History of Åland

Part of a series on
Scandinavia
Countries Denmark Finland Iceland Norway Sweden
History History by country Åland Denmark Faroe Islands Finland Greenland Iceland Norway Scotland Sweden Chronological history Prehistory Stone Age Bronze Age Iron Age Migration Period Viking Age Norsemen Christianization Sweden–Finland Kalmar Union Denmark–Norway Sweden–Norway Denmark–Iceland Nordic Council
Geography Mountains Peninsula Baltic Sea North Sea
Economy Nordic model Finland Sweden
Related Languages Scandinavism Nordic countries Monetary Union Defence Union Scandinavian Airlines
Denmark  Faroe Islands  Finland  Iceland  Norway  Sweden
v t e

The history of Åland can be traced back to roughly 4000 BCE, when humans first reached the archipelago in the Neolithic period.^[1] Several Bronze Age villages have been found on Åland. During the Viking Age, six hillforts were built. Sweden controlled the Åland Islands from the 1200s until 1809, during which, Kastelholm Castle was the focal point of many battles. In 1809, the Russian empire took Åland and Finland. In 1854, British and French forces attacked Bomarsund. The Åland Islands were then demilitarised until 1906. In 1918, Swedish and German forces occupied the Åland Islands. After the Finnish Civil War, Åland joined Finland following the Åland Convention of 1921.

Geology and prehistory

Paleolithic period

Around 18,000 BC, during the Weichselian glaciation, a thick cover of ice stretched over Scandinavia,^[2] which eventually receded from the islands around 9000 BC.^[3] Around 8000 BC the highest peaks of the then submerged archipelago rose from the Baltic Sea.^[4] The sea levels would alternate in the Baltic Sea,^[5] but a land bridge to Åland never formed, indicating the first humans came by boat or over the ice.^[1]

Due to the forebulge effect after the icecaps melted, the area around Åland is still rising several millimeters per year, marginally expanding the archipelago's surface.^[6]

Neolithic period

Artifacts of human remains, pottery and animal bones were found dating as far back as the Middle Neolithic (ca. 4000 BC). These are the oldest findings, denoting human presence on the isles by then. Their cultures were Scandinavian, firstly the Pitted Ware culture and later joined by the Comb Ceramic culture.^[1][7] Around this time is when the first primitive agriculture begins.^[8]

Bronze Age

Many Bronze Age villages have been found on Åland. Ceramics and animal bones have been found on Kökar.^[9] Signs of livestock have been found from the Bronze age on Åland.^[10]

Viking age

Dense settlements are built on Fasta Åland during the Viking age.^[8] Large burial grounds have been found on Åland from the Viking age.^[11] Arabic mint coins from 400 C.E have been found on Åland.^[1] On Åland, there are 6 hillforts from the Viking age.^[12] There would be exstensive trade with the rest of the world to as far as Arabia would happen in the Viking age.^{[8] [13] [14]}The first signes of christianity are found from the Middle ages.^[8]

Middle Ages

The first wooden churches are built on Åland.^{[8] [13]}Åland Islands might have been occupied by Eric the Saint, other sources claim Åland was already an integral part of Sweden. The first stone churches where built in th 1300s to 1400s on Åland.^[13][8]When construction began on Kastelholm Castle is not exactly known but it most likely began in the 1380s^{[8] [15]} Kastelholm is first mentioned in 1388^[15] Many noble families would live on Åland.^[13] The Franciscan order would found a monestery on Hamnö in Kökar in the 1400s. ^[13] Åland would join the Kalmar Union.

Swedish rule

In 1507 the Danish naval officer Søren Norby would capture Kastelholm castle. ^[13][8]Many battles would take place between the Danish and Swedish over Kastelholm between 1521 - 1523.^[8] Gustav Vasa would make Åland a royal castle county in 1537.^[13] Gustav Vasa would also establish 3 large breeding farm estates. ^[13] Catholicism came to a end on Åland and monesteries would be closed and the churces and monesteries had give their silver to the state.^[13]

Åland would become part of the Swedish Empire and many Ålanders would be enrolled for war.^[13] The postal service was given a permanent route which would go from Stockholm to Turku through Åland.^[8][13]

Between 1665 and 1668 the Kastelholm witch trials would take place on Åland where over 20 women would be accused of witchcraft and would be executed.^[13] The first school would be founded on Åland in the 1600s in Saltvik.^[13]

During the Great Northern War many Ålanders fled west from the advacing Russians.^[13] The Battle of Grengam would take place in Åland during the Great Northern war on 7 August 1720.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the Russians would occupy Åland in 1808. The Treaty of Fredrikshamn would be signed by Russia and Sweden. Finland and Åland are ceded to Russia.^[16][8][13]

Continuing malaria outbreaks

As the result of abundant Anopheles claviger mosquitoes, malaria was endemic in Åland for at least 150 years, with severe outbreaks being recorded in the 18th century, and in 1853 and 1862.^[17]

Chronology up to 1921

• c. 1835: Fortress of Bomarsund begins construction.
• 1853: Severe malaria outbreak.^[17]
• 1854 – Battle of Bomarsund: as part of the Crimean War the Anglo-French invasion of Åland takes place. The coalition force attacks and destroys the fortress of Bomarsund. The British prime minister Palmerston had protested against this fortification some twenty years prior, without effect.
• 1856 – Treaty of Paris: The peace convention forbids the fortification of the Islands.^[18]
• March 1856: By the Åland Convention, concluded between the United Kingdom, France and Russia, it was decided the isles were demilitarized.
• 1862: Another severe malaria outbreak occurs.^[17]
• 1877: A telegraph cable is in use from Mariehamn to Nystad.
• 1892: The first telephone is installed in Mariehamn.^[19]
• 1906: A Russian garrison is established in the Islands. Some attention went to the earlier Treaty of Paris when Russia, under pretext of stopping the smuggling of arms into Finland, placed considerable naval and military forces on the islands.
• 1907: Russia requests France and Great Britain to cancel the Convention's agreement.
• 1907: Secret Treaty of Björkö (Russia and Germany), which gives Russia a free hand to install military forces on the Islands.
• 1914: Outbreak of World War I: Russia fortifies the Islands.
• 1916: The islands are remilitarised by Russia and used as a submarine base during World War I.
• 1917 – Russian Revolution: Finland declares independence. The Islanders demand reunification with Sweden via a referendum (25–29 December).
• 1918: The Soviet Government, Sweden and Germany recognise Finland's independence. Bolshevik forces, however, land on the Islands as part of the Russian Revolution. The isles are later invaded by Sweden (February) and eventually occupied by Germany (March-October).
• 1918: The islanders internationally plead to reunite with Sweden.
• 1919: Sweden brings the question before the Paris Peace Conference on 18 March but the islands remain part of Finland.^[18]
• 1921: The Åland convention re-establishes the demilitarised status of the islands.

See also

• History of Finland
• Invasion of Åland
• Battle of Bomarsund
• Kastelholm Castle
• Åland Convention
• Wikimedia Atlas of Åland

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Åland Islands". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 469.
• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Prothero, G.W. (1920). The Åland Islands. Great Britain. Foreign Office. Historical Section. pp. 9–10.

External links

• Media related to History of Åland at Wikimedia Commons