List of monarchs of Finland

For the Swedish & Russian names where applicable, see List of Swedish monarchs and List of Russian rulers.

This is a list of the monarchs of Finland until it became a republic in 1919; that is, the Kings of Sweden with Regents and Viceroys of the Kalmar Union, the Grand Dukes of Finland (identical with the Tsars of Russia), up to the two-year Regent period following the independence in 1917, with a brief flirtation with a truly domestic monarchy.

Part of the Kingdom of Sweden, from the Middle Ages until 1809

Finland as an integral part of Sweden under the King of Sweden (Ruotsin kuningas).

Some texts suggest the Swedish rule of Finland started as early as during the Houses of Sverker and Eric (Sverker I of Sweden 1130–1156 and Eric the Saint 1156–1160). But the first historic documents suggesting rule by Swedish kings in Finland not limited to sparse crusades and conquests are dated at around 1249.

The House of Bjelbo

Rulers of the Kalmar Union and Regents (Valtionhoitaja, Riksföreståndare)

Kaarle Knuutinpoika

The House of Vasa

Juhana III

The House of Pfalz-Zweibrücken

The House of Hesse

The House of Holstein-Gottorp

Kustaa III

Grand Principality of Finland in Russian Empire 1809–1917

The Grand Principality of Finland in the Russian Empire (1809–1917) with the Emperor of Russia as the Grand Prince of Finland (Suomen suuriruhtinas).

The House of Romanov

Nikolai II

Interim period 1917–19

Regents (valtionhoitaja) using the powers reserved for the monarch.

The House of Hesse

For later heads of state after the proclamation of the republic, see List of Presidents of Finland.

See also

References

  1. During Svinhufvud's regency, Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse was elected as the King of Finland on 9 October 1918. He never took office and renounced the throne on 14 December 1918.