Byeliten på 1700-tallet. De sterke nettverk

Urban elites in the 18th century: The strong networks During the 17th and 18th centuries, Norwegian cities changed. The population became more differentiated, and the administrations of cities were adapted to absolute monarchy. Trade was in principle connected to cities, which forced merchants to settle in Norwegian cities to take part in export. Immigrant merchants soon joined the elites in the cities, establishing themselves as centres in networks connecting their regions to the international market. While the King was strengthening his local administration, the new economic elites secured a distinct influence on the economic and political conditions in the cities. This chapter discusses how this elite worked to affect the political administration of the major cities in the four regions in Norway: Bergen, Kristiania, Kristiansand and Trondheim, with a special focus on the latter. All of these cities were obliged to communicate through the King’s servants with Copenhagen. In addition, they all had important trading connections to other cities in Europe. Immigrant merchants established strong networks in their new cities. Together with the King’s most prominent servants, these merchants constituted the cities’ elites. While the King’s men ruled the city, a consultative board was elected among men with citizenship – “de eligerte menn”. How this board was elected and functioned differed between cities, but in the larger Norwegian cities the international trading merchants monopolised the boards of elected men. Their education and experience from a larger world made their power seem self-evident. However, towards the end of the 18th century, against the background of the French Revolution, their monopoly was no longer obvious. Citizens with lower status, especially craftsmen, contested the merchants’ power. This chapter discusses how conflict developed and pointed towards a more democratic evolution in the 19th century.