List of Finnish monarchs
Encyclopedia
This is a list of the monarchs of Finland
until it became a republic in 1919; that is, the King
s of Sweden
with Regent
s and Viceroy
s of the Kalmar Union
, the Grand Dukes of Finland (identical with the Tsar
s of Russia), up to the two-year Regent period following the independence in 1917, with a brief flirtation with a truly domestic monarchy
.
Some texts suggest the Swedish rule of Finland started as early as during the Houses of Sverker and Eric (Sverker I of Sweden
1130–1156 and Eric the Saint 1156–1160). But the first historic documents suggesting rule by Swedish kings in Finland not limited to sparse crusades and conquests are dated at around 1249.
The House of Bjelbo
Rulers of the Kalmar Union
The House of Vasa
The House of Hesse
The House of Romanov
The House of Hesse
For later heads of state after the proclamation of the republic, see List of Presidents of 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...
until it became a republic in 1919; that is, the King
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
s of 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....
with Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
s and 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...
s of the Kalmar Union
Kalmar Union
The Kalmar Union is a historiographical term meaning a series of personal unions that united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway , and Sweden under a single monarch, though intermittently and with a population...
, the Grand Dukes of Finland (identical with 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...
s of Russia), up to the two-year Regent period following the independence in 1917, with a brief flirtation with a truly domestic monarchy
Kingdom of Finland (1918)
The Kingdom of Finland was an abortive attempt to establish a monarchy in Finland, following Finland's independence from Russia. Had the German Empire endured, Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse would have been installed as King of Finland.-History:...
.
Part of the Kingdom of Sweden, from the Middle Ages until 1809
Finland as an integral part of Sweden under the King of Sweden (Ruotsin kuningas).Some texts suggest the Swedish rule of Finland started as early as during the Houses of Sverker and Eric (Sverker I of Sweden
Sverker I of Sweden
Sverker I or Sverker the Elder was King of Sweden from about 1130 till his death.-Biography:Sverker was a mighty landowner from Östergötland...
1130–1156 and Eric the Saint 1156–1160). But the first historic documents suggesting rule by Swedish kings in Finland not limited to sparse crusades and conquests are dated at around 1249.
The House of BjelboHouse of BjelboThe House of Bjelbo , also known as the House of Folkung , was an Ostrogothian Swedish family that provided for several medieval Swedish bishops, jarls and kings.- Name and origin :...
- 1250–1275 : Valdemar of Sweden (Valdemar Birgerinpoika)
- regent: Birger JarlBirger jarl, or Birger Magnusson, was a Swedish statesman, Jarl of Sweden and a member of the House of Bjelbo, who played a pivotal role in the consolidation of Sweden. Birger also led the Second Swedish Crusade, which established Swedish rule in Finland. Additionally, he is traditionally attributed to have...
- regent: Birger Jarl
- 1275–1290 : Magnus III of SwedenMagnus III of SwedenMagnus III Ladulås of Sweden, Swedish: Magnus Birgersson or Magnus Ladulås was King of Sweden from 1275 until his death in 1290....
(Maunu Ladonlukko) - 1290–1318 : Birger of Sweden (Birger Maununpoika)
- 1319–1364 : Magnus IV of SwedenMagnus IV of SwedenMagnus Eriksson as Magnus IV was king of Sweden , including Finland, as Magnus VII King of Norway , including Iceland and Greenland, and also ruled Scania . He has also vindictively been called Magnus Smek...
(Maunu IV)- co-kings, successively: Eric XII of SwedenEric XII of SwedenEric "XII" of Sweden was a rival king of Sweden of his father Magnus IV from 1356 to his death in 1359. He was married to Beatrix of Bavaria, daughter of Louis IV of Bavaria....
and Haakon I of Sweden, sons of Magnus IV
- co-kings, successively: Eric XII of Sweden
- 1363–1395 : Albert of Mecklenburg (Albrekt Mecklenburgilainen)
- 1385–87 in opposition: Olav IV of NorwayOlav IV of NorwayOlaf II Haakonsson was king of Denmark as Olaf II and king of Norway as Olaf IV . Olaf was son of King Haakon VI of Norway and the grandson of King Magnus IV of Sweden. His mother was Queen Margaret I of Denmark which made him the grandson of King Valdemar IV of Denmark...
