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HISTORY An extended Finland Proper was made a titulary Grand Duchy (more correctly, Grand Principality ) in 1581 , when king John III Of Sweden , who as a prince had been Royal Duke of Finland ( 1556 – 1561 / 63 ), extended the list of subsidiary titles to the Kings of Sweden considerably. The new title Grand Duke Of Finland did not result in any increase of Finnish autonomy. (During the next two centuries, the title was used by some of John's successors on the throne, but not all (''e.g.'' his brother Charles IX used ''King of the Finns'' instead). Usually it was just a subsidiary title of the King, used only at very formal occasions. (However, in 1802 as an indication of resolve to keep Finland within Sweden in face of increased Russia n pressure, King Gustav IV Adolf gave the title to his new-born son, Prince Carl Gustaf, who died three years later.) During the Finnish War between Sweden and Russia, the Four Estates of occupied Finland were assembled at the Diet Of Porvoo on March 29 , 1809 to pledge allegiance to Alexander I Of Russia . Following the Swedish defeat in the war and the signing of the Treaty Of Fredrikshamn on September 17 , 1809 , Finland became a true Autonomous Grand Duchy as a part of the Russian Empire . For the foundation of the Grand Duchy as an entity with relatively greater autonomy within the Russian realm, and for the regain of the so called Old Finland , that was lost to Russia in the previous century, the Finland-born Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt , councillor to the emperor, was instrumental. The history of the Grand Duchy can briefly be characterized as:
The Tsar ruled Finland as a Constitutional Monarch through his governor and a native Senate appointed by him. The country nevertheless enjoyed a high degree of Autonomy , until its independence in 1917 . In 1917, after the February Revolution in Russia, Finland's government worked towards securing Finland's autonomy in domestic matters and possibly even its increase. On December 6 , 1917 , shortly after the October Revolution in Russia, Finland Declared Its Independence . Prince Frederick Charles Of Hesse was elected the new monarch as king instead of grand duke, marking the new status of the nation, but he never reigned as a Republic was proclaimed. POLITICS The Russian Emperor ruled as the Grand Duke Of Finland and was represented in Finland by the Governor-General Of Finland . The Senate Of Finland was the highest governing body of the Grand Duchy. In St. Petersburg Finnish matters were represented by the Finnish Minister Secretary Of State . From 1863 and onwards the Diet Of Finland convened regulalry. GEOGRAPHY ''Main article: Geography Of Finland '' COUNTIES ''Main article: Counties In Finland '' The administrative division introduced during the Swedish era in 1634 was continued with little changes.
HERALDRY ''Main articles: Flag Of Finland , Coat Of Arms Of Finland '' The arms were granted at the burial of Gustav Vasa in 1560 and still remain the arms of the Republic of Finland. In the so none of them ever became an official flag. That didn't stop people from using different designs for flags of their own choosing. MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS SEE ALSO
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