Governors-General of Sweden
Encyclopedia
A Governor-General, or generalguvernör, was appointed by the Swedish monarch as his permanent representative, with both civil and military jurisdiction, over parts of Sweden
, from the 17th century to the early 19th century, when constitutional changes made the office obsolete. A Governor-General
was always appointed as the highest representative of the Swedish monarch in the Dominions
ruled, or the Possessions
governed, by Sweden. Conquered, and unintegrated, territories were apart from this, more or less allowed to retain their internal political structure.
The term viceroy
is better reserved for the Stattholder, the representative of the Swedish Monarch in Norway
when that neighboring country was in personal union with Sweden
, as it concerns a whole kingdom, and notably in the several cases where the incumbent was no lesser than the Swedish Crown prince.
Governors-General could also be appointed over parts of Sweden proper
, today's Sweden
and Finland
, and usually consisting of several counties
in that part of the country, when circumstances so required. When this happened the Royal Governor of each county would report to the Governor-General instead of directly to the Monarch or the Privy Council. A Royal Governor, regardless if whether under a Governor-General or not, held the civil, but not the military, jurisdiction over his county. The Governors-General were always members of the Privy Council
.
The list of Governors-General is not complete. Some of the listed held the title Governor, not Governor-General.
:
:
:
:
in 1658 and initially included all of Skåneland
. In 1660, Bornholm was returned to Denmark. Blekinge
, which had been part of Kristianstad County
while under the dominion, was removed in 1680 and placed under Kalmar County
. The dominion was suspended in 1670, but recreated during the Scanian War
. In 1675, Bohus County
was added and it remained administered by the Scanian Governors-General until 1693. Halland County
was removed from the dominion in 1693 and for the periods 1693–1719 and 1801–1809, the dominion included the counties in the province of Scania
only.
List of Governors-General of Scania:
List of Governors-General of Scania (the province only):
:
:
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, from the 17th century to the early 19th century, when constitutional changes made the office obsolete. A Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
was always appointed as the highest representative of the Swedish monarch in the Dominions
Dominions of Sweden
The Dominions of Sweden or Svenska besittningar were territories that historically came under control of the Swedish Crown, but never became fully integrated with Sweden. This generally meant that they were ruled by Governors-General under the Swedish monarch, but within certain limits retained...
ruled, or the Possessions
Possessions of Sweden
This is a list of possessions of Sweden held outside of Sweden proper during the early modern period.- Fiefs :Fiefs that were held for a limited time.*Scania *Hven...
governed, by Sweden. Conquered, and unintegrated, territories were apart from this, more or less allowed to retain their internal political structure.
The term viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
is better reserved for the Stattholder, the representative of the Swedish Monarch in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
when that neighboring country was in personal union with Sweden
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
, as it concerns a whole kingdom, and notably in the several cases where the incumbent was no lesser than the Swedish Crown prince.
Governors-General could also be appointed over parts of Sweden proper
Sweden proper
Sweden proper, , is a term used to distinguish those territories that were fully integrated into the Kingdom of Sweden, as opposed to the dominions and possessions of, or states in union with, Sweden....
, today's Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, and usually consisting of several counties
Counties of Sweden
The Counties of Sweden are the first level administrative and political subdivisions of Sweden. Sweden is divided into 21 counties. The counties were established in 1634 on Count Axel Oxenstierna's initiative, superseding the historical provinces of Sweden to introduce a modern administration...
in that part of the country, when circumstances so required. When this happened the Royal Governor of each county would report to the Governor-General instead of directly to the Monarch or the Privy Council. A Royal Governor, regardless if whether under a Governor-General or not, held the civil, but not the military, jurisdiction over his county. The Governors-General were always members of the Privy Council
Privy Council of Sweden
The High Council of Sweden or Council of the Realm consisted originally of those men of noble, common and clergical background, that the king saw fit for advisory service...
.
The list of Governors-General is not complete. Some of the listed held the title Governor, not Governor-General.
Finland
List of Governors-General of FinlandÖsterland
Österland or Österlanden , one of the four traditional lands of Sweden, was a medieval term used for the southern part of Finland. It gradually fell out of use by the 15th century...
