kaskinen, Korsnäs, Kristinestad and Närpes from Southern Ostrobothnia: Isojoki, Karijoki, Soini and Ähtäri from Finland Proper: Loimaa, Oripää and northern part of Pöytyä from Central Finland: Keuruu and Multia |
| Savonlinnan linnalääni Nyslotts län |
Olavinlinna Castle | 1475 | 1634 | Southern Savonia without Pertunmaa and southern part of Mäntyharju Northern Savonia without Kaavi, Keitele, Rautalampi, Rautavaara, Vesanto and easternmost part of Kuopio |
| Raaseporin linnalääni Raseborgs län |
Raseborg Castle | 1634 | Uusimaa, western half without Karkkila and Vihti | |
| Hämeenlinnan linnalääni Tavastehus län |
Tavastia Castle | 1634 | Tavastia Proper Päijänne Tavastia Central Finland without Keuruu and Multia from Northern Savonia: Keitele, Rautalampi and Vesanto from Uusimaa: Karkkila, Vihti and northern part of Hyvinkää from Southern Savonia: Pertunmaa and southwestern part of Mäntyharju from Finland Proper: Loimaa from Kymenlaakso: northwestern part of Kouvola | |
| Viipurin linnalääni Viborgs län |
Vyborg Castle | 1293 | 1634 | Southern Karelia without Parikkala Kymenlaakso without western half of Kouvola from Southern Savonia: southern parts of Mikkeli and Mäntyharju from Leningrad Region, Russia: Vyborg District from Saint Petersburg, Russia: almost the whole Kurortny District |
| Turun linnalääni Åbo län |
Turku Castle | 1634 | Finland Proper without Loimaa, Oripää, Somero and northern part of Pöytyä from Satakunta: Eura, Rauma and southern part of Eurajoki |
References
- ^ History of Swedish Counties Retrieved 18 September 2013.
- ^ Swedish Civil Jurisdictions for Family History Research Retrieved 18 September 2013.