fältvärdena

Fältvärdena, sometimes translated as "field values" or "field residents," refers to the traditional division of Swedish society into distinct social and economic groups. Historically, this structure was characterized by a clear hierarchy with the landed gentry at the top, followed by tenant farmers (brukare), crofters (torpare), and landless laborers. Each group had specific rights and obligations tied to their relationship with the land and its ownership.

The landed gentry, often nobility, owned large estates and held significant social and political power. Tenant farmers rented and worked portions of these estates, typically possessing more resources and a higher social standing than crofters. Crofters occupied smaller plots of land, often on the fringes of larger farms, and were usually obligated to provide labor services to the landowner in exchange for their tenure. Landless laborers formed the lowest stratum, relying on temporary work and having no secure access to land.

This system was deeply embedded in the rural economy and social fabric of Sweden for centuries, influencing everything from marriage patterns to political representation. While the strict divisions have largely dissolved with industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural reforms, the historical concept of fältvärdena provides insight into the pre-modern social structure of Sweden and the enduring importance of land ownership and agricultural labor. The legacy of these divisions can still be observed in certain regional differences and historical land use patterns.