:
- Nils BielkeNils BielkeCount Nils Bielke was a member of the High Council of Sweden, military and politician.Born the eldest son of Baron Ture Nilsson Bielke, who died in 1648, Queen Christina granted the young boy the barony of Korpo in the archipelago of Finland Proper in 1649...
(1623 - 1631) - Gabriel Bengtsson Oxenstierna (1631 - 1634)
- Per Brahe the younger (1637 - 1641; 1648 - 1654)
- Gustaf Evertsson Horn (1657 - 1658)
- Herman Fleming (1664 - 1669)
- Henrik Henriksson Horn af Marienborg (1674)
- Carl Nieroth (1710-1712)
Ingria
List of Governors-General of IngriaSwedish Ingria
Swedish Ingria was a dominion of the Swedish Empire from 1580 to 1595 and then again from 1617 to 1721, when it was ceded to the Russian Empire in the Treaty of Nystad....
:
- Carl Carlsson GyllenhielmCarl Carlsson GyllenhielmBaron Carl Carlsson Gyllenhielm was a Swedish soldier and politician. He was appointed Field Marshal in 1616, Privy Councilor in 1617, Governor General of Ingria in 1617 and Lord High Admiral in 1620. He was an illegitimate son of Duke Carl, later King Charles IX of Sweden, and Karin Nilsdotter,...
(1617- ) - Nils Assersson Mannersköld (1626-1629)
- Johan SkytteJohan SkytteJohan Skytte was a Swedish politician.Skytte was son of the Mayor of Nyköping, Bengt Nilsson Skräddare...
(1629-1633) - Bengt Bengtsson OxenstiernaBengt OxenstiernaBengt Oxenstierna may refer to:*Bengt Oxenstierna , Swedish Privy Councillor, Governor-General of Ingria and Livonia*Bengt Gabrielsson Oxenstierna , President of the Royal Swedish Chancellery...
(1634-1643) - Erik Stenbock (1651-1654)
- Gustaf Evertsson Horn (1654-1657)
- Krister Klasson Horn af Åminne (1657-1659)
- Simon Grundel-HelmfeltSimon Grundel-HelmfeltBaron Simon Grundel-Helmfelt was a Swedish Field marshal. Helmfelt is most notable for the overwhelming victory he won despite being heavily outnumbered at the Battle of Lund....
(1659) - Jacob Johan Taube (1660-1668)
- Simon Grundel-HelmfeltSimon Grundel-HelmfeltBaron Simon Grundel-Helmfelt was a Swedish Field marshal. Helmfelt is most notable for the overwhelming victory he won despite being heavily outnumbered at the Battle of Lund....
(1668-1673) - Jacob Johan Taube (1673-1681)
- Martin Schultz (von Ascheraden) (1681-1682) (governor)
- Hans von Fersen d.ä. (1682-1683) (governor)
- Göran Sperling (1683-1690)
- Otto Wilhelm von FersenOtto Wilhelm von FersenOtto Wilhelm von Fersen was a Swedish general and nobleman of the Fersen family, governor general of Ingmermanland and Kexholm from 1691 to 1698, field marshal 1693. He was the son of Hermann von Fersen the elder and cousin to Fabian von Fersen.-See also:*Fersen...
(1691-1698) - Otto VellingkOtto Vellingk-Biography:He was born in 1649 to Otto Gotthardsson Vellingk and Christina Nilsdotter Mannersköld, and had a brother, Mauritz Wellingk. He was promoted to general in 1698....
(1698-1708)
Estonia
List of Governors-General of EstoniaSwedish Estonia
The Duchy of Estonia , also known as Swedish Estonia, was a dominion of the Swedish Empire from 1561 until 1721, when it was ceded to Russia in the Treaty of Nystad, following its capitulation in the Great Northern War. The dominion arose when the northern parts of present-day Estonia were united...
:
- Anders TorstensonAnders TorstensonCount Anders Torstenson , Swedish statesman, son of Lennart Torstenson and member of the Privy Council, was from 1674 to 1681 Governor-General of Estonia. The family became extinct on the sword-side in 1727.-References:...
