Swedish nobility

The Swedish nobility (Adeln) was historically a privileged class in Sweden. Noble families and their descendants are still a part of Swedish society today, but do no longer retain any specific or granted privileges to speak of. The Swedish nobility is organized in to three classes according to a scheme introduced in 1561, where the classes are:

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 enoblement by the king. A great interest for genealogy followed.

Related Topics:
Eric XIV - 1561 - Count - Baron - House of Knights - 1626 - Genealogy

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The Lord High Chancellor, Axel Oxenstierna, was the architect of the Instrument of Government of 1634, which laid the foundation of modern Sweden. It secured that all government appointments had to be filled by candidates from the nobility, a move which helped to mobilize support of, rather than opposition against, a centralized national government.

Related Topics:
Axel Oxenstierna - Instrument of Government - 1634

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Due to the many wars, the crown needed a means to reward officers, and since cash was not plentiful, enoblement and grants of land were used instead. During the 17th century, the number of the noble families grew by a factor of five. 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.

Related Topics:
17th century - 1655 - 1680

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Following the German example, all members of a noble family generally are titled. If the family is of the rank of Count or Baron, all members receive that title as well. Following the new Instrument of Government from 1809, 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 the vast majority of noble families are still of the old type.

Related Topics:
Instrument of Government - 1809

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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 enoblement. Deposed royal princes have been granted Luxembourgish or Belgian titles of nobility instead.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Benelux - Titles - 1902 - Sven Hedin - 1975 - Luxembourg - Belgian

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