Westrogothia
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Westrogothia (Västergötland), one of the historical provinces of Sweden (landskap), lies in the southwest of Sweden. Template:Infobox Landskap
It borders Bahusia, Dalia, Wermelandia, Nericia, Ostrogothia, Smalandia and Hallandia. It is also bounded by the lakes Vättern and Vänern, as well as the sea at the City of Gothenburg.
Population
As of 2004 Westrogothia had a population of 1,198,806, distributed over four counties as follows:
Counties
For current affairs see: Västra Götaland County
In 1999 the Skaraborg County, Älvsborg County and Gothenburg and Bohus County merged into the current Västra Götaland County. The province of Westrogothia virtually fits into the boundaries of the new county; the main exceptions, the Municipalities of Habo and Mullsjö now form part of Jönköping County.
| County | Population |
|---|---|
| part of Västra Götaland County | 1,178,279 |
| part of Jönköping County | 16,697 |
| part of Halland County | 2,123 |
| part of Örebro County | 1,707 |
History
Main article: History of Westrogothia
The province of Västergötland represents the heartland of Götaland, one of the constituent petty kingdoms before the unification into one Swedish kingdom in the Middle Ages (see Geatish kings).
Geography
Main article: Geography of Westrogothia
Westrogothia was historically divided into chartered cities and into hundreds.
Cities
- Alingsås (1619)
- Borås (1622)
- Falköping (approximately 1200)
- Gothenburg (1621)
- Hjo (approximately 1400)
- Lidköping (1446)
- Mariestad (1583)
- Mölndal (1922)
- Skara (approximately 988)
- Skövde (approximately 1400)
- Tidaholm (1910)
- Trollhättan (1916)
- Ulricehamn (approximately 1400)
- Vänersborg (1644)
Hundreds
Västergötland is geographically bounded by the two largest Swedish lakes Vänern and Vättern.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Westrogothia
In Westrogothia the Götaland dialect of Swedish is spoken. The dialect has several varieties like the ones spoken in Gothenburg and Sjuhärad, but the main dialectal variety is the Western Götaland dialect, or Västgötska. "Västergötland" literally means Western Götaland.
Heraldry
Main article: Heraldry of Westrogothia
Westrogothia was granted its arms at the time of the funeral of Gustav I of Sweden in 1560. The province is also a duchy and the arms can be represented with the ducal coronet. Blazon: "Per bend sinister Sable and Or, a Lion rampant counterchanged langued and armed Gules between two Mullets Argent in the Sable field."
Dukes of Westrogothia
Since 1772, Swedish Kings have created princes as Dukes of various provinces - with purely nominal titles.
- Prince Carl (1861-1951)
- Crown Princess Victoria (since the succession reform of 1980)
See also
External links
- Västergötland (http://www.vastergotland.com/) - Tourist site
| Provinces of Sweden | The Swedish Realm |
|---|
| Alandia | Angermannia | Bahusia | Blechingia | Dalecarlia | Dalia | Finland Proper | Gestricia | Gotlandia | Hallandia | Helsingia | Herdalia | Jemtia | Karelia | Laponia | Medelpadia | Nericia | Nylandia | Oelandia | Ostrobothnia | Ostrogothia | Satakunda | Savonia | Scania | Smalandia | Sudermannia | Tavastia | Uplandia | Wermelandia | Westmannia | Westrobothnia | Westrogothia |
| Lands of Sweden: Götaland | Norrland | Svealand | Österland |