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| A few ] ]s tell about kings that ruled in ]. | |||
| ==Kven/Finnish kings during the Viking Age== | |||
| ==Icelandic sagas== | |||
| Despite the fact that the legendary title "King of Kvenland" appears widely used in various contexts, it is mentioned only once in sagas: ] in ] <ref></ref> is directly said to be the "King of Kvenland". He also appears to have been a Kven himself. | |||
| Together with other ] groups, the Viking Age Kvens are believed to have participated in the ]/] conquests abroad. | |||
| Two other sagas that mention Kvenland, ] <ref></ref> and ] <ref></ref>, do not use the title. | |||
| The following selection of sources can help us understand how the Kven/Finnish rulers were viewed in historic texts during the ] (approx. 800-1200 AD): | |||
| In ''Orkneyinga'', only ] is said to be "a king" and that he "reigned over Gotland, which we now know as Finland and Kvenland." This is a different thing than being the King of Kvenland. For comparison, king ] of Sweden ruled over ], but he was not the "]". As sagas mainly told about kings and their labors, this difference is remarkable and most probably well recognized by the original writer. ''Orkneyinga'' neither says that Fornjót or any of his descendants were Kvens which is another common misconception. | |||
| ''Hversu'' has very much the same usage of the title. This time only Fornjót's (who is said to be just "a man") great-grandson ] and his son Thorri are told to be kings, but again not "Kings of Kvenland". Kvenland appears only in relation to Thorri of whom it is said that "he ruled over Gothland, Kvenland, and Finland". Again, no mention that anyone of them had been Kvens. ''Hversu's'' brief mention that Kvens sacrificed to Thorri indicates that Kvens are meant to be his subordinates and most probably of different nationality. | |||
| In ''']''' AD, the ] explorer and leader ''']''' writes a thorough account about his Northern Scandinavian and White Sea exploration trip, where he discusses the ''Kvens''. According to ''Othar'', the Kvens ruled the territories of the Northern ] - east from the Norwegian mountain chain - which he traveled through. | |||
| None of the kings mentioned to have ruled Kvenland can be verified to have been historical persons. For more information on Kvenland in sagas, see article about ]. | |||
| In ''']''' AD, the ] King ''']''' writes in the ''Universal History of ] about the Kvens and the land they rule. | |||
| ==Charles IX of Sweden== | |||
| In ''']''' AD, ''']''', one of the most important ] ] ]s, discusses Kvens in ''Gesta'' (a history of Bremen/Hamburg and of the northern lands). He calls Kvenland ''Terra Feminica''. Comparisons to Tacitus' (98 AD) similar Sithons' (i.e. Kvens') female leadership reference and the historic Nordic references to the female leader "Gygr" and/or "Pohjan akka" have been drawn ever since. | |||
| It is often, and erroneously, referenced that king ] would have called himself as the "King of the Kvens". The king expanded his already lengthy title 1607 CE to be as follows (example from year 1608 CE): <ref>Konung Christoffers Landslag. Edictum Regis Caroli IX eius iussu edito textui praescriptum</ref> | |||
| In ''']''' AD, the ] historian and scientist, ''']''' tells that the ''King of FMRK'' has possessions in ]. "Fmrk" is believed to refer to Finnmark, which area - based to the reporting by the Norwegian leader "Othar" and according to the ''Universal History of ] (republished by King ''Alfred the Great'' in ] AD) - was ruled by the Kvens. | |||
| ''"Carl then Nijonde medh Gudz nådhe, Swerikes, Göthes, Wendes, Finnars, Carelers, Lappers j Nordlanden, the Caijaners, och Esters j Lifland, etc. Konung"'' | |||
| In ''']''' AD, in his geographical chronicle, ''Nikolaos'', the abbot of the monastery at Thingeyrar in Northern Iceland, talks about "two Kvenlands" that reach the areas "north from ]". | |||
| The title does not include Kvens, but "Caijaners", Swedish name for inhabitants of ]. His son dropped the "Lappers j Nordlanden, the Caijaners" from the title 1611 CE when he succeeded his father as the king, and the text was not added to it later. The fix in the Charles IX's title is clearly related to the construction of the ] 1604 CE close to the Russian border. | |||
| In ''']''' AD, the ] tells about the whereabouts of Kvenland. According to the text, the Kvens served pagan gods. | |||
| In ''']''' AD, according to a ] chronicle, the main Swedish center, Sigtuna, is conquered and destroyed by an attack from easterly direction. Later medieval Swedish sources explain the ] to have been behind this attack. However, around this time the Kvens and the Karelians are known to have began their cooperation. Historians believe the River Kemijoki (part of the historic Kvenland) settlement name of ''Sihtuuna'' to derive from the name Sigtuna. | |||
| In ''']''' AD, the ] historian, ''']''', tells about ''Finnish kings''. | |||
| In ''']''' AD, the ] bishop, poet, and historian, ''']''', writes the ], in which marriages and wars of ] and ] ''royal families'' are mentioned. | |||
