page_title: Aristocracy of Norway
section_title: Seat farm
hierarchical_section_title: Aristocracy of Norway / Noble privileges / Seat farm
caption_attribution_description: English: Windows with glass paintings of coats of arms, at Torsnes farm, Jondal, Hordaland, Norway, around 1636. The coats of arms of the following families are shown — upper row from left: Galtung, Orning and Juell, the latter shows the name «Bøer Juell». Lower row from left: Bildt, with the name «Laris Larss.», Orning, with the name «Dirick Echoff» and Mowatt, with the name «Peder Rasmus.». Each of the six windows is approx. 24 x 36 cm.
context_page_description: Aristocracy of Norway refers to modern and medieval aristocracy in Norway. Additionally, there have been economical, political, and military élites that—relating to the main lines of Norway's history—are generally accepted as nominal predecessors of the aforementioned. Since the 16th century, modern aristocracy is known as nobility.
  The very first aristocracy in today's Norway appeared during the Bronze Age. This bronze aristocracy consisted of several regional élites, whose earliest known existence dates to 1500 BC. Via similar structures in the Iron Age, these entities would reappear as petty kingdoms before and during the Age of Vikings. Beside a chieftain or petty king, each kingdom had its own aristocracy.
  Between 872 and 1050, during the so-called unification process, the first national aristocracy began to develop. Regional monarchs and aristocrats who recognised King Harald I as their high king, would normally receive vassalage titles like Earl. Those who refused were defeated or chose to migrate to Iceland, establishing an aristocratic, clan-ruled state there.
context_section_description: Seat farms (Norwegian: setegård, setegard) were until 1660 an exclusive privilege of the nobility. A seat farm, a form of feudal demesne, was a nobleman's main residence; the place where he had his seat. Seat farms had, especially, freedom from tax and tithes.
  While previously any farm on which a nobleman decided to reside would thereby acquire the status of seat farm, the right to become a seat farm was remarkably limited in 1639, when the law was changed to require a farm to have been a seat farm for a minimum of 40 years in order for it to be officially recognised. After 1800, the tax freedom was modified, and under the 1821 Nobility Law, the tax freedom was ended at the then current owner's death.
caption: Glass paintings of the 17th century at Torsnes Farm in Jondal, Hardanger.
  Photographer: Elin Galtung Lihaug
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