Österland
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Österland or Österlanden was formerly a term used for the southern part of Finland. It fell gradually off use already in the 15th century. Finland remained a part of Swedish Realm - also known today as Sweden-Finland - until the Finnish war of 1808–09, when it was ceded to Russia and came to constitute the autonomous Russian Grand Duchy of Finland.
[edit] Provinces
The following seven provinces formed Österland:
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[edit] History
In the 13th century the kings of the recently christianized Svealand incorporated Finland into their Kingdom under influence from the Church. The details of this process are not known: the traditional concept of three "crusades" has been dismantled by modern research. The conquest took place at the same time or later than Sweden was united under one king; and the Österland was seen as a constituent part of the Swedish kingdom, although represented in the elections of Swedish kings first in 15 February 1362 (when Haakon Magnusson was elected as co-regent of his father).
Many Swedish settlers moved into the western and southern coasts of Österland (now Finland) during the 13th century. There is no conclusive archaeological or toponymical proof of Norse-speaking inhabitants in Finland during earlier times outside the Åland Islands.
An interpretation has been made that the part "Vend" in the later established titulary of Kings of Sweden (three crowns in the Coat of Arms, three kingdoms: King of the Sveas, Götes and Vendes; (Svears, Götars och Venders konung in Swedish) 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.
In 1581, the provinces of the area were declared a Grand Principality by King John III of Sweden, who as a prince, in 1556, had been granted a part of that territory as a duchy created beside other duchies ruled by his brothers. The creation of that Duchy was chiefly a part of the civil war between the late King Gustav Vasa's sons, and had no lasting effects, whereas the titular grand principality lasted for over two centuries and ultimately evolved into an autonomous state for a third century and more.
See also: Historical provinces of Finland
