sysluman (OSw) sýslumaðr (ON) syselman (ODan) noun

Usually refers to a royal official responsible for local affairs in a given district; a sheriff. In Norway the sýslumaðr conducted the king’s business within a fylki (q.v.); in Iceland within a sýsla (see sysel) or fjórðungr (‘quarter’). He was among the highest-ranking royal officials and was responsible for collecting royal incomes (esp. taxes, fines and, in Norway, levy dues), overseeing legal proceedings and nominating judges. When necessary he also prosecuted cases on behalf of the Crown (cf. FrL Mhb 41). The sýslumaðr (see sysluman) was also involved in organizing military operations and overseeing trade. Some of these duties appear to have been taken over from the ármaðr (q.v.), whom the sýslumaðr replaced over the course of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Icelandic sýslumenn were subordinate to the hirðstjóri (q.v.) from the end of the thirteenth century. It has been suggested that certain other officials worked under the sýslumaðr, such as the sóknari (see soknari), sóknarmaðr (see soknamaþer), réttari (see rættari) and lénsmaðr (see lænsmaþer) (KLNM s.v. sysselmann).

The Swedish sysluman often refers to an administrator of ecclesiastical goods at a church. In Iceland and the Faroes the sýslumaðr has been viewed as an early form of police officer.

agent OSw KrL Jb
OSw MEL Jb
deputy OSw MEL DbII
representative ODan SkBL
OSw HL Rb
sheriff OIce Jó Þfb 2, 5 Sg 2 Mah 3, 6 Kge 28 Kab 11, 26 Þjb 2, 3 Fml 14
ONorw FrL Intr 12 Mhb 41 Var 46
ONorw GuL Krb, Kpb
steward OSw UL Jb Refs:

CV s.v. sýslumaðr; Einar Arnórsson 1945, 248−57; F s.v. sýslumaðr; KLNM s.v. embedsindtægter, kyrkliga räkenskaper, sysselmann; NF s.v. sysselmand