herrgårdsrätt

Herrgårdsrätt, often translated as manorial right or lord's right, was a legal and economic system prevalent in Sweden, particularly during the Middle Ages and into the early modern period. It granted landowners, typically nobility or the church, significant authority over the peasants residing on their estates. This authority encompassed not only economic obligations but also judicial and administrative powers.

Under herrgårdsrätt, peasants were often tied to the land and owed various dues and services to the lord. These could include labor on the lord's demesne (the land directly managed by the lord), payment in kind (such as grain, livestock, or other produce), and monetary rents. The lord also held a degree of judicial power, able to administer justice and impose fines within his territory, though this was usually within the framework of broader Swedish law.

The extent and nature of herrgårdsrätt varied over time and across different regions. It was a cornerstone of the agrarian economy and social structure, influencing the lives of the vast majority of the population. While it provided a degree of order and stability, it also represented a significant burden and restriction for the peasantry. Over centuries, various reforms and changes in governance gradually diminished the comprehensive powers associated with herrgårdsrätt, leading to its eventual obsolescence.