| In ''']''' AD, in the introduction to the ], ''']''' discusses '''Fornjótr''', the ''King of Finland and Kvenland'' and the conquest of ] by his son, '''Nórr''' (source: KVENLAND / KAINUUNMAA, 1986, page 61 - includes the Icelandic and Finnish spellings of the original text -, Professor Emeritus Kyösti Julku). | |||
| Based on the information given in this saga, the ruling families of ], ], the ], ], and ] descend from these Finnish and/or Kven kings. | |||
| In '''] - ]''' AD, in ] - presumably by Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241 A.D.) - discusses Faravid, the King of Kvenland (source: KVENLAND / KAINUUNMAA, 1986, page 73 - includes a picture of an old manuscript - Professor Emeritus Kyösti Julku). | |||
| In ''']''' AD, the '']'' fought against the Norwegians. | |||
| In ''']''' AD, the ''Kvens'' and the ''Karelians'' cooperated in battles against the Norwegians in Haalogaland. These battles had a lasting effect in the life of the entire Northern ]. | |||
| ==Assimilation of the South-Western Finns becomes part of the birth of Sweden== | |||
| By the mid- 14th century the extreme southwestern corner of the modern-day "Finland" (less than 10% of the land inhabited by the Finns then and now) had become assimilated to Sweden, through a rather peaceful process. At the time this area was referred to as Finland. As prior to this slow assimilation process - lasting nearly two centuries - the country of Sweden did not exist, it can be said that this process was part of the birth of the nation of Sweden. | |||
| The rest of the modern-day Finland stayed - for long time to come - outside this union. | |||
| Once King Karl IX had strengthened his hold on the crown of Sweden he appended to it the title '''"King of the Kainulaiset"''' (]), apparently using it for the first time on 16.3.1607. | |||
| This title was later dropped, but '''Kainuu''', or '''Ostrobothnia''', occupied a separate position from the rest of Finland for a long time to come. Thus when Queen Christina appointed Count Pehr Brahe as Governor-General, he became officially Governor-General of Finland, Åland and '''Ostrobothnia'''.'' | |||
| This can only be interpreted, of course, as implying that the incorporation of Ostrobothnia into rest of the country by international agreement was still a recent event and remained fresh in people's memories."'' | |||
| ''Kainu(u)'' - as seen by most historians - means ''Kvenland'' in Finnish language, and ''kainulaiset'' means ''Kvens''. In historic texts Kvenland has also been referred to as ''Ostrobothnia'', which term thrives from the Swedish language. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 12:32, 25 November 2006
A few Icelandic sagas tell about kings that ruled in Kvenland.
Icelandic sagas
Despite the fact that the legendary title "King of Kvenland" appears widely used in various contexts, it is mentioned only once in sagas: Faravid in Egil's saga is directly said to be the "King of Kvenland". He also appears to have been a Kven himself.
Two other sagas that mention Kvenland, Hversu Noregr byggdist and Orkneyinga saga , do not use the title.
In Orkneyinga, only Fornjót is said to be "a king" and that he "reigned over Gotland, which we now know as Finland and Kvenland." This is a different thing than being the King of Kvenland. For comparison, king Gustaf II Adolf of Sweden ruled over Finland, but he was not the "King of Finland". As sagas mainly told about kings and their labors, this difference is remarkable and most probably well recognized by the original writer. Orkneyinga neither says that Fornjót or any of his descendants were Kvens which is another common misconception.
Hversu has very much the same usage of the title. This time only Fornjót's (who is said to be just "a man") great-grandson Old Snow and his son Thorri are told to be kings, but again not "Kings of Kvenland". Kvenland appears only in relation to Thorri of whom it is said that "he ruled over Gothland, Kvenland, and Finland". Again, no mention that anyone of them had been Kvens. Hversu's brief mention that Kvens sacrificed to Thorri indicates that Kvens are meant to be his subordinates and most probably of different nationality.
None of the kings mentioned to have ruled Kvenland can be verified to have been historical persons. For more information on Kvenland in sagas, see article about Kvenland.
Charles IX of Sweden
It is often, and erroneously, referenced that king Charles IX of Sweden would have called himself as the "King of the Kvens". The king expanded his already lengthy title 1607 CE to be as follows (example from year 1608 CE):
"Carl then Nijonde medh Gudz nådhe, Swerikes, Göthes, Wendes, Finnars, Carelers, Lappers j Nordlanden, the Caijaners, och Esters j Lifland, etc. Konung"
The title does not include Kvens, but "Caijaners", Swedish name for inhabitants of Kainuu. His son dropped the "Lappers j Nordlanden, the Caijaners" from the title 1611 CE when he succeeded his father as the king, and the text was not added to it later. The fix in the Charles IX's title is clearly related to the construction of the Kajaani castle 1604 CE close to the Russian border.
See also
References
- Egil's Saga, Chapter XIV
- Hversu Noregr byggdist
- Orkneyinga saga
- Titles of European hereditary rulers - SwedenKonung Christoffers Landslag. Edictum Regis Caroli IX eius iussu edito textui praescriptum