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List of Finnish monarchs

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This is a list of rulers of Finland until she became a republic in 1919, that is, the Kings, ruling Dukes and Queen of Sweden with Regents and Viceroys of the Kalmar Union, the Grand Dukes of Finland (identical with the Tsars of Russia), up to the brief Kingdom of Finland, which was decided upon in 1918 following independence the year before, but which never acctually was realised.

There are legends and myths about ancient kings of Finland.

Contents

Swedish rulers of Finland, from the Middle ages until 1809

This includes:

Background

Swedish influence in Finland was considerable in pre-Christian times. The Vikings were known to Finns both due to their participation in commerce and plundering. Finland's nearly 700-year association with the Kingdom of Sweden did or did not began in approximately 1154 with the introduction of Christianity by a Crusade and an expedition by a svea (Uplandic) nobleman Eric Jedvardson, later known as Saint Eric who became King Eric IX of Sweden.

In 1362 Finnish representatives received for the first time entitlement to participate in the election of the Swedish king, whereby from that time Finland can be regarded as one of the Lands of Sweden.

It is highly dubious whether Finland was in any effect joined to Sweden by the Crusade of Saint Eric (around 1154), though that occasion and date has received the established position of start of this political union. The expedition itself is only based on legends, it may have not happened or it probably was at most a small expedition without permanent effect, at least not political effect. Administrative subjugation of Finland took place more reliably during Birger Jarl in mid-13th century. The monarch list below is made based on the most "optimistic" hypothesis of the start of dominion. In practical terms, most of those medieval kings played no significant role in Finland, which was more or less governed by its own people, usually led by the bishop of Turku.

An interpretation has been made that the part "Vend" in the later established titulary of Kings of Sweden (three kingdoms: King of Svears, Götars and Vends; Sveriges, Götes och Vendes Konung) means Finland, the form being akin to Findland, Vindland. As such, the Österland (=medievally inhabited parts of Finland) was the third kingdom and part of the realm. The more accepted interpretation is that the word refers to the Wends, a Slavic people that lived on the south shores of the Baltic Sea, although the situation is further complicated by the existence of the Vends, located between the Finns and the Wends and with somewhat unknown origin.

'''The Houses of

'''The House of

'''Rulers of the
Charles VIII
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Charles VIII

'''The

John III
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John III

The House of

Also known as The House of the Palatinate
Charles XII
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Charles XII

'''The House of

'''The House of

Gustav III
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Gustav III

Russian rulers of Finland 1809-1917

Grand Dukes of Finland (Suomen suuriruhtinas, storfurstar av Finland)

The House of

Nicholas II
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Nicholas II

Independence since 1917 and the intended Kingdom of Finland in 1918

Acting as Heads of State

(Regents or Protectors of State (Finnish: valtionhoitaja, Swedish: riksföreståndare) are listed under Presidents of Finland)

The House of

King of Finland

  • October 9, 1918 - December 14, 1918 : Frederick Charles of Hesse (Fredrik Kaarle, Hessenin prinssi) - elected as King of Finland (Suomen kuningas, Finlands konung) by the Eduskunta in October, he never took office due to the changing political climate of the time, although preparations for his arrival were made. He formally renounced the throne in December. It is said that his regnal name was to be Väinö I of Finland, but due to there not being contemporary official records of this name it is widely considered a popular misbelief.
The Kingdom of Finland (1918) was superseded by the Republic of Finland with the republican constitution of 17 July, 1919.

See also

 

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