(1674 - 1681) - Robert Lichton (1681 - 1687)
- Nils Turesson BielkeNils BielkeCount Nils Bielke was a member of the High Council of Sweden, military and politician.Born the eldest son of Baron Ture Nilsson Bielke, who died in 1648, Queen Christina granted the young boy the barony of Korpo in the archipelago of Finland Proper in 1649...
(1687) - Axel Julius De la GardieAxel Julius De la GardieAxel Julius de la Gardie was a Swedish Field Marshal and was appointed Governor-General over Estonia.Axel Julius was the son of military commander Jacob De la Gardie and Ebba Brahe. He became colonel of an infantry regiment and a cavalry regiment and in 1684 he attained the rank of major general...
(1687 - 1704) - Wolmar Anton von SchlippenbachWolmar Anton von SchlippenbachWolmar Anton von Schlippenbach was Governor General of Swedish Estonia from 1704 to 1706.-Biography:Born in Livonia, Schlippenbach participated as a captain in the Swedish army Scanian War under Charles XI and served later as a major in Swedish Pomerania and Prussia...
(1704-1706) - Niels Jonsson Stromberg af ClastorpNiels Jonsson Stromberg af ClastorpNiels Jonsson Stromberg af Clastorp was a Swedish soldier and Governor-General of Swedish Estonia from 1706 to 1709....
(1706-1709) - Carl Nieroth (1709-1710)
Livonia
List of Governors-General of LivoniaSwedish Livonia
- Swedish infantry and cavalry regiments:Infantry regiments:* Garnisonsregementet i Riga * Guvenörsregementet i Riga * Livländsk infanteribataljon I...
:
- Jacob De la GardieJacob De la GardieField Marshal and Count Jacob Pontusson De la Gardie was a statesman and a soldier of the Swedish Empire....
(1622 - 1628) - Johan SkytteJohan SkytteJohan Skytte was a Swedish politician.Skytte was son of the Mayor of Nyköping, Bengt Nilsson Skräddare...
(1629 - 1634) - Bengt OxenstiernaBengt OxenstiernaBengt Oxenstierna may refer to:*Bengt Oxenstierna , Swedish Privy Councillor, Governor-General of Ingria and Livonia*Bengt Gabrielsson Oxenstierna , President of the Royal Swedish Chancellery...
(1634 - 1643) - Herman WrangelHerman WrangelHerman Wrangel was a Swedish soldier and politician of Baltic German extraction. He was appointed Field Marshal in 1621, Privy Councillor in 1630, and Governor General of Livonia in 1643...
(1643) - Magnus Gabriel De la GardieMagnus Gabriel De la GardieCount Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie was a Swedish statesman and military man. He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1647 and came to be the holder of three of the five offices counted as the Great Officers of the Realm, namely Lord High Treasurer, Lord High Chancellor and Lord High...
(1655 - ) - Jacob Johan HastferJacob Johan HastferJacob Johan Hastfer was a Swedish officer and governor of the Livonia province between 1687 and 1695....
(1687 - 1695) - Erik DahlbergErik DahlbergCount Erik Jönsson Dahlbergh was a Swedish engineer, soldier, and field marshal, called the "Vauban of Sweden".- Life :...
(1696 - 1702) - Carl Gustaf Frölich (1702-1706)
- Adam Ludwig LewenhauptAdam Ludwig LewenhauptAdam Ludwig Lewenhaupt was a Swedish general.-Biography:Educated at Lund University, Rostock, Wittenberg and Uppsala, he originally pursued a career in the diplomatic arena, but found this occupation quite undesirable. He then became a soldier, served in the Austrian army against the Turks, and...
(1706-1709) - Henrik Otto Albedyll (1709)
- Niels Jonsson Stromberg af ClastorpNiels Jonsson Stromberg af ClastorpNiels Jonsson Stromberg af Clastorp was a Swedish soldier and Governor-General of Swedish Estonia from 1706 to 1709....
(1709-1710)
Karelia
List of Governors-General of Karelia:- Johan SkytteJohan SkytteJohan Skytte was a Swedish politician.Skytte was son of the Mayor of Nyköping, Bengt Nilsson Skräddare...
