The term riksdag was used for the first time in the 1540s, although the first meeting where representatives of different social groups were called to discuss and determine affairs affecting the country as a whole took place as early as 1435, in the town of Arboga.
Begrebet "riksdag" stammer fra 1540'erne, men det første møde med repræsentanter for de forskellige dele af landet og fra flere socialgrupper, som diskuterede forhold af betydning for landet som helhed, fandt sted allerede i 1435 i Arboga.