4.3.4 Finland in the Swedish realm
Description
This article is from the Nordic countries FAQ, by Antti Lahelma and Johan Olofsson, with numerous contributions by others.
4.3.4 Finland in the Swedish realm
[ see also the sections 7.3.3 - 7.3.5 in the Swedish part of
the faq. ]
During early medieval time fief after fief in Finland came to
be governed by Swedish magnates. First around Turku /Åbo, then
farther and farther into the country. The peasantry seems to
have had a judicial organization with "Things" similar to that
in the rest of Norden. It is unclear if the Thing also had
pre-Christian religious functions.
Sweden's colonization of Finland is often connected to "the
First Crusade" (1155) led by the English bishop Henry and the
Swedish king Erik. By this time Finland was, however, already
mostly Christian so the real motivations of the "crusade" are
obscure. SW Finland appears to have been allied with central
Sweden already in the Viking age, so it has been hypothesized
that the campaign was a punitive expedition against an ally
that had become unreliable, perhaps because of the influence of
Greek Orthodox missionaries. It's also disputed if the First
Crusade really was a historical event. In due time, Finland
becomes an integral part of the kingdom of Sweden.
Year 1323 Finland's border is for the first time fixed in the
peace in Pähkinäsaari at lake Ladoga. The Swedish government
supported the Church, and tithes were enforced. On February
15th, 1362, the provinces in Finland can be said to have been
officially acknowledged as equal parts of the realm under
Swedish crown as the national law now was enforced in all parts
of the realm, and Finland was represented at the election of
king. (King Håkon of Norway was elected king also of Sweden.)
During the following Kalmar Union, Finland plays a rather
independent role. Viipuri fief became increasingly important as
the Muscovite realm expanded. The clergy, including the
bishops, has Finnish names and the magnates with estates in
southern Finland come to play a strong part in the power-play
between the Danish Union-king and the Swedish State Council.
The most important positions - such as those of governors -
were often held by men from the highest nobility, with its
roots and base in Svealand (or Götaland).
After Novgorod had been conquered by Moscow 1471 the situation
became worse with skirmishes, sieges and small wars.
At Gustav Vasa's rebellion in Svealand it was unclear whether
the provinces in Finland would remain in the Union or not. The
Union-king's connection with Moscow was probably the crucial
reason to why the nobility in Finland took Gustav Vasa's side.
All of the 16th century was marked by continuous conflicts with
Moscow. But Finland thereby also became a prioritized part of
the realm. The Vasa princes were taught Finnish, prince Johan
was given an enlarged Turku fief as duchy, and the Finnish
nobility made careers in the civil service - and in the wars
with Russia. Viipuri was established as Finland's second
bishopric beside Turku.
In the national conflicts and civil wars the Finnish nobility
supported the legal kings (Erik XIV & Sigismund), and not the
opponents duke Johan & duke Karl, with the consequence that
many lost their lands and/or their heads when duke Karl had
become king Karl IX.
The civil war between duke Karl and king Sigismund led to a
peasant rebellion in central Finland, the so called Cudgel War.
Manipulated by the usurper duke Karl, Finnish peasantry
uprises, prompted by the worsened living conditions. After
short-lived success, the poorly armed peasants are brutally
defeated by the troops of Klaus Fleming, a Finnish aristocrat,
regent of Finland and the commander-in-chief (riksmarsk) for
Sweden, who opted for an extended union with Poland and
Livonia.
During the 17th century the nobility in Finland accepts the
succeeding Swedish king Gustav II Adolf. Karelia (Kexholm's
län) is now incorporated as another Finnish province. The
followers of Russian Orthodox faith in the occupied Karelia and
Ingria are persecuted, and many flee to the Russian side of the
border. After that (during internal turbulence in Russia),
peace is to prevail at Finland's borders until year 1700.
The 17th century is therefore remembered as a good time for
Finland. 1637-54 count Per Brahe worked as governor for the
Finnish provinces taking initiative to many important
improvements and reliefs for the war-pestered land, and Finnish
troops became feared in the 30 Years' War. Lots of new baronies
were granted in reward (to be retracted anew in 1680).
But the 17th century was also the era when Sweden directed its
interest to the south. Gotland and the Scanian provinces were
conquered, as were also large areas on the European continent.
1696-98 the crops failed and the population was reduced by a
third. Then followed Karl XII's failed war with Russian
occupation, much suffering and loss of southern Karelia with
Viipuri and the Karelian isthmus. At the Gulf of Finland, in
the conquered Ingria, a new town was founded and made capital
for all of Russia - St. Petersburg.
The 18th century meant both repeated wars with Russia and a
marked increase of population. Politicians from Finland often
played a leading role during the Parliamentarian times:
+ Count Arvid Horn is chancellor 1721-38;
+ In the end of the century, Gustav Mauritz Armfelt from
Halikko became the leading councillor at Gustav III - and
then later the Russian emperor's chief-councillor for Finnish
affairs;
+ The campaign for freedom of press (and
"offentlighetsprincipen") in the Swedish realm was for
instance led by the Finnish priest Anders Chydenius.
[ Anders Chydenius is also dedicated a www-server at
<http://www.chyden.net/> honoring his publication National
Profit & Loss from the year 1765. This book is a perfect
example of how "new" ideas often get discovered independently
by several persons at the same time. Adam Smith did not read
Swedish, and could not know of Chydenius' work as he eleven
years later wrote The Wealth of Nations with by and large the
same content. ]
The Finnish language, which had been neglected during the 17th
century, now begins to gain ground (very slowly!) in the
"official" sphere. The parliament grants tax reliefs to the
Finnish provinces pestered by the wars with Russia.
The opinion among the educated classes in Finland shifts slowly
toward a pro-Russian stand, which ultimately results in
distrust for the kings Gustav III and Gustav IV Adolf. The
upper class is mentally well prepared for an annexion to Russia
at the Russian attack in February 1809. However, the peasantry
is not, and the distrust between the commoners and the masters
aggravates.
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