In connection with medieval castles

[ahad1020]

In connection with medieval castles, there had been barn estates producing provisions for the army, but the inadequacy of the army's maintenance and food production came to light in the war against Russia that began in 1555. The solution to this problem was the Swedish king Gustav Vasa's network of manors for the crown's own food and fodder production. The royal manor system combined several of Gustav Vasa's reforms, namely the administration of the voutikunta, the efficiency of tax collection and the food supply for the army with his favorite hobby, namely agriculture, into a single entity. The manors were therefore centres of local administration and the vouti, under their leadership, was responsible not only for the development of agriculture and the administration of his voutikunta, but also for the collection of taxes in his area.

In addition to producing provisions for the army, the manors also functioned as so-called castle camps, i.e. regional centres responsible for the accommodation and maintenance of soldiers, which was particularly evident in the manors of the eastern continent in the large number of voutikunta. The manors thus served the crown in many ways. King Gustav Vasa telegram number database spent almost a year in Finland during the Russian War (1555–1557), but did not physically visit the Savo manors himself. He followed the activities of his manors with great interest through the governors who were in charge of the manors, and following the annual income and livestock breeding of the manors was one of his greatest joys. The king’s letters to the governors and officials contained as many instructions for managing both the kingdom and the farms.

The royal manor system was implemented throughout the kingdom, but it was carried out to the greatest extent in Finland, where it also began. There were a total of 44 manors in Finland (Vilkuna 2003, 249), six of which were in Savo. In other words, each of the six administrators of Savo received his own manor, meaning that the system was implemented best in Savo. The royal manors of Savo were Kiiala in Ristiina in Pellosniemi, Sairila in Vesulahti in Mikkeli, Partala in Juva, Rantasalmi in Rantasalmi, Putkilahti in Säämingi also in Rantasalmi and Tavinsalmi in Maaningi.