(Olavi Haakoninpoika)
- 1385–87 in opposition: Olav IV of Norway
Rulers of the Kalmar UnionKalmar UnionThe Kalmar Union is a historiographical term meaning a series of personal unions that united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway , and Sweden under a single monarch, though intermittently and with a population...
and Regents (Valtionhoitaja, Riksföreståndare)
- 1389–1412 : Margaret I of ScandinaviaMargaret I of DenmarkMargaret I was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Although she acted as queen regnant, the laws of contemporary Danish succession denied her formal queenship. Her title in Denmark was derived from her...
(Margareeta), widow of King Haakon of Sweden, mother of Olav IV, and heiress of EstoniaEstoniaEstonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, a Danish dominion - 1396–1439 : Eric of Pomerania (Eerik XIII Pommerilainen, died 1459), a first cousin twice removed of Haakon I of Sweden
- 1438–1440 : Carl Knutsson Bonde, RegentCharles VIII of SwedenCharles VIII of Sweden , Charles I of Norway, also Carl, , was king of Sweden and king of Norway ....
(Kaarle Knuutinpoika) - 1441–1448 : Christopher of BavariaChristopher of BavariaChristopher of Bavaria or Christopher the Bavarian; as king named Christopher ; Danish and Norwegian: Christoffer af/av Bayern; Swedish Kristofer av Bayern was union king of Denmark , Sweden and Norway .-Biography:He was probably born at Neumarkt in...
(Kristoffer Baijerilainen) - 1448–1448 : Regents Bengt and Nils Jönsson Oxenstierna ((Pentti Jönsinpoika Häräntähti and Niilo Jönsinpoika Häräntähti))
- 1448–1457 : Charles VIII of SwedenCharles VIII of SwedenCharles VIII of Sweden , Charles I of Norway, also Carl, , was king of Sweden and king of Norway ....
(Kaarle VIII Knuutinpoika), he had been 1442–48 chatelain and margrave of Viipuri county - 1457–1457 : Regents Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna the archbishop and Eric Axelsson Tott ((arkkipiispa Jöns Pentinpoika and herra Eerik Akselinpoika))
- 1457–1464 : Christian I of Sweden (Kristian I)
- 1464–1465 : Charles VIII of SwedenCharles VIII of SwedenCharles VIII of Sweden , Charles I of Norway, also Carl, , was king of Sweden and king of Norway ....
(Kaarle VIII) - 1465–1465 : Regent Kettil Karlsson Vasa the bishop ((piispa Kettil Kaarlenpoika Vaasa))
- 1465–1466 : Regent Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna the archbishop
- 1466–1467 : Regent Eric Axelsson Tott, also 1457–81 chatelain and margrave of Viipuri county
- 1467–1470 : Charles VIII of SwedenCharles VIII of SwedenCharles VIII of Sweden , Charles I of Norway, also Carl, , was king of Sweden and king of Norway ....
(Kaarle VIII) - 1470–1497 : Regent Sten Sture the elder (Sten Sture vanhempi) - also, 1483–1501 chatelain and margrave of Viipuri county
- 1497–1501 : John II of Sweden (Hans of Denmark, Juhana II, Hannu, Tanskan Hannu)
- 1501–1503 : Regent Sten Sture the elder (Sten Sture vanhempi)
- 1504–1511 : Regent Svante Niilonpoika (Svante Niilonpoika, Ekesiön herra, he did not use the name of Sture)
- 1512–1512 : Regent Eric Trolle
- 1512–1520 : Regent Sten Sture the younger (Sten Sture nuorempi, he took the name of Sture of his great-grandmother's family, for imago reasons and for its prestige)
- 1520–1521 : Christian II of Sweden (Kristian II)
The House of VasaHouse of VasaThe House of Vasa was the Royal House of Sweden 1523-1654 and of Poland 1587-1668. It originated from a noble family in Uppland of which several members had high offices during the 15th century....
- 1521–1560 : Gustav I of SwedenGustav I of SwedenGustav I of Sweden, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known simply as Gustav Vasa , was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death....
(Kustaa I Vaasa)- As Gustav VasaGustav I of SwedenGustav I of Sweden, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known simply as Gustav Vasa , was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death....
, regent 1521–1523
- As Gustav Vasa
- 1560–1568 : Eric XIV of SwedenEric XIV of Sweden-Family and descendants:Eric XIV had several relationships before his marriage. With Agda Persdotter he had four daughters:#Margareta Eriksdotter , married 1592 to Olov Simonsson, vicar of Horn....
(Eerik XIV) - 1568–1592 : John III of SwedenJohn III of Sweden-Family:John married his first wife, Catherine Jagellonica of Poland , house of Jagiello, in Vilnius on 4 October 1562. In Sweden, she is known as Katarina Jagellonica. She was the sister of king Sigismund II Augustus of Poland...
