Landstände

Estates, Provincial (Landstände), system of estates in the provinces, social groups in the Middle Ages and in the early Modern Age, had local powers over all subjects with the exception of the sovereign´s demesne. Therefore assemblies of Estates (Landtage) were representatives of the rural population from the end of the 14^th century onwards and represented by officials with local powers. Landstände had different structures in the provinces. In Austria (which was separated in 1451 into Austria below River Enns and Austria above River Enns), Styria and Carinthia they consisted of prelates (bishops, abbots, provosts), noblemen (counts and barons, manorial landowners), knights and representatives of towns and market towns. In Tirol, prelates, noblemen and peasants´ courts formed Landstände; in Salzburg 7 prelates, knights (as representatives of the nobility), towns and market towns formed the Landstände, in Vorarlberg the Ammänner (high officials of the 3 towns and of the 21 peasants´ courts) formed the Landstände.

Literature: H. Hassinger, Die Landstände der österreichischen Länder, Jahrbuch für Landeskunde von Niederösterreich 36, 1964.