Fjädersänkor

Fjädersänkor is a term that appears in historical Swedish records, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries. It refers to a specific type of fee or tax that was levied on peasant landholdings. The exact nature of fjädersänkor has been a subject of historical discussion and interpretation, but it is generally understood to be related to certain customary obligations or payments owed to the landowner or the Crown.

The term itself suggests a connection to feathers, which could imply payments in kind, such as poultry, or possibly a monetary equivalent for such provisions. These payments were often in addition to other taxes and duties that peasants were required to fulfill, such as rent or labor. The implementation and collection of fjädersänkor varied across different regions and over time, reflecting the complex and evolving land tenure systems of pre-modern Sweden.

Scholars who have studied Swedish agrarian history often encounter fjädersänkor when examining legal documents, tax rolls, and land surveys from this period. Understanding these payments provides insight into the economic conditions and the social obligations of the peasantry. The disappearance of fjädersänkor as a distinct category of payment is linked to broader agricultural reforms and the eventual abolition of many feudal-like dues during the 18th and 19th centuries in Sweden.