(Juhana III), adopted title Grand Prince of Finland (Suomen suuriruhtinas) around 1580- As Duke John of FinlandJohn III of Sweden-Family:John married his first wife, Catherine Jagellonica of Poland , house of Jagiello, in Vilnius on 4 October 1562. In Sweden, she is known as Katarina Jagellonica. She was the sister of king Sigismund II Augustus of Poland...
acted as feudal lord of part of Finland Duke of FinlandDuke of FinlandDuke of Finland was an occasional medieval title granted as a tertiogeniture to the relatives of the King of Sweden between the 13th and 16th centuries. It included a duchy along with the feudal customs, and often meant a veritably independent principality...
and Governor-General of the rest 1556–1563
- As Duke John of Finland
- 1592–1599 : Sigismund of SwedenSigismund III VasaSigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599...
(Sigismund), also titled Grand Prince of Finland - 1599–1611 : Charles IX of SwedenCharles IX of SwedenCharles IX of Sweden also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1604 until his death. He was the youngest son of King Gustav I of Sweden and his second wife, Margaret Leijonhufvud, brother of Eric XIV and John III of Sweden, and uncle of Sigismund III Vasa king of both Sweden and Poland...
(Kaarle IX), "King of Finns"- As Duke CharlesCharles IX of SwedenCharles IX of Sweden also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1604 until his death. He was the youngest son of King Gustav I of Sweden and his second wife, Margaret Leijonhufvud, brother of Eric XIV and John III of Sweden, and uncle of Sigismund III Vasa king of both Sweden and Poland...
, regent 1599–1604
- As Duke Charles
- 1611–1632 : Gustav Adolph the greatGustavus Adolphus of SwedenGustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,...
(Kustaa II Aadolf), also titled Grand Prince of Finland - 1632–1654 : Christina of SwedenChristina of SwedenChristina , later adopted the name Christina Alexandra, was Queen regnant of Swedes, Goths and Vandals, Grand Princess of Finland, and Duchess of Ingria, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, from 1633 to 1654. She was the only surviving legitimate child of King Gustav II Adolph and his wife Maria Eleonora...
(Kristiina), also titled Grand Princess of Finland
The House of Pfalz-Zweibrücken
- 1654–1660 : Charles X Gustav of SwedenCharles X Gustav of SwedenCharles X Gustav also Carl Gustav, was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. After his father's death he also succeeded him as Pfalzgraf. He was married to Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, who...
(Kaarle X Kustaa), also titled Grand Prince of Finland - 1660–1697 : Charles XI of SwedenCharles XI of SwedenCharles XI also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1660 until his death, in a period in Swedish history known as the Swedish empire ....
(Kaarle XI), also titled Grand Prince of Finland - 1697–1718 : Charles XII of SwedenCharles XII of SwedenCharles XII also Carl of Sweden, , Latinized to Carolus Rex, Turkish: Demirbaş Şarl, also known as Charles the Habitué was the King of the Swedish Empire from 1697 to 1718...
(Kaarle XII), also titled Grand Prince of Finland - 1719–1720 : Ulrika Eleonora of SwedenUlrika Eleonora of SwedenUlrika Eleonora or Ulrica Eleanor , also known as Ulrika Eleonora the Younger, was Queen regnant of Sweden from 5 December 1718 to 29 February 1720, and then Queen consort until her death....
(Ulriika Eleonoora), also titled Grand Princess of Finland
The House of HesseHouse of HesseThe House of Hesse is a European royal dynasty from the region of Hesse, originally and still formally the House of Brabant.-History:The origins of the House of Hesse begin with the marriage of Sophie of Thuringia, daughter of Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia and Elizabeth of Hungary with Henry...
- 1720–1751 : Frederick I of SwedenFrederick I of SwedenFrederick I, , was a prince consort of Sweden from 1718 to 1720, and a King of Sweden from 1720 until his death and also Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1730...
(Fredrik I), also titled Grand Prince of Finland
The House of Holstein-Gottorp
- 1751–1771 : Adolf Frederick of SwedenAdolf Frederick of SwedenAdolf Frederick or Adolph Frederick was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death. He was the son of Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin and Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach....
