Kagal (Finnish society)
Encyclopedia
In the history of Finland
, the Kagal was a secret society
, founded under the period of Russia
n oppression, in resistance to the oppressive government of Governor General Nikolai Bobrikov. The name (Finnish Kagaali, Swedish Kagal) comes via Russian (hence the -g- for an original -h-) from the Hebrew word qahal.
The central character of the Kagal is thought to have been Leo Mechelin
, an independent liberal, but notable lead characters also included Carl Mannerheim (older brother of Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
), Adolf von Bonsdorff, Ernst Estlander, J. N. Reuter, Adolf Törngren and Wilhelm Zilliacus from the Swedish People's Party, and the Young Finns
Eero Erkko, Th. Homén, Heikki Renvall and P. E. Svinhufvud
.
The Kagal was founded in the Turholma mansion in Laajasalo
. The lord of the mansion, General Jacob Julius af Lindfors, had inherited his fortune from his father-in-law Henrik Borgström (1799-1883), who had risen from nothing to owning a house of commerce, and had been present in founding the Liberal Party and acted as a notable patron of the arts.
In a secret meeting, Leo Mechelin wrote a people's address to the Tsar
, which gathered 500 000 signatures (the country's population at the time was about 2.6 million). The signatures probably also included Svinhufvud, Erkko and Zilliacus, among others. The Tsar rejected the address and threatened conscientious objector
s with loss of study places and offices, but strikes organised by the Kagal had the effect that virtually no one arrived at the army enlistment, and finally the Tsar gave up implementing a mandatory draft.
Later, the Tsar granted Bobrikov full rights as a dictator
, and expelled the lead characters of the Kagal from the country (1903). The Kagal continued to act from within Stockholm
and other places. Most of the members stood by Mechelin's idea of non-violent resistance, but a minority wing led by writer Konni Zilliacus
founded an Active Resistance Party, whose activists murdered oppression leaders, smuggled guns, and despite their right-wing politics, made alliances with the Russian socialist
revolutionists. Professor Mechelin co-operated with the Russian liberals (Cadet Party).
In 1905, Russia suffered a humiliating military defeat to Japan
, which caused social unrest, and finally the Tsar gave up dictatorship in favour of the parliament (Dom). The Finnish Constitutionalists continued their resistance with the support of the socialists, and the Tsar let Mechelin found a government (senate
) and bring general and equal voting and election rights and human rights to Finland (1906). This was the end of the first oppression period (1899-1905).
The Women's Kagal was a sister organisation of the Kagal. Among its leaders was the Young Finn Doctor Tekla Hultin, who also supported activist and Jaeger movements
. The Women's Kagal distributed forbidden political literature, such as the underground newspaper Vapaita lehtisiä (Fria Ord).
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...
, the Kagal was a secret society
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
, founded under the period of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n oppression, in resistance to the oppressive government of Governor General Nikolai Bobrikov. The name (Finnish Kagaali, Swedish Kagal) comes via Russian (hence the -g- for an original -h-) from the Hebrew word qahal.
The central character of the Kagal is thought to have been Leo Mechelin
Leo Mechelin
Leopold Henrik Stanislaus Mechelin was a Finnish professor, statesman, senator and liberal reformer...
, an independent liberal, but notable lead characters also included Carl Mannerheim (older brother of Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim was the military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War, Commander-in-Chief of Finland's Defence Forces during World War II, Marshal of Finland, and a Finnish statesman. He was Regent of Finland and the sixth President of Finland...
), Adolf von Bonsdorff, Ernst Estlander, J. N. Reuter, Adolf Törngren and Wilhelm Zilliacus from the Swedish People's Party, and the Young Finns
Young Finnish Party
The Young Finnish Party or Constitutional-Fennoman Party was a liberal and nationalist political party in the Grand Duchy of Finland...
Eero Erkko, Th. Homén, Heikki Renvall and P. E. Svinhufvud
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud af Qvalstad , December 15, 1861 – February 29, 1944) was the third President of Finland from 1931 to 1937. Serving as a lawyer, judge, and politician in the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland, he played a major role in the movement for Finnish independence...
.
The Kagal was founded in the Turholma mansion in Laajasalo
Laajasalo
Laajasalo is a group of islands that forms a neighbourhood in southern Helsinki, the capital of Finland. As of 2005, it had a population of 16,486....
. The lord of the mansion, General Jacob Julius af Lindfors, had inherited his fortune from his father-in-law Henrik Borgström (1799-1883), who had risen from nothing to owning a house of commerce, and had been present in founding the Liberal Party and acted as a notable patron of the arts.
In a secret meeting, Leo Mechelin wrote a people's address to the Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
, which gathered 500 000 signatures (the country's population at the time was about 2.6 million). The signatures probably also included Svinhufvud, Erkko and Zilliacus, among others. The Tsar rejected the address and threatened conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
s with loss of study places and offices, but strikes organised by the Kagal had the effect that virtually no one arrived at the army enlistment, and finally the Tsar gave up implementing a mandatory draft.
Later, the Tsar granted Bobrikov full rights as a dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
, and expelled the lead characters of the Kagal from the country (1903). The Kagal continued to act from within Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
and other places. Most of the members stood by Mechelin's idea of non-violent resistance, but a minority wing led by writer Konni Zilliacus
Konni Zilliacus (senior)
Konrad Viktor Zilliacus was a Finnish independence activist involved in the Grafton Affair in 1905....
founded an Active Resistance Party, whose activists murdered oppression leaders, smuggled guns, and despite their right-wing politics, made alliances with the Russian socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
revolutionists. Professor Mechelin co-operated with the Russian liberals (Cadet Party).
In 1905, Russia suffered a humiliating military defeat to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, which caused social unrest, and finally the Tsar gave up dictatorship in favour of the parliament (Dom). The Finnish Constitutionalists continued their resistance with the support of the socialists, and the Tsar let Mechelin found a government (senate
Senate of Finland
The Senate of Finland combined the functions of cabinet and supreme court in the Grand Duchy of Finland from 1816 to 1917 and in the independent Republic of Finland from 1917 to 1918....
) and bring general and equal voting and election rights and human rights to Finland (1906). This was the end of the first oppression period (1899-1905).
The Women's Kagal was a sister organisation of the Kagal. Among its leaders was the Young Finn Doctor Tekla Hultin, who also supported activist and Jaeger movements
Finnish Jäger troops
The Jäger Movement were volunteers from Finland trained in Germany as Jägers during World War I. Supported by Germany to enable a Finnish sovereign state, it was one of many means by which Germany intended to weaken Russia and to cause Russia's loss of western provinces and...
. The Women's Kagal distributed forbidden political literature, such as the underground newspaper Vapaita lehtisiä (Fria Ord).