Countship of Larvik

The Countship of Larvik or Landgraviate of Larvik (also spelt Laurvig or Laurvigen) was created on 29 September 1671 when Brunla amt was made into the county of Laurvigen. It covered today's Larvik and Tjøme municipality, and parts of Sandefjord municipality (Sandar and Kodal).

The county was created by king Christian V for general and Statholder (viceroy) of Norway, Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, illegitimate son of king Frederik III.

Laurvig was intended to be the leading countship in Denmark-Norway: "hvilket Grevskab skal for vores Rigers første Grevskab herefter holdes og agtes skal.". The count's estate comprised the former Brunla, Fritsø and Halsen estates and the Lange family's former estate. It also included the towns of Larvik and Sandefjord, and significant industry: Fritzøe Ironworks and Fritzøe sawmill. Most of the count's properties are today owned by the Treschow family.

Gyldenløve built a manor named Herregården in what was then the outskirts of Larvik. The building was started in 1674 and completed in time for Gyldenløve's third wedding, with Antoinette Augusta von Aldenburg, on August 16, 1677.

After Norway's brief independence and thereafter the formation of the Union between Sweden and Norway in 1814, the countship of Larvik remained a Danish property until 1817, as a result of a protocol of the Treaty of Kiel. In 1817, the countship was bought by local merchants from the Danish crown as a result of increasing local unrest and resistance to Danish rule, resulting in the countship joining the rest of the Union. In 1821, the county was merged with Jarlsberg county to become Jarlsberg and Larviks amt.

The coat of arms is blazoned as follows: "I blåt en oprejst, kronet hvidspættet løve med hovedet set for fra ("leopard") i en krum gul hellebard. Om skjoldet to grønne palmegrene med blå sløjfe, og på skjoldet en grevekrone.".