Lensmann in modern Norwegian orlensmand in Danish and older Norwegian spelling (lit. 'fief man';Old Norse:lénsmaðr) is a term with several distinct meanings inNordic history. The Icelandic equivalent was ahreppstjóri.
The termlensmann traditionally referred to a holder of a royalfief in Denmark and Norway. As the fiefs were renamedamt in 1662, the termlensmand was replaced withamtmand. In Norway these offices evolved into the modernfylkesmann office. Modern Norwegian historians often use the termlensherre (English: 'fief lord') instead oflensmann, although from the legal point of view, the king was the fief lord, and the title used by contemporaries waslensmand, notlensherre.[1]
While thelensmann was a fief-holder from thenobility, theamtmann was acivil servant who might beennobled as a reward.
| Office | Lensmann | Amtmann |
|---|---|---|
| General governing power | Yes | No |
| Military commander | Yes | No |
| Tax collector | Yes | No |
| Fiscal accountability | No | Yes |
The titlelensmann is also used in an entirely different meaning in modern Norway, denoting the leader of a rural police district known as alensmannsdistrikt.[3]