Ancient Norwegian property laws
Encyclopedia
Two Norwegian
property laws, which are so ancient that the time of their enactment is lost, govern Norwegian property. These are the Åsetesrett
(homestead right), and the Odelsrett
(also referred to as allodial right).
This property system created a Norwegian farm culture
which contributed to the independence and relative equality the Norwegians maintained, even during the Danish or Swedish periods. It was considered important enough that it was included in the 1814 Constitution of Norway
.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
property laws, which are so ancient that the time of their enactment is lost, govern Norwegian property. These are the Åsetesrett
Åsetesrett
Åsetesrett is the ancient right in Norway of the eldest child to inherit the farm after his or her parent ....
(homestead right), and the Odelsrett
Odelsrett
The Odelsrett is an ancient Scandinavian allodial title which has survived in Norway as odelsrett and existed until recent times in Sweden as bördsrätt....
(also referred to as allodial right).
This property system created a Norwegian farm culture
Norwegian farm culture
The Norwegian farm culture was a rural movement unique in values and practices which assumed a form in Viking Age Norway, and continued with little change into the age of firearms - and in many respects even to the early 20th century...
which contributed to the independence and relative equality the Norwegians maintained, even during the Danish or Swedish periods. It was considered important enough that it was included in the 1814 Constitution of Norway
Constitution of Norway
The Constitution of Norway was first adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll , then signed and dated May 17...
.