A slottslän () was a type of secularThe church had its own administrative system. administrative division throughout the Kingdom of Sweden from late 13th century to 1634. The administrative center was a castle. Slottslän were divided into municipalities and administrators. The term slottslän can be translated as "castle fief". Although the word "län" literally means fief, in Sweden it is translated as "county" and in Finland as "province".
There existed multiple different types of slottslän, there existed pantlän, which could be assigned to a lord as compensation for a loan to the crown, until a repayment was done. There also existed kronolän, which were managed by an advocatus, if the advocatus was a military commander, would be referred to as a "hövitsman", which was a capitaneus, they were ordered to deliver and report surplus profit to the crown, however sometimes a fixed sum was to be delivered annually, where the advocatus got to retain some profit. There also existed län which were granted to noblemen for their services to the King.
Slottsläns were established by Birger Jarl to replace the lething system in the latter-half of the 13th century.History of Swedish Counties Retrieved 18 September 2013. Archived Slottsläns were disbanded in 1634 following Axel Oxenstierna's land reform and replaced with provinces.Swedish Civil Jurisdictions for Family History Research Retrieved 18 September 2013. Archived
Slottsläns in Sweden
slottslän administrative centre modern region(s) Axevalla län Axevalla hus Västra Götaland Dalaborgs län Dalaborg Castle Västra Götaland Ekholms län Ekholm Castle Västra Götaland Gullbergs län Gullbergs hus Västra Götaland Hofs län Östergötland Lindholmens län Borgen Lindholmen Västra Götaland Lödöse län Lödösehus Västra Götaland Olsborgs län Olsborg Castle Västra Götaland Openstens län Opensten Castle Västra Götaland Orreholmens län Orreholmens kungsgård Västra Götaland Ringstaholms län Östergötland Stegeborgs län Östergötland Stynaborgs län Stynaborg Castle Västra Götaland Telgehus län Telge hus Södermanland Vadstena län Vadstena Castle Stockholm, Östergötland Älvsborgs län Älvsborg Castle Västra Götaland
Slottsläns in Finland
slottslän administrative centre est. disest. modern region(s) Porvoon linnalääniBorgå län Porvoo 1523 1619 Uusimaa, eastern half without northern part of Hyvinkääfrom Kymenlaakso: southwestern part of Kouvola Kastelholman linnalääniKastelholms län Kastelholm Castle 1388 1634 Åland Korsholman linnalääniKorsholms län Korsholm Castle 1384 1634 Central OstrobothniaKainuuNorthern OstrobothniaCoastal Ostrobothnia without Kaskinen, Korsnäs, Kristinestad and NärpesSouthern Ostrobothnia without Isojoki, Karijoki, Soini and ÄhtäriLapland, southernmost part Kokemäenkartanon linnalääniKumogårds län Kokemäki Castle Kokemäenkartano Pori 1331 1634 Satakunta without Eura, Rauma and southern part of EurajokiPirkanmaa without Akaa, Pälkäne, Urjala and Valkeakoskifrom Coastal Ostrobothnia: Kaskinen, Korsnäs, Kristinestad and Närpesfrom Southern Ostrobothnia: Isojoki, Karijoki, Soini and Ähtärifrom Finland Proper: Loimaa, Oripää and northern part of Pöytyäfrom Central Finland: Keuruu and Multia Savonlinnan linnalääniNyslotts län Olavinlinna Castle 1475 1634 South Savo without Pertunmaa and southern part of MäntyharjuNorth Savo without Kaavi, Keitele, Rautalampi, Rautavaara, Vesanto and easternmost part of Kuopio Raaseporin linnalääniRaseborgs län Raseborg Castle 1634 Uusimaa, western half without Karkkila and Vihti Hämeenlinnan linnalääniTavastehus län Häme Castle 1634 Kanta-HämePäijät-HämeCentral Finland without Keuruu and Multiafrom North Savo: Keitele, Rautalampi and Vesantofrom Uusimaa: Karkkila, Vihti and northern part of Hyvinkääfrom South Savo: Pertunmaa and southwestern part of Mäntyharjufrom Finland Proper: Loimaafrom Kymenlaakso: northwestern part of Kouvola Viipurin linnalääniViborgs län Vyborg Castle 1293 1634 South Karelia without ParikkalaKymenlaakso without western half of Kouvolafrom South Savo: southern parts of Mikkeli and Mäntyharjufrom Leningrad Region, Russia: Vyborg Districtfrom Saint Petersburg, Russia: almost the whole Kurortny District Turun linnalääniÅbo län Turku Castle 1634 Finland Proper without Loimaa, Oripää, Somero and northern part of Pöytyäfrom Satakunta: Eura, Rauma and southern part of Eurajoki
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