The Stavnsbånd was a
serfdom
Serfdom was the status of many peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism and similar systems. It was a condition of debt bondage and indentured servitude with similarities to and differences from slavery. It developed du ...
-like institution introduced in
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
in 1733 in accordance with the wishes of
estate owners and the military. It bonded men between the ages of 14 and 36 to live on the estate where they were born. It was possible, however, to purchase a pass releasing one from this bondage. So, in practice, estate owners and their sons were not particularly bonded to live on their estates.
The Stavnsbånd was introduced because of a crisis in 1730 where a lot of peasants tried their luck in the cities. That meant that there was a need for workers on the farms, and for people to join the army. The institution was gradually abolished between 1788 and the introduction of military conscription in 1848.
Background
The institution was introduced to alleviate a serious agricultural crisis in the 1730s. Demand from Denmark's traditional export countries was falling, and people were migrating to the cities, which meant that it was difficult to man the estates. Furthermore, the military needed men for the
militia
A militia ( ) is a military or paramilitary force that comprises civilian members, as opposed to a professional standing army of regular, full-time military personnel. Militias may be raised in times of need to support regular troops or se ...
. Military service at the time was in practice delegated to men who were less able in agriculture because it was the estate owner's duty to delegate men to the militia. The age limit was changed three times; in 1735 to 14–36 years, in 1742 to 9–40 years, and in 1764 to 4–40 years.
The institution only applied in
Denmark proper
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
, not in the rest of
Denmark-Norway. Norway had
its own system of serfdom, while a somewhat similar institution, the ''
vistarband
The Icelandic vistarband () was a form of serfdom established during the Denmark–Norway domination of the island that required that all landless people be employed on a farm. A person who did not own or lease property had to find a position as ...
'', existed in Iceland (also part of the Danish-Norwegian realm) from 1490 to 1894. Slavery was the backbone of the
Danish West Indies
The Danish West Indies () or Danish Virgin Islands () or Danish Antilles were a Danish colony in the Caribbean, consisting of the islands of Saint Thomas with , Saint John () with , Saint Croix with , and Water Island.
The islands of St ...
until 1848.
Abolition
The stavnsbånd was gradually abolished as part of agricultural reforms starting on 20 June 1788. At first, the reform affected only those under the age of 14. Thereafter, it affected those who were over the age of 36, and then those who had served in the military. The main points of the reform were that the bondage to the estates was changed to the administrative districts.
[Ibid, 259.] The
autocracy
Autocracy is a form of government in which absolute power is held by the head of state and Head of government, government, known as an autocrat. It includes some forms of monarchy and all forms of dictatorship, while it is contrasted with demo ...
in Denmark was so well-developed at this time that the Danish state had become less dependent on estate owners as local administrators. By 1848, the introduction of military
conscription
Conscription, also known as the draft in the United States and Israel, is the practice in which the compulsory enlistment in a national service, mainly a military service, is enforced by law. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it conti ...
meant the final transformation of the stavnsbånd, since men could now legally reside in any district they wanted.
See also
*
Vornedskab, the preceding serfdom in Denmark.
*
Liberty Memorial, Copenhagen
The Liberty Memorial (Danish language, Danish: Frihedsstøtten), located in front of Copenhagen Central Station, Central Station in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a 20 meter tall obelisque erected in memory of the peasant reforms in 1788 which led to the ...
, the monument in Copenhagen commemorating the end of Stavnsbånd.
Notes
Serfdom
Social history of Denmark
Labor in Denmark
1733 in Denmark
1788 in Denmark
{{Denmark-hist-stub