2020/12/27 by Ilmar Tammisto · 1 citation
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Historical Economic and Social Studies #European Political History Analysis #Historical Influence and Diplomacy
paper · doi:10.1080/03468755.2020.1865196
openalex publication_date 2020/12/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/22
This article investigates how interaction between the nobility and state authorities contributed to the state formation process in the Swedish province of Livland in the 17th century, excluding the last two decades. It focuses on the mutual expectations of the two parties and how these were achieved. A study of the protocols of the Livonian Diets confirms that the Swedish central and provincial governments interacted with the Livonian nobility mainly to extract the resources needed to protect the province and support Sweden’s wars abroad. Although state authorities occasionally relied on coercion to this end, negotiating and offering counter-favours proved to be an easier solution. This gave the Livonian nobility an opportunity to pressure the state authorities to enact legislation and reorganize local governance. Contrary to the prevalent view of the nobility in the Baltic provinces as an estate fighting only for the advancement of narrow self-interest, this article argues that while preserving the existing social order was definitely one of the goals of the nobility, it also sought to increase public security and make local governance more effective.