fólats

Fólats is a term derived from Old Norse, used historically in Iceland and other Nordic regions. It broadly refers to a type of tenant or landholder who possessed a small farm or plot of land, often with certain rights and obligations to a larger landowner, such as a chieftain, church, or royal estate. The exact nature of fólats varied depending on the time period and location.

These landholders were distinct from independent freeholders, known as bóndi. While fólats worked their own land and maintained their households, their status was typically subordinate. They might owe rent in kind, labor, or military service to the landowner. This system of land tenure allowed for the cultivation of more land and the support of a larger population, even if individuals did not own their property outright.

The term and the social structure it represented were integral to the medieval Icelandic and Scandinavian agrarian economies. As societal and economic structures evolved, the concept of fólats gradually diminished, giving way to different forms of land ownership and tenancy. Understanding fólats provides insight into the social hierarchy and land distribution patterns of early Nordic societies.