Republic of Jamtland

The flag of the Republic of Jamtland. Each "sub-republic" is represented by a stripe; the great blue sky over Jamtland, the snow-clad mountains of Herjeådalen and the green forests of Ravund.

The United Republics of Jamtland, Herjeådalen and Ravund (often shortened to the Republic of Jamtland) is a humorous culture and marketing project or micronation, with regionalist and historical elements based in the Swedish County of Jämtland, located in the middle of Scandinavia. From the 10th to 12th century Jamtland was self-governing and was independent of any crown, hence the name "Republic of Jamtland". It was annexed in 1178 to the crown of Norway. It still exercised significant self-rule, and its primary connection to the Norwegian king was through paying royal taxes. The Orkney Islands were the only other area that enjoyed similar self-rule.

History

The Republic of Jamtland was founded in 1963 (recalling the former 10th-century republic) in reaction to emigration from the county. The event that triggered its foundation was the centralist plan of Swedish officials to merge Jämtland County with Västernorrland County. The founders organized an association, The Liberation Movement, and mobilized the people through the "freedom festival" Storsjöyran. TV entertainer Yngve Gamlin was "elected" president, and Jamtland was proclaimed a republic in its own right, within the Kingdom of Sweden.

The second president, the comedian Moltas Eriksson, described the Liberation Movement as "51% in jest and 49% in earnest". It is largely seen as a humorous hoax, and actual support for an independent state among the local population is low. The movement's main focus is to preserve and promote the Jamtlandic culture, language and way of life, [1]but not independence for the three "constituent republics".[2]

The current president (the third overall) is Ewert Ljusberg, a man again from show business. Once a year he makes a popular speech at the city festival Storsjöyran in Östersund where he agitates against and mocks the "Big-Swedes", the Swedish government and the European Union, in a simultaneously serious and joking manner.

National symbols

In addition to the flag (which unmistakably has the Norwegian Lion in its centre), the republic boasts its own national anthem, entitled "Jämtlandssången". Versions of the song exist in both Swedish and Jamtlandic, the official language of the republic.[3]

Jamtlandssången

Text in Swedish Text in Jamtlandic

Så tåga vi tillsamman bort
mellan Jämtlands gröna ängar
bort mellan nyland som prunka
fulla av bröllopsblomsters prakt.

Så skåda vi med gamman hän
över berg i blåa fjärran
hän över sjöar, strömmar, skogar
jämt kring bygder på vakt.

Fagert är landet som blev vår lott och arvedel
så firom dess fägring nu
med sång och stråkars spel.
Tändom ånyo det hopp som våra fäder närt!
För slit och mödor av fröjd och sol
ett mått oss beskärt.

Mæ går på stigom
å leit oss opp öve bakkan,
bort milla åkrom, opp hitat vållom,
der bjällan pingel skvällht
i jænsmässti.

Mæ sir frå höjdom
bort mot åsom,
der kjörsan står milla gålom
bort ditat fjällom vår
der Skuta står
så gnistrenes vit.

Fejen så sjong mæ att‚
JAMTLANN DE E LANNE VÅRT!
i tusen år ha mæ hadd'e,
håll'e därför hårt.
Ler ta den friheit
som fedran ein gång at oss ga!
Hen ske mæ læva å minnes allht,
som fedran oss sa!

Presidents of the Republic of Jamtland

References

  1. ↑ Jamtlandsbladet 1:2008
  2. ↑ Befrielserörelsen Jamtland Facebook page About
  3. ↑ "JÄMTLANDSSÅNGEN". Retrieved 2008-08-05.

See also

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