Valtiosäädyt
Valtiosäädyt, meaning "estates of the realm" or "estates of the state," was a term used in the historical context of Finnish governance, particularly during periods when Finland was under Swedish or Russian rule. It refers to the traditional social orders or classes that held political representation and had specific rights and responsibilities. These estates typically included the clergy, the nobility, the burghers (townspeople), and the peasants.
The concept of Valtiosäädyt was deeply rooted in the feudal and corporatist structures of European societies.
After Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire in 1809, the Diet of the
The rise of modern liberal and democratic ideas gradually challenged the estate system. The concept of universal