Avstyckande

Avstyckande is a Swedish term that refers to the act of forcing someone to join the military service. The word is derived from the verb "tosycka", which means to be forced or compelled to do something against one's will. In historical context, avstyckande was a practice whereby landowners or the government would require someone to join the military as a servant or soldier, often in exchange for leniency or reduced penalties.

This practice was particularly prevalent during the 17th and 18th centuries, when conscription was not yet a formalized system. Instead, people were often forced into military service through a process of seizure, where they were taken from their homes and forced to serve as soldiers. Avstyckande was often seen as a form of poverty draft, where the poor were more likely to be taken in exchange for reduced rents or other forms of compensation.

The term avstyckande is still used in modern Swedish language to refer to exploitation or coercion into military service. However, the practice itself is largely extinct in modern Sweden, where conscription has been a formalized system since 1901. Despite the abolition of avstyckande, Sweden's military history remains closely tied to the practice, with numerous records and accounts of the experiences of those who were forcibly conscripted during this time period.