How did the October Edict end peasant servitude in Prussia?

The October Edict, published on October 9, 1807, was a foundational reform introduced by Karl, Reichsfreiherr vom und zum Stein to modernize the Prussian state.

The edict ended peasant servitude by legally emancipating the peasantry, marking a decisive shift toward civil liberty and equality before the law. Beyond the abolition of personal servitude, the decree introduced significant economic freedoms that dismantled previous social and professional restrictions:

• Freedom of Occupation: Individuals were granted the right to choose their own vocations, breaking down rigid class-based professional barriers.1
• Land Mobility: The edict removed long-standing prohibitions that had restricted the sale of manorial estates, allowing land to be bought and sold freely regardless of the owner's social status.1

While the October Edict did not immediately resolve all issues—such as the complex process of transferring economically exploited land into full peasant ownership—it served as a revolutionary step in transitioning Prussia away from its feudal structures toward a more modern, liberalized society.1