Great Reduction
In the Great Reduction of 1680, by which the ancient landed nobility lost its power base, the Swedish Crown recaptured lands earlier granted to the nobility. Reductions () in Sweden and its dominions were the return to the Crown of fiefs that had been granted to the Swedish nobility. Several reductions are recorded, from the 13th century until this final one of 1680. Background The reductions were fought for by gentry, tradesmen, state servants, and peasantry alike, partly as a way to curb the power of the great aristocratic families and partly as a way to make the state solvent and able to pay its debts. One such reduction, () under Charles X Gustav of Sweden in 1655, intended at restoring a quarter of "donations" made after 1632. However, the outbreak of the Second Northern War prevented its realisation. Only after Charles XI's entry into maturity in 1672, it began to be implemented effectively. It would soon become obvious that it was not enough to bring public finances into balance. Results It is not known exactly how much the Swedish Crown profited from the reductions. The reductions carried out during the reign of Charles XI seem to have resulted in