Finland under Swedish rule

Quick Facts: Who was Finland under Swedish rule?

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Finland under Swedish rule

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A historical period detailing Finland's integration into and governance by the Swedish Crown.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Finland was a part of Sweden from the Middle Ages until 1809. The starting point of Swedish rule is uncertain and controversial. It is traditionally linked to the First Swedish Crusade in the mid-12th century. Historical evidence of the establishment of Swedish rule in Finland exists from the middle of the 13th century onwards. Swedish rule ended in 1721 in most of so-called Old Finland, the south-eastern part of the Finnish territories, as a result of the Great Northern War.

Career & Major Achievements

Sweden ceded the remainder of Old Finland in 1743, following the Hats' War. Swedish rule over the rest of Finland ended on 17 September 1809, when the signing of the Treaty of Hamina ended the Finnish War. As a result, the eastern third of Sweden was ceded to the Russian Empire and became established as the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland. Swedish rule in the area of modern-day Finland started as a result of the Northern Crusades. The Finnish upper class lost its position and lands to new Swedish and German nobility and to the Catholic Church.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Swedish colonisation of some coastal areas of Finland with Christian population was a way to retain power in former pagan areas that had been conquered. It has been estimated that there were thousands of colonists. Colonisation led to several conflicts between the colonists and local population which have been recorded in the 14th century. In colonised coastal areas the Finnish population, remaining as a minority, principally lost its fishing and cultivation rights to the colonists. Though the Finnish provinces were an integral part of the Kingdom of Sweden with the same legal rights and duties as the rest of the realm, Finnish-speaking Swedish subjects faced comparative challenges in dealing with the authorities as Swedish was established as the sole official language of government.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1721: 1721 Milestone — Swedish rule ended in 1721 in most of so-called Old Finland, the south-eastern part of the Finnish territories, as a result of the Great Northern War.
2. 1743: 1743 Milestone — Sweden ceded the remainder of Old Finland in 1743, following the Hats' War.
3. 1809: 1809 Milestone — Finland was a part of Sweden from the Middle Ages until 1809.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Finland under Swedish rule

True or False: “Did the Treaty of Hamina in 1809 result in Finland remaining fully integrated within the Kingdom of Sweden?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The treaty ended Swedish rule over the eastern third of Sweden, which was ceded to the Russian Empire and established as the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abraham Lincoln — Historical peer (Born in 1809) (1809): 16th President of the United States; guided the nation through the Civil War.
• Alfred, Lord Tennyson — Historical peer (Born in 1809) (1809): Victorian Poet Laureate, celebrated for lyrical verse and mythological themes.
• Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud — Historical peer (Born in 1721) (1721): Second ruler of the Emirate of Diriyah and founder of the First Saudi State.
• Alexander Selkirk — Historical peer (Died in 1721) (1721): Scottish privateer and castaway whose survival inspired literary giants like Crusoe.
• Alessandro Cagliostro — Historical peer (Born in 1743) (1743): Italian occultist and self-styled magician, known for European court associations.
• Anna Laetitia Barbauld — Historical peer (Born in 1743) (1743): Prominent English poet, essayist, and literary critic of the Enlightenment and Romantic eras.

Frequently Asked Questions about Finland under Swedish rule