Lord High Steward of Sweden
Encyclopedia
The Lord High Steward or Lord High Justiciar (Swedish: Riksdrots or only Drots) was a highly prominent member of the Swedish Privy Council
from the 13th century until 1809, excluding periods when the office was out of use.
's adolescence (1319-1331), the title holder (mostly Knut Jonsson) was the mightiest man in Sweden.
In the latter stages of the 14th century, during conflicts between the king and the Swedish noblemen, the title became more independent and less attached to the king. The wealthiest and most famous of the Swedish aristocrats of the time was arguably steward Bo Jonsson Grip, who disposed of king Magnus Eriksson and then dominated the king he helped to install instead, Albrekt. After Jonsson Grip had died in 1386, no new steward was appointed until 1435, when the noblemen forced king Eric of Pomerania
to do so.
The title was pushed aside by another office, hovmästare, and not until Per Brahe the Elder was appointed steward by John III
in 1569, was the title revived. Albeit honorable, the title meant no particular assignment until 1614, when Lord High Steward Magnus Brahe
was put in charge of the newly established Svea Court of Appeal
, the highest court of Sweden at the time. The steward became responsible of supervising justice in Sweden. From 1634, the steward was one of five Great Officers of the Realm
, who were the most prominent members of the Privy Council. Lord High Steward had the highest rank of the five officers, and because of that, the steward was the most important figure during the regencies who ruled when Christina
and Charles XI had not yet come of age..png)
Sweden suffered from political turmoil under the regency when Charles XI's was still a minor, which brought about changes to among others the Lord High Steward and the other Great Officers of the Realm. The significance of the office had decreased when Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie
got the position when Per Brahe the Younger died. After De la Gardie, no new steward was appointed.
The title Lord High Steward was revived once more in 1787, when Gustav III
gave Carl Axel Wachtmeister the title and put him in charge of all Swedish high courts. In 1809 the office was once again withdrawn when a new constitution was established in Sweden. The new office State Minister of Justice became the new head of the Swedish justice system.
Privy Council of Sweden
The High Council of Sweden or Council of the Realm consisted originally of those men of noble, common and clergical background, that the king saw fit for advisory service...
from the 13th century until 1809, excluding periods when the office was out of use.
Middle Ages
The first mentioning of the title "drots" in Sweden, concerns the reign of Magnus Ladulås and the year 1276. It is difficult to say anything definite about the status of the office at that time, but sources from the 14th century shows the width of the power of the Lord High Steward. The influence seems to have been vast, as long as the steward managed to stay out of doing things against the will of the king himself. The steward was the king's closest confidant and during the guardian regency at the time of Magnus ErikssonMagnus Eriksson
Magnus Eriksson may refer to:* Magnus Eriksson * Magnus IV of Sweden...
's adolescence (1319-1331), the title holder (mostly Knut Jonsson) was the mightiest man in Sweden.
In the latter stages of the 14th century, during conflicts between the king and the Swedish noblemen, the title became more independent and less attached to the king. The wealthiest and most famous of the Swedish aristocrats of the time was arguably steward Bo Jonsson Grip, who disposed of king Magnus Eriksson and then dominated the king he helped to install instead, Albrekt. After Jonsson Grip had died in 1386, no new steward was appointed until 1435, when the noblemen forced king Eric of Pomerania
Eric of Pomerania
Eric of Pomerania KG was King Eric III of Norway Norwegian Eirik, King Eric VII of Denmark , and as Eric King of Sweden...
to do so.
Early modern period
John III of Sweden
-Family:John married his first wife, Catherine Jagellonica of Poland , house of Jagiello, in Vilnius on 4 October 1562. In Sweden, she is known as Katarina Jagellonica. She was the sister of king Sigismund II Augustus of Poland...
in 1569, was the title revived. Albeit honorable, the title meant no particular assignment until 1614, when Lord High Steward Magnus Brahe
Magnus Brahe
Count Magnus Brahe was a Swedish noble. Being both Lord High Constable and Lord High Steward of Sweden, he was a notable figure in the 17th century Sweden....
was put in charge of the newly established Svea Court of Appeal
Svea Court of Appeal
The Svea Court of Appeal , located in Stockholm, is one of six appellate courts in the Swedish legal system. It was founded in 1614 and was the highest court in Sweden until 1789, when the Supreme Court of Sweden was established....
