Landfoged


A Landfoged was a civil servant who saw to the finances of the Danish king in islands such as Iceland and the Faroe Islands, collecting revenue for the whole country. The usual English translation is 'sheriff'.

Iceland

In Iceland, he was treasurer of the jarðarbókarsjóð, and had to control the property of the king in Iceland, taxes and other payments, and manage fisheries of the king at Suðurnes. The Landfógeti collected taxes in Gullbringusýsla and was police chief in Reykjavík. He had to make sure the trade legislation would be obeyed.
These are Iceland's Landfógetar:
In the Faroes today, the Føroya Landfúti is the name of the Faroese Police, and the head of the Police. Previously, he received the taxes from the sysselmand and delivered the proceeds to the stiftamtmand of the Faroe Islands.