(1629 - 1634)
Scania
The Scanian Dominion (Skånska Generalguvernementet in Swedish), was established after the Treaty of RoskildeTreaty of Roskilde
The Treaty of Roskilde was concluded on 26 February or 8 March 1658 during the Second Northern War between Frederick III of Denmark–Norway and Charles X Gustav of Sweden in the Danish city of Roskilde...
in 1658 and initially included all of Skåneland
Skåneland
Skåneland or Skånelandene are terms used in historical contexts in Scandinavia to describe the area on the southern and south-western part of the Scandinavian peninsula, which under the Treaty of Roskilde was transferred from Denmark to Sweden. It corresponds to the provinces of Blekinge,...
. In 1660, Bornholm was returned to Denmark. Blekinge
Blekinge
' is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden , situated in the south of the country. It borders Småland, Scania and the Baltic Sea.The name "Blekinge" comes from the adjective bleke, which corresponds to the nautical term for "dead calm"....
, which had been part of Kristianstad County
Kristianstad County
Kristianstad County was a county of Sweden from 1719 to 1 January 1997 when it was merged with Malmöhus County to form Skåne County.The seat of residence for the Governor was in Kristianstad.- List of Governors :...
while under the dominion, was removed in 1680 and placed under Kalmar County
Kalmar County
Kalmar County is a county or län in southern Sweden. It borders the counties of Kronoberg, Jönköping, Blekinge and Östergötland. To the east in the Baltic Sea is the island Gotland....
. The dominion was suspended in 1670, but recreated during the Scanian War
Scanian War
The Scanian War was a part of the Northern Wars involving the union of Denmark-Norway, Brandenburg and Sweden. It was fought mainly on Scanian soil, in the former Danish provinces along the border with Sweden and in Northern Germany...
. In 1675, Bohus County
Gothenburg and Bohus County
The County of Gothenburg and Bohus, or Göteborgs och Bohus län, was a county of Sweden until December 31, 1998 when it was merged with the counties of Skaraborg and Älvsborg to form the county of Västra Götaland....
was added and it remained administered by the Scanian Governors-General until 1693. Halland County
Halland County
Halland County is a county on the western coast of Sweden. It corresponds roughly to the cultural and historical province of Halland. The capital is Halmstad....
was removed from the dominion in 1693 and for the periods 1693–1719 and 1801–1809, the dominion included the counties in the province of Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
only.
List of Governors-General of Scania:
- Gustaf Otto StenbockGustaf Otto StenbockCount Gustaf Otto Stenbock was a Swedish soldier and politician.He was son of Friherre Gustav Eriksson Stenbock and Countess Beata Margareta Brahe , born in Torpa, Länghem parish, Tranemo Municipality, Västergötland, Sweden.He was appointed head of Kronobergs regemente in 1637, Major General in...
(1658 - 1664) (BornholmBornholmBornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
was returned to DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in 1660.) - Gustaf Persson Banér (1664-1669)
- Fabian von FersenFabian von FersenBaron Fabian von Fersen was a Swedish soldier and statesman, who received appointments Field Marshal, and then Governor General of the Scanian lands, which included the provinces of Skåne, Halland and Blekinge in 1676....
(1676 - 1677) - Göran Sperling (1677-1679)
- Johan Gyllenstierna (1679-1680)
- Rutger von AschebergRutger von AschebergCount Rutger von Ascheberg was a soldier, officer and civil servant in Swedish service, being appointed Lieutenant General in 1670, General in 1674, Field Marshal in 1678, Governor General of the Scanian provinces, in 1680, and Royal Councilor in 1681.-Biography:Ascheberg was born on the estate...
(1680 - 1693) (Bohus County added 1675; Blekinge removed 1680.)
List of Governors-General of Scania (the province only):
- Otto VellingkOtto Vellingk-Biography:He was born in 1649 to Otto Gotthardsson Vellingk and Christina Nilsdotter Mannersköld, and had a brother, Mauritz Wellingk. He was promoted to general in 1698....
(1693 - 1698) - Carl Gustaf Rehnskiöld (July 4, 1698- December 27, 1705)
- Magnus StenbockMagnus StenbockCount Magnus Gustafsson Stenbock was a Swedish military officer at the time of the Great Northern War.He was the son of Gustaf Otto Stenbock and Christina Catharine de la Gardie....
