During the early 17th century, as Sweden began to focus its military efforts towards Germany, it increasingly relied on the local nobility to defend Livonia. Frequent wars and limited funds led to the awarding of fiefdoms and land grants to the nobility in return for their service. Left mostly to their own devices, the Baltic German nobility in Livonia was able to considerably strengthen their power, and even made efforts to protect the peasantry from excessive state burdens. This was a crucial part of the nobles’ ongoing struggle to preserve their privileges, as serfs were considered an integral part of the nobility’s direct property and held significant value as part of their capital.