Uppsala öd

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Its origins are prehistoric and unknown, but according to a tradition documented by the 13th century historian Snorri Sturluson it originated as a donation given by the god Freyr to the Temple at Uppsala which he founded.

It was stated in the Swedish medieval laws that Uppsala öd was to follow the royal institution intact without any lost property. The full extent of Uppsala öd is unknown, but individual estates are enumerated in the "Law of Hälsingland" and in the younger "Westrogothic law".

However, during the 13th century, the system became obsolete for the king and then many of the estates passed to the nobility and the church, in spite of the laws that forbade any diminuation of the property. The reasons for this was that the king's subjects began to pay monetary taxes.

Uppsala öd was the first foundation of Swedish state property.

A selection of estates belonging to Uppsala öd

*Old Uppsala
*Husby at Vendel
*Old Sigtuna
*Husaby
*Ränninge on Fogdö
*Hovgården on Adelsö

Notes and references