(December 27, 1705-1711) - Jacob von Burenskiöld (1711-1716)
- Carl Gustaf Skytte (1716-1719)
- Carl Gustaf Hård (1717-1719)
- Johan Christopher TollJohan Christopher TollCount Johan Christopher Toll , Swedish statesman and soldier, was born at Mölleröd in Scania Count Johan Christopher Toll (1 February 1743 – 21 May 1817), Swedish statesman and soldier, was born at Mölleröd in Scania Count Johan Christopher Toll (1 February 1743 – 21 May 1817), Swedish...
(February 9, 1801 - March 27, 1809)
Pomerania
List of Governors-General of PomeraniaSwedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania was a Dominion under the Swedish Crown from 1630 to 1815, situated on what is now the Baltic coast of Germany and Poland. Following the Polish War and the Thirty Years' War, Sweden held extensive control over the lands on the southern Baltic coast, including Pomerania and parts...
:
- Carl Gustaf WrangelCarl Gustaf WrangelCarl Gustaf Wrangel was a high-ranking Swedish noble, statesman and military commander in the Thirty Years', Torstenson, Bremen, Second Northern and Scanian Wars....
(1648–) - Otto Wilhelm KönigsmarckOtto Wilhelm KönigsmarckCount Otto Wilhelm Königsmarck was a Swedish military officer from Minden. He attained the rank of field marshal in 1676, commanded the Battle of Stralsund , and became Governor General for Swedish Pomerania in 1679. He was the son of Hans Christoff Königsmarck and the brother of Conrad Christoff...
(1679–1685) - Nils BielkeNils BielkeCount Nils Bielke was a member of the High Council of Sweden, military and politician.Born the eldest son of Baron Ture Nilsson Bielke, who died in 1648, Queen Christina granted the young boy the barony of Korpo in the archipelago of Finland Proper in 1649...
(1687–1698) - Jürgen Mellin (1698–1711)
- Johan August Meijerfeldt the elder (1713–1747)
- Filip Julius Bernhard von Platen
- Hans Henrik von Liewen (1766–1772)
- Fredrik Vilhelm von Hessenstein (1776–1791)
- Eric RuuthEric RuuthEric Ruuth was a Swedish nobleman and the owner of Marsvinsholm Castle. He served as the Governor-General of Swedish Pomerania from 1792 to 1796. With his coal mine he started Höganäs AB.-Biography:...
(1792–1796) - Hans Henric von EssenHans Henric von EssenCount Hans Henrik von Essen was a Swedish officer, courtier and statesman.Hans Henrik von Essen was born at Kavlås Castle in Tidaholm Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. He was educated at Uppsala University. He entered the army becoming a cornet at age 18. He accompanied Gustav III in...
(1800–1815)
Bremen-Verden
List of Governors-General of Bremen-VerdenBremen-Verden
Bremen-Verden, formally the Duchies of Bremen and Verden , were two territories and immediate fiefs of the Holy Roman Empire, which emerged and gained Imperial immediacy in 1180...
:
- Jurgen Mellin (1696 - 1698)
- Nils Carlsson Gyllenstierna af Fogelvik (1698-1711)
- Mauritz von Vellingk (1711-1712)
See also
- Over-Governor of StockholmOver-Governor of StockholmThe Over-Governor, or Överståthållaren of Stockholm was the highest official for the City between 1634 and 1967. The Office was instituted by the Instrument of Government of 1634, which divided Sweden into Counties and the Over-Governorship of Stockholm...
- County Governors of Sweden
- Viceroy of NorwayViceroy of NorwayThe Viceroy of Norway was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the King, during the era of the Union between Sweden and Norway. The role was essentially the same as that of the Governor-general, which has led to confusion as to who filled which office...
- Governor-General of FinlandGovernor-General of FinlandGovernor-General of Finland ; was the military commander and the highest administrator of Finland sporadically under Swedish rule in the 17th and 18th centuries and continuously in the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland between 1808 and 1917.-Swedish rule:...
- For the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland (1808-1917)