(Aadolf Fredrik), Grand Prince of Finland - 1771–1792 : Gustav III of SwedenGustav III of SwedenGustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
(Kustaa III), Grand Prince of Finland- 1792–1796 : Charles, duke of SödermanlandCharles XIII of SwedenCharles XIII & II also Carl, , was King of Sweden from 1809 and King of Norway from 1814 until his death...
as Regent (Södermanlannin herttua Kaarle)
- 1792–1796 : Charles, duke of Södermanland
- 1792–1809 : Gustav IV Adolf of SwedenGustav IV Adolf of SwedenGustav IV Adolf of Sweden also Gustav Adolph was King of Sweden from 1792 until his abdication in 1809. He was the son of Gustav III of Sweden and his queen consort Sophia Magdalena, eldest daughter of Frederick V of Denmark and his first wife Louise of Great Britain. He was the last Swedish...
(Kustaa IV Aadolf), Grand Prince of Finland
Grand Principality of Finland in Russian Empire 1809–1917
The Grand Principality of Finland in the Russian Empire (1809–1917) with the Emperor of Russia as the Grand Prince of Finland (Suomen suuriruhtinas).The House of RomanovRomanovThe House of Romanov was the second and last imperial dynasty to rule over Russia, reigning from 1613 until the February Revolution abolished the crown in 1917...
- 1809–1825 : Alexander IAlexander I of RussiaAlexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
(Aleksanteri I) - 1825–1855 : Nicholas INicholas I of RussiaNicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
(Nikolai I) - 1855–1881 : Alexander IIAlexander II of RussiaAlexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
(Aleksanteri II) - 1881–1894 : Alexander IIIAlexander III of RussiaAlexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
(Aleksanteri III) - 1894–1917 : Nicholas IINicholas II of RussiaNicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
(Nikolai II)
Interim period 1917–19
Regents (valtionhoitaja) using the powers reserved for the monarch.- May 27, 1918 – December 12, 1918 : Pehr Evind SvinhufvudPehr Evind SvinhufvudPehr 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...
- December 12, 1918 – July 26, 1919 : Carl Gustaf Emil MannerheimCarl Gustaf Emil MannerheimBaron 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...
The House of HesseHouse of HesseThe House of Hesse is a European royal dynasty from the region of Hesse, originally and still formally the House of Brabant.-History:The origins of the House of Hesse begin with the marriage of Sophie of Thuringia, daughter of Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia and Elizabeth of Hungary with Henry...
- October 9, 1918 - December 14, 1918 : Frederik Kaarle IPrince Frederick Charles of HesseFrederick Charles Louis Constantine, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse , Friedrich Karl Ludwig Konstantin Prinz und Landgraf von Hessen-Kassel in German, was the brother-in-law of the German Emperor William II and the elected King of Finland from 9 October to 14 December 1918.-Early life:Frederick was...
, King of FinlandKingdom of Finland (1918)The Kingdom of Finland was an abortive attempt to establish a monarchy in Finland, following Finland's independence from Russia. Had the German Empire endured, Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse would have been installed as King of Finland.-History:...
For later heads of state after the proclamation of the republic, see List of Presidents of Finland.
See also
- Monarchy of FinlandMonarchy of FinlandThe nation of Finland has never been an independent sovereign monarchy: no attempt to establish one was crowned with success. When it finally became established as a modern independent nation-state, it was— despite a very brief flirtation with monarchy—in the form of a republic.-Early...
- President of FinlandPresident of FinlandThe President of the Republic of Finland is the nation's head of state. Under the Finnish constitution, executive power is vested in the President and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers. The President is elected directly by the people of Finland for a term of six years....
- Prime Minister of FinlandPrime Minister of FinlandThe Prime Minister is the Head of Government of Finland. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, who is the Head of State. The current Prime Minister is Jyrki Katainen of the National Coalition Party.-Overview:...
- List of Swedish monarchs
- Governors-General of SwedenGovernors-General of SwedenA 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...
- List of Russian rulers
- 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:...
- Duke of FinlandDuke of FinlandDuke of Finland was an occasional medieval title granted as a tertiogeniture to the relatives of the King of Sweden between the 13th and 16th centuries. It included a duchy along with the feudal customs, and often meant a veritably independent principality...
- Ancient kings of FinlandAncient kings of FinlandAlmost nothing is known about the Ancient kings of Finland. Even though no record of ancient kings in Finland exists, prehistoric Finland probably had chieftains called "kings", as the loanword kuningas, "king", has existed in the same meaning in the Finnish language since early Germanic times,...
- Kings of KvenlandKings of Kvenland-Icelandic sagas:Despite the fact that the legendary title "King of Kvenland" appears widely used in various contexts, it is mentioned only once in sagas: Faravid in Egil's saga is directly said to be the "King of Kvenland"...
- List of Danish monarchs
- List of Swedish monarchs
- List of Norwegian monarchs
- List of Greenlandic rulers
- List of Icelandic rulers