"Nobility and aristocracy. An evaluation of the concepts used by Norwegian
historians writing about the nobility at the time of the Reformation
When reading Norwegian historians, one gets the impression that the
Norwegian nobility was non-existent in the late Middle Ages and during the
Reformation, or, that Norwegian nobles were so poor that they could only be
considered as farmers. This evaluation has to be seen against the background
the concern of Norwegian historians with explaining the decline of Norway in
the late Middle Ages and the loss of independence as a consequence of the
union with Denmark. In this connection it is natural to compare the
Norwegian nobility with the Danish nobility. The article demonstrates that
Norwegian nobility was poorer than its Danish brethren. But an overview of
conditions in European countries shows that the Norwegian situation had much
in common with important parts of Europe at the time. The majority of
noblemen were poor, and the boundaries between nobility and non-nobility
were often unclear. Even in Denmark at the end of the late Middle Ages, the
nobility was not such an exclusive group as it became after the Reformation.
In Norway, however, very few aristocrats can be found that are comparable to
the elite in Denmark and other European countries. But even the poorer
Norwegian noblemen usually owned much larger properties than the farmers. To
speak of the nobility as "actually farmers" is therefore misleading.Nobility
and aristocracy. An evaluation of the concepts used by Norwegian historians
writing about the nobility at the time of the Reformation
When reading Norwegian historians, one gets the impression that the
Norwegian nobility was non-existent in the late Middle Ages and during the
Reformation, or, that Norwegian nobles were so poor that they could only be
considered as farmers. This evaluation has to be seen against the background
the concern of Norwegian historians with explaining the decline of Norway in
the late Middle Ages and the loss of independence as a consequence of the
union with Denmark. In this connection it is natural to compare the
Norwegian nobility with the Danish nobility. The article demonstrates that
Norwegian nobility was poorer than its Danish brethren. But an overview of
conditions in European countries shows that the Norwegian situation had much
in common with important parts of Europe at the time. The majority of
noblemen were poor, and the boundaries between nobility and non-nobility
were often unclear. Even in Denmark at the end of the late Middle Ages, the
nobility was not such an exclusive group as it became after the Reformation.
In Norway, however, very few aristocrats can be found that are comparable to
the elite in Denmark and other European countries. But even the poorer
Norwegian noblemen usually owned much larger properties than the farmers. To
speak of the nobility as "actually farmers" is therefore misleading."
http://www.uit.no/ht/sum/984-3.html - this is also in Norwegian.
See also
"The Norwegian Nobility - survey of 1886
http://www.geocities.com/dagtho/nobility_survey.html"
"Welcome to the English summary of vestlandsslekt.cjb.net, the place for
people with ancestors from the western part of Norway. Here you'll also find
information about norwegian
nobility.http://home.no.net/vls/public_html/English/"
Yours aye
Iain
[ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@quarterman.org
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