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Skåneland is a denomination for the historical region in southern and southwestern Sweden , once making up the eastern part of Denmark . It was permanently ceded to Sweden under the Treaty Of Roskilde ( 1658 ). The proper name for it is ''Skånelandskapen'', which translates to ''the Provinces of Skåne''; sometimes the Latin names ''terra Scania'' or ''terra Scaniæ'' are used. Skåneland consists of the provinces , except that the islands of Bornholm and Anholt have remained Danish whereas the rest of the region was Annex ed to Sweden. Skåneland borders the provinces of Västergötland and Småland . The region is accepted by the Unrepresented Nations And Peoples Organisation under the name of ''Scania'', although this is also the Latin and English name for Skåne proper. OFFICIAL STATUS The term is not used in official contexts and is seldom used by Swedes. It is more popular within the region itself and particularly with Regionalists as well as in the context of advocatating Skåneland as an independent Republic . Such Separatist Movements often have a basis in Nationalism ; frequently a sense of political under-representation and a perception of economic disadvantage play important roles.The List Of Active Autonomist And Secessionist Movements in the world is extensive. Examples of other separatist movements include the non-violent Québécois movement in Canada , the until recently violent Spain 's Basque movements, and the almost dormant northern Italian peninsula movement based on Gallo-romance linguistic and cultural roots. The relatively long amalgamation of ''Skåneland'' with Sweden would suggest that the area is generally "Swedified" and that separatism represents a minority viewpoint. When defining the region in more general context the names of the individual provinces are used, or it is considered as being part of Götaland . Origin of name The Swedish term "Skåneland" was introduced by the Swedish historian and Scandinavist Martin Weibull in his political appeal ''Samlingar till Skånes historia'' in 1868 to illuminate the common pre-Swedish history of Skåne, Blekinge, and Halland. The term was basically a translation from the medieval Latin ''terra Scaniæ'' ("land of Skåne"). Weibull used the term as a combined term for the three provinces where Skånelagen (" The Scanian law", the oldest provincial law of the Nordic Countries ) had its jurisdiction, as well as the area of the Archdiocese of Lund until the Reformation in 1536 , later the Danish Lutheran Diocese of Lund. This form of Skåneland was then used in the regional historical periodical ''Historisk tidskrift för Skåneland'', beginning in 1901, published by Martin's son, Lauritz Weibull . Swedish National Encyclopedia article ''Skånelandskapen''"Some consider the island of Bornholm a part of Skåneland, despite currently belonging to Denmark. The island was originally included in the territories ceded to Sweden in 1658, but it rebelled and was returned to Denmark only two years later." HISTORY Early history The Latin name ''terra Scaniæ'' was used in the Middle Ages as a denomination for the easternmost parts of Denmark. At that time, dense forests and Bog gy ground blocked the northern provinces of Sweden from Skåneland, in comparison to the relative ease of travel by sea. It was therefore natural to draw the national borders on land. This is documented by Adam Of Bremen in the 11th century when he visited Scania and Scandinavia and called it the richest and most important part of Denmark. Even in later periods as the roads gradually improved, some parts were still difficult to travel through, even through the 19th century. ''Skånelands historia'', ved Ambrius, J, 1997 ISBN 91-971436-2-6 From 1104 the Danish archbishop had his residence in Lund; and it was also here the first Danish university was founded, the Lund Academy (1425-1536). The earliest historians, writing in the 12th and 13th century, believed that the Danish Kingdom had existed since time immemorial, while the kingdoms of Norway and Sweden were formed in the 10th and 11th century, each by consolidation of multiple small kingdoms. Eighth century sources do confirm the existence of Denmark as a kingdom then. Ninth century sources mention the Svear (ancient Swedes) in the Folkland s which is essentially the modern Swedish province of Uppland . According to ninth century Frankish sources, by the early 9th century many of the chieftains in the south of Scandinavia acknowledged Danish kings as their overlords. The west and south coast of modern Sweden was so effectively under Danish control that the area was known as Denmark (literally the frontier of the Danes). In the ninth century, various Svear chieftains gathered tribute in Finland and northern Russia.''Medieval Scandinavia'', by Bridget and Peter Sawyer, University of Minnesota Press, 1993.''Kings and Vikings'', by P.H. Sawyer, Routledge, 1982.Sawyer considered sources such as Saxo Grammaticus and Snorri Sturluson but validated their material against contemporary primary documents of the period. From the Kalmar Union to Denmark's Loss of Skåne, Blekinge and Halland By the end of the fourteenth century, the Finnish coast was under Swedish control, but Denmark was the most powerful of Scandinavian states. As a result, when the Kalmar Union was formed in 1397, the union was administered from Copenhagen. By 1471 Sweden had tired of Danish domination and rebelled under Sture family leadership. In 1503, when Sten Sture The Elder died, eastern Sweden’s independence from Denmark had been established. ''Sweden and the Baltic, 1523 - 1721'', by