, the highest court of Sweden at the time. The steward became responsible of supervising justice in Sweden. From 1634, the steward was one of five Great Officers of the Realm
Great Officers of The Realm
The Great Officers of the Realm were the five leading members of the Swedish Privy Council from the later parts of the 16th century to around 1680. With the constitution of 1634, the five officers became heads of five different branches of government...
, who were the most prominent members of the Privy Council. Lord High Steward had the highest rank of the five officers, and because of that, the steward was the most important figure during the regencies who ruled when Christina
Christina of Sweden
Christina , later adopted the name Christina Alexandra, was Queen regnant of Swedes, Goths and Vandals, Grand Princess of Finland, and Duchess of Ingria, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, from 1633 to 1654. She was the only surviving legitimate child of King Gustav II Adolph and his wife Maria Eleonora...
and Charles XI had not yet come of age.
Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie
Count Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie was a Swedish statesman and military man. He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1647 and came to be the holder of three of the five offices counted as the Great Officers of the Realm, namely Lord High Treasurer, Lord High Chancellor and Lord High...
got the position when Per Brahe the Younger died. After De la Gardie, no new steward was appointed.
The title Lord High Steward was revived once more in 1787, when Gustav III
Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
gave Carl Axel Wachtmeister the title and put him in charge of all Swedish high courts. In 1809 the office was once again withdrawn when a new constitution was established in Sweden. The new office State Minister of Justice became the new head of the Swedish justice system.
Lord High Stewards of Sweden
- Ulf Carlson (1276)
- Knut Matsson (1280)
- Magnus Ragvaldsson (c. 1288)
- Abjörn Sixtensson (-1310) - drots of Eric, Duke of SödermanlandEric, Duke of SödermanlandEric Magnusson was a Swedish prince, Duke of Svealand, Södermanland, Dalsland, Västergötland, Värmland and North Halland and heir to the throne of Sweden. He was the father of King Magnus who became king of both Norway and Sweden.-Background:...
- Knut Jonsson (1312-1316)
- Johan von Brunkow (1316-1318)
- Mats Kettilmundsson (1318-1319)
- Knut Jonsson (1322-1334 - second term)
- Greger Magnusson (1334-1335)
- Nils Ambjörnsson (1335-?)
- Greger Magnusson (?-1338 - second term)
- Nils Turesson (-1364)
- Bo Jonsson (Grip)Bo Jonsson (Grip)Bo Jonsson was head of the royal council and marshal under the regency of Magnus IV of Sweden. Also in the council was his friend and colleague, Karl Ulfsson av Ulvåsa, eldest son of Saint Birgitta...
(1371-1386) - Krister Nilsson (1435-c.1440)
- Per Brahe the Elder (1569-1590)
- Nils Göransson Gyllenstierna (1590-1595)
- Mauritz Stensson Leijonhufvud (1602-1607)
- Magnus BraheMagnus BraheCount Magnus Brahe was a Swedish noble. Being both Lord High Constable and Lord High Steward of Sweden, he was a notable figure in the 17th century Sweden....
(1612-1633) - Gabriel Gustafsson Oxenstierna (1634-1640)
- Per Brahe the Younger (1641-1680)
- Magnus Gabriel De la GardieMagnus Gabriel De la GardieCount Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie was a Swedish statesman and military man. He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1647 and came to be the holder of three of the five offices counted as the Great Officers of the Realm, namely Lord High Treasurer, Lord High Chancellor and Lord High...
(1680-1684) - Carl Axel Wachtmeister (1787-1809)