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| ==Kven/Finnish kings during the Viking Age== | |||
| A few ] ]s tell about kings that ruled in ]. | |||
| ==Icelandic sagas== | |||
| Together with other ] groups, the Viking Age Kvens are believed to have participated in the ]/] conquests abroad. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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): | |||
| Two other sagas that mention Kvenland, ] <ref></ref> and ] <ref></ref>, do not use the title. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| ''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 ] King ''']''' writes in the ''Universal History of ] about the Kvens and the land they rule. | |||
| 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, ''']''', 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. | |||
| ==Charles IX of Sweden== | |||
| 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. | |||
| 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, 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 ]". | |||
| ''"Carl then Nijonde medh Gudz nådhe, Swerikes, Göthes, Wendes, Finnars, Carelers, Lappers j Nordlanden, the Caijaners, och Esters j Lifland, etc. Konung"'' | |||
| In ''']''' AD, the ] tells about the whereabouts of Kvenland. According to the text, the Kvens served pagan gods. | |||
| 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, 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 ]. | |||
| In the ], ], the great king of ] (Kvenland) is discussed. His twelve sons are later the twelve constellations in the sky. ] is one of the sons. | |||
| According to an Old English poem ], "Caelic reigned Finns". The name has been speculatively connected to ]. | |||
| {{seealso|Fornjót}} | |||
| ==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 12:46, 25 November 2006
Kven/Finnish kings during the Viking Age
Together with other Finnic groups, the Viking Age Kvens are believed to have participated in the Varangian/Viking conquests abroad.
The following selection of sources can help us understand how the Kven/Finnish rulers were viewed in historic texts during the Viking Age (approx. 800-1200 AD):
In 870 AD, the Norwegian explorer and leader Ottar from Hålogaland 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 Scandinavia - east from the Norwegian mountain chain - which he traveled through.
In 890 AD, the English King Alfred the Great writes in the Universal History of Orosius about the Kvens and the land they rule.
In 1075 AD, Adam of Bremen, one of the most important German medieval chroniclers, 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.
In 1154 AD, the Arab historian and scientist, Muhammad al-Idrisi tells that the King of FMRK has possessions in Norway. "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 Orosius (republished by King Alfred the Great in 890 AD) - was ruled by the Kvens.
In 1157 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 Bjarmia".
In 1170 AD, the Historia Norvegiae tells about the whereabouts of Kvenland. According to the text, the Kvens served pagan gods.
In 1187 AD, according to a Swedish chronicle, the main Swedish center, Sigtuna, is conquered and destroyed by an attack from easterly direction. Later medieval Swedish sources explain the Karelians 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 1200 AD, the Danish historian, Saxo Grammaticus, tells about Finnish kings.
In 1220 AD, the Icelandic bishop, poet, and historian, Snorri Sturluson, writes the Ynglinga Saga, in which marriages and wars of Finnish and Swedish royal families are mentioned.
In 1230 AD, in the introduction to the Orkneyinga Saga, Fundinn Noregr discusses Fornjótr, the King of Finland and Kvenland and the conquest of Norway 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 Sweden, Norway, the Orkney Islands, Normandy, and England descend from these Finnish and/or Kven kings.
In 1230 - 1240 AD, in Egils saga - 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 1251 AD, the Karelians fought against the Norwegians.
In 1271 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 Scandinavia.
In the Finnish epic, Kaleva, the great king of Kainuu (Kvenland) is discussed. His twelve sons are later the twelve constellations in the sky. Hiisi is one of the sons.
According to an Old English poem Widsith, "Caelic reigned Finns". The name has been speculatively connected to Kaleva.
See also: Fornjót
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" (Kvens), 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.