Fief of Viipuri

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Margraviate of Wiburg or fief of Viipuri or Viipuri county, 1320-1534, was for some two centuries a late medieval feudal fief in the southeastern border of Finland and the entire Swedish realm, held by its castellan, an appointed feudal lord.

History of the margraviate

For extended periods the medieval commanders of Viipuri castle (chatelains, castellans), on the border with republic of Novgorod, did in practice function as margraves, keeping all the crown's incomes from the fief to use for the defense of the realm's eastern border. They enjoyed more independence than the kingdom's other castellans, "burgraves". However the fief of Viipuri castle and its county, was not formally hereditary, though almost all appointees were from certain families, related to the Swedish earldom of Orkney.

Organization of that new territory for the Sewedish realm took place between 1290s and 1330s. The conquered Käkisalmi was lost, and Neva river's Landkrona was destroyed catastrophically. There was much sporadical warring for decades after, until 1323. Viipuri was however held, and coast westwards. When the conquest became established, a special fief became formed. Gotland had strong trade relations with coastal Carelia. Novgorod succeeded maintaining its control of Ladoga coasta and Neva river.

The independence and privileges of the county were founded by the Jonsson brothers. Squire Peder Jonsson (later knighted) and his elder brother Lord Sune Jonsson, PC, knight, justiciar (lagman) on Tiundaland (/Småland), together with their close relative Charles, bishop of Linköping, allies of the new king Magnus IV of Sweden, in 1320 or 1321 purchased dominus Efflerus, the bailiff of the deposed king Birger of Sweden out from Viipuri castle. They committed to keep the castle and its revenues for bishop Charles until the purchase price be compensated.

Their Coat of Arms depicted a boat, as is also depicted in arms of the so-called Bonde family and Snakenborg family; and they were from an originally Smålandic family, later called Bååt.

Peter was set up as the fiefholder, amd the whole clan participated in consolidating the fief. They also brough numbers of their Smålandic peasants to start farms in the county. There are toponymic indications of an influx of Southern-Swedish immigrants having settled in coasts of Viipuri and west up to Kymi river.

Peter and Sune recognized the new king and received important privileges, which effectively turned their holding of Viipuri as an independent feudal fief, the start of a veritable margraviate.

to defend the castle and the county, to administer them, with freedom to organize the internal affairs of the county as it pleased them, to bear the revenues and use as it pleased...

They also grabbed immense wealth for the family: Sune's son Erengisle, Earl of Orkney is a recorded owner of Kymenkartano manor in the Viipuri province, on which spot the later town of Kotka became erected. Munkenäs, an immense domain in Vederlax, was owned first by Sten Turesson Bielke, Lord High Constable of Sweden, and then his son Sten Stensson.

All the Swedish-party negotiators of Treaty of Noteborg 1323, three years after the acquisition of Viipuri, appear to be members of their extended family or representatives of bishop Charles' diocese and merchants of Gotland which was a part of that diocese.

They organized defences, constant local guarding, provisions of food and equipment, kept fortress in shape, kept mercenaries and paid military.

Its chatelains were generally from the most powerful families of the kingdom. They enjoyed large administrative powers and a good distance from the capital. Those realities made them practically independent rulers. Usually, the castle of Olavinlinna (built in 1470s) was subjugated to Viipuri. The position of Viipuri's castellan became effectively independent. As such, it was desired by many powerful magnates. In 1350's it was held by Erengisle's brother-in-law, the mighty King-Maker Nicholas Turesson of the Bielke. He owned Kaukjärvi domain in the isathmus near Viipuri.

The Jonsson family ended in 1392 at the death of Earl Erengisle. However, the margraviate was, almost without exception, held by descendants (or husbands of such) of their extended family until its very end, over two centuries.

Early margraves of Viipuri created a petty nobility around their strategic points. More capable peasants with some leader role in local community, were given tax exemption against guard duties of local strongholds, "linnavuori". Cavalry service was not required.

Later margraves, such as Christiern Nilsson and Charles Knutsson, declined to accept fully the nobility of such families of knaappiaateli.

Apparently the main reason why the chatelain of Viipuri county succeeded in keeping such an independent position compared to other castles and their holders, was Viipuri's extraordinary position as the easternmost outpost and the stronghold of the Swedish realm against eastern neighboing power, their attacks and desires to annex more land. Revenues from this county were not needed for the defense of eastern border, which usually was understood in the government of he kingdom - were eastern defense not granted sufficient resources, taxes from more western aras would possibly also have been lost to enemy.

Important personages who held Viipuri county as their fief, were Bo Jonsson Grip, Christer Nilsson Vasa (1417-42), Karl Knutsson Bonde (1442-48, the future king), Eric Axelson Tott (1457-81), Knut Posse (1495-97), Sten Sture the Elder (1497-99, between his regencies), Eric Bielke and count John of Hoya.

Particularly in 1440's and in late 15th century, the fortresses of the Viipuri castle were further enlarged and built.

In 1534, king Gustav I of Sweden abolished the independent fief by deposing and exiling his brother-in-law John, Count of Hoya. Lord Nicholas Grabbe took Viipuri castle by force on behalf of the king and became its royal governor, without gaining feudal privileges held by earlier holders of the castle.

List of fiefholders of Viipuri castle

This is to list all those medieval and 16th century lords who held Viipuri castle and its fief, as fiefed chatelains, in the independent way ("margrave") and not simply as governors or bailiffs. The list is incomplete, due to the scarcity of historical sources that leave gaps.

In 1321, lord Peter Jonsson purchased the castle and its dominions from the bailiff Efflerus set there by the deposed king Birger.

1320 - 1338 (or later) Peder Jonsson (and in c 1336 was governor of all Finland)

1357 - 1364 Nils Turesson Bielke

1371 - 1386 Bo Jonsson Grip (all Finland)

1403 - 1417 Tord Bonde

1417 - 1442 Kristiern Nilsson Vase

1440 - 1448 Carl Knutsson Bonde (b. 1408 - d. 1470), who in 1448 became king

1457 - 1481 Erik Axelsson Tott (b. c.1420 - d. 1487)

1495 - 1496 Knut Jönsson Posse (d. 1500)

1497 - 1501 Sten Sture the Elder (b. 1440 - d. 1503), between his terms as Regent of Sweden

1499 - May 1511 Erik Turesson Bielke (d. 1511)

1511-12 Gunilla Johansdotter Bese, widow of Eric Bielke, the predecessor

1513 - 1520 Tönne Eriksson Tott

1525 - 1534 John, Count of Hoya and Bruchhausen (d. 1535)

In 1534, Gustav I of Sweden abolished the independent fief.

Lord Nicholas Grabbe was the next commander of the Viipuri castle but he did not receive the feudal privileges held by earlier chatelains.

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