List of Finnish monarchs

This is a list of rulers of Finland, that is, the Kings, ruling Dukes and Queen of Sweden with Regents and Viceroys of the Kalmar Union, the Grand Dukes of Finland (identical with the Tsars of Russia), up to the brief Kingdom of Finland at independence in 1918. This includes:

The Swedish kingdom (from the Swedish expansion in Finland) (1154-1389)
- The Union of the Swedish and Norwegian kingdoms (1319-1343)
The Kalmar Union (the United Kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden) (1389-1523)
The Kingdom of Sweden ("Sweden-Finland") (1523-1809)
The Grand Duchy of Finland (in the Russian Empire) (1809-1917)
The Kingdom of Finland (1917-1919)

It is highly dubious whether Finland was in any effect joined to Sweden by the Crusade of Saint Eric (around 1154), though that occasion and date has received the established position of start of this political union. The expedition itself is only based on legends, it may have not happened or it probably was at most a small expedition without permanent effect, at least not political effect. Administrative subjugation of Finland took place more reliably during Birger Jarl in mid-13th century. The monarch list below is made based on the most "optimistic" hypothesis of the start of dominion. In practical terms, most of those medieval kings played no significant role in Finland, which was more or less governed by its own people, usualy lead by bishop of Turku.

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: Kings of Svears, Götars och Vends; Sveriges, Götes och Vendes Konung) 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.

The kingdom was superseded by the Republic of Finland with the republican constitution of 17 July, 1919.

Contents

1 Swedish rulers

1.1 The Houses of Sverker and Eric
1.2 The House of Folkung
1.3 Rulers of the Kalmar Union and Regents/Viceroys
1.4 The House of Vasa
1.5 The House of the Palatinate
1.6 The House of Hesse
1.7 The House of Holstein-Gottorp

2 Russian rulers

3 Independence

4 See also

Swedish rulers

Swedish influence in Finland was considerable in pre-Christian times. The Vikings were known to Finns both due to their participation in commerce and plundering. Finland's nearly 700-year association with the Kingdom of Sweden did or did not began in approximately 1154 with the introduction of Christianity by a Crusade and an expedition by a svea (Uplandic) nobleman Eric Jedvardson, later known as Saint Eric who became King Eric IX of Sweden.

In 1362 Finnish representatives got first time the entitlement to participate in the election of the Swedish king, whereby from that time Finland can be regarded as one of the Lands of Sweden.

The Houses of Sverker and Eric

1130-1156 : Sverker I of Sweden (Sverker I, Sverker vanhempi) - The House of Sverker
1156-1160 : Eric the Saint (Eerik IX, Eerik Pyhä) - The House of Eric
1160-1167 : Charles VII of Sweden (Kaarle VII) - The House of Sverker
1167-1195 : Canute I of Sweden (Knuut I) - The House of Eric
1196-1208 : Sverker II of Sweden (Sverker II, Sverker nuorempi) - The House of Sverker
1208-1216 : Eric X of Sweden (Eerik X) - The House of Eric
1216-1222 : John I of Sweden (Juhana I) - The House of Sverker
1222-1229 : Eric XI of Sweden (Eerik XI) - The House of Eric
1229-1234 : Canute II of Sweden (Knuut II)
1234-1250 : Eric XI of Sweden (Eerik XI) - The House of Eric
- effective ruler in last years: Birger Jarl, who made a crusade to Finland, establishing fortresses as far as in Tavastia

The House of Folkung

1250-1275 : Valdemar of Sweden (Valdemar Birgerinpoika)
- regent: Birger Jarl
1275-1290 : Magnus I of Sweden (Maunu Ladonlukko)
1290-1318 : Birger of Sweden (Birger)
1319-1364 : Magnus II of Sweden (Maunu II)
- co-kings, successively: Eric XII of Sweden and Haakon I of Sweden, sons of Magnus II
1363-1395 : Albert of Mecklenburg (Albrekt Mecklenburgilainen)

Rulers of the Kalmar Union and Regents/Viceroys

(Valtionhoitaja, Riksföreståndare)

Charles VIII

1389-1412 : Margaret I of Sweden (Margareeta), widow of Haakon I of Sweden, and heiress of Estonia, a Danish dominion
1396-1439 : Eric of Pomerania (Eerik XIII Pommerilainen, died 1459), a cousin twice removed of Haakon I of Sweden
1438-1440 : Carl Knutsson Bonde, Regent/Viceroy (Kaarle Knuutinpoika)
1441-1448 : Christopher of Bavaria (Kristoffer Baijerilainen)
1448-1448 : Viceroys Bengt and Nils Jönsson Oxenstierna ((Pentti Jönsinpoika Häräntähti and Niilo Jönsinpoika Häräntähti))
1448-1457 : Charles VIII of Sweden (Kaarle VIII Knuutinpoika)
1457-1457 : Viceroys Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna and Eric Axelsson Tott ((Jösn Pentinpoika and Eerik Akselinpoika))
1457-1464 : Christian I of Sweden (Kristian I)
1464-1465 : Charles VIII of Sweden (Kaarle VIII)
1465-1465 : Viceroy Kettil Karlsson Vasa ((Kettil Kaarlenpoika Vaasa))
1465-1466 : Viceroy Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna
1466-1467 : Viceroy Eric Axelsson Tott
1467-1470 : Charles VIII of Sweden (Kaarle VIII)
1470-1497 : Regent/Viceroy Sten Sture the elder (Sten Sture vanhempi)
1497-1501 : John II of Sweden (Hans of Denmark, Juhana II, Hannu, Tanskan Hannu)
1501-1503 : Viceroy Sten Sture the elder (Sten Sture vanhempi)
1504-1511 : Viceroy Svante Sture (Svante Niilonpoika, he apparently did not use the name of Sture)
1512-1512 : Viceroy Eric Trolle
1512-1520 : Viceroy Sten Sture the younger (Sten Sture nuorempi, he took the name of Sture of his grandmother's family, for imago reasons and for its prestige)
1520-1521 : Christian II of Sweden (Kristian II)