Andrina Stiles, Hodder & Stoughton, 1992 ISBN 0-340-54644-1 In 1600 Denmark controlled virtually all land bordering on the Skagerrak , Kattegat , and the restricted Sound ( Øresund ). The current Swedish provinces of Skåne , Blekinge and Halland were still Danish and the province of Båhuslen was still Norwegian. Skåneland became the site of bitter battles, especially in the 16th and 17th century, as Denmark and Sweden confronted each other for control of the Baltic and of Swedish access to western trade. Danish historians often represent this as a period of unending Swedish aggression during which Sweden was continuously at war, while Swedish historians often represent this as "Sweden's Age of Greatness". ''A History of Sweden'' by Ingvar Andersson, Praeger, 1956 ''Nordens Historie'', ved Hiels Bache, Forslagsbureauet i Kjøbenhavn, 1884. ''The Northern Wars, 1558-1721'' by Robert I. Frost; Longman, Harlow, England; 2000 ISBN 0-582-06429-5 ''The Struggle for Supremacy in the Baltic: 1600-1725'' by Jill Lisk; Funk & Wagnalls, New York, 1967''Sweden; the Nation's History", by Franklin D. Scott, Southern Illinois Press, 1988. During the breakup of the Kalmar Union and 1814, Denmark and Sweden fought 11 times in Skåneland and other border provinces: 1563-70, 1611-1613, 1644-1645, 1657-1658; 1659-1661, 1674-1678, 1700, 1710-1721, 1788, 1808-1809, and 1814. ''Min Svenska Historia II'', by Vilhelm Moberg, P.A. Nordstedt & Söners Förlag, 1971. The most notable periods of combat for Skåneland were the Northern Seven Years' War (1563–1570), the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) and the Northern War ( 1655 – 1658 ).
Moberg, in his history of the Swedish people, provides a thoughtful discussion of the atrocities which were committed by both sides in the struggle over the border provinces, and identified them as the source of propaganda to inflame the peoples’ passions to continue the struggle. This lopsided representation was incorporated into history text books on the respective sides. As an example, Moberg compares the history texts he grew up with in Sweden which represented the Swedish soldier as ever pure and honorable to a letter written by Gustavus Adolphus celebrating the 24 Skånian parishes he’d helped level by fire, with the troops encouraged to rape and murder the population at will. One must infer that this Swedish behavior was mirrored equally on the Danish side. Skåneland was a rather unpleasant place to dwell for an extended period. Assimilation with Sweden Following the Treaty Of Roskilde in 1658, the Swedish government forcefully demanded Skåneland adopt Swedish customs and laws. Swedish became the only permitted language in the Church liturgy and in schools, books in Danish were not allowed to be printed, and all appointed politicians and priests were required to be Swedish. To promote further Swedish assimilation the University Of Lund was inaugurated in 1666, and the inhabitants of Scania were not allowed to enroll in Copenhagen University until the 19th century. The population was initially opposed to the Swedish reforms, as can be ascertained from church records and court transcripts. The Swedes did encounter severe civil revolts in some areas, perhaps most notably in the Göinge district, in dense forest regions, and in northern Scania. The last civil revolts in Skåneland were peasant revolts early in the 19th century, but during that period the region was so integrated that, at the end of the century, Skåneland was declared to have been "fully incorporated with Swedish habits, customs and history". The transformation of age-old customs, commerce and administration to the Swedish model could not be effected quickly or easily. In the first fifty years of the transition, the treatment of the population was rather ruthless, but thereafter it softened. Denmark, on the other hand, made several attempts to recapture the territories -- the last attempt in 1710, during which they almost recaptured the entire Skåneland until they were beaten back by Swedish armies and forced to withdraw. Recent history The complete history of Skåneland was not taught for a long time in schools in Skåneland, especially during periods with the immediate threat of revolt. Instead a Swedish-centric history was taught, and the Scanian history before 1658, for instance concerning the list of monarchs, was disregarded as a component of Danish history. In reaction, a movement began in the late 19th century to revive awareness of the history and culture of Skåneland. The renewed focus resulted in the publication of several books about Scanian history. It is still disputed whether children of the Scanian Provinces should learn the local Danish-era history or the Swedish history for the period before 1658. Swedish Governors-General
''(See also: Governors-General Of Sweden )'' MODERN USAGE The most wide-spread usage of the term ''Skåneland'' today is by regionalists who desire to stress the culturally unique features of the region. The proper term ''Skånelandskap'' is of historical significance as a common name for Swedish areas formerly belonging to Denmark, though neither is generally used among modern Swedish historians or in government administration. Because of the revived notions of a common cultural heritage, separate from that of the national state of Sweden, Skåneland has become a member of UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation) and FUEN (Federal Union of European Nationalities) under the name of ''Scania''. REFERENCES AND NOTES SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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