Walhalla-orden
Encyclopedia
Walhalla-orden was a secret society
founded in the early part of 1783 in the Sveaborg(Finnish: Suomenlinna
) fortress outside Helsinki
, Finland
by Johan Anders Jägerhorn
along with Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm
. It is thought to have been instrumental in setting in motion forces that eventually caused Finnish independence.
. However, the Swedish counterpart withered quickly, while the Valhalla
society took root in the Suomenlinna fortress. In addition to the originating lodge in Sweden, they had a cabin called Cabin of the Holy Axel based in Turku
.
and Walhalla-orden, there were a number of societys of the like; a British inspired secret society of "kirvesmiehet" called Saint Carolinus' cabin and another unconnected society called Brothers of February the Seventeenth. On the frivolous side, there was also a "secret society" called "hypotenuse" society, which was primarily oriented around marathon-drinking; registering every shot of punch as a "working" in the meeting minutes.
in the troops of Erik the Holy
. In fact there was a brief time during which "St. Eriks" cabin was the Finnish locus of activities.
n roots, and the lodges for instance were called by a more archaic Scandinavian name. Even though the initiation ceremonies centered on a five part play expressing the history of the creation of the Swedish nation in allegorical fashion, the symbolic organizational structure was entirely Finnish without reference to Swedish counties or emblems.
, and the strong expectation of the conversations being oath bound to remain frank and confidential, means that it is inevitable that many seditious matters were broached, in one form or another, and it is a fact that nearly all of the people implicated in the Anjala conspiracy
, including its leadership, were members of it.
), it is thought that Walhalla society may have been the first time the thought of Finnish independence was mentioned as a serious idea. Indeed in the society, people floated the idea of Finland becoming a protectorate of Russia.
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 in the early part of 1783 in the Sveaborg(Finnish: Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna, until 1918 Viapori , or Sveaborg , is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands , and which now forms part of the city of Helsinki, the capital of Finland.Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage site and popular with both tourists and locals, who...
) fortress outside Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, 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...
by Johan Anders Jägerhorn
Johan Anders Jägerhorn
Johan Anders Jägerhorn af Spurila was a Finnish nobleman born in 8 April 1757 in Helsinki county. He was the eldest son of lieutenant colonel Fredrik Anders Jägerhorn and Ulrika Sofia Brunow...
along with Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm
Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm
Baron Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm , was a Swedish statesman.-Early career:...
. It is thought to have been instrumental in setting in motion forces that eventually caused Finnish independence.
Origins
It began as an off-shoot of an obscure Swedish quasi-masonic secret society called La Constance, created to bolster loyalty to the Swedish Constitution of 1772Swedish Constitution of 1772
Sweden's Constitution of 1772 took effect through a bloodless coup d'état carried out by King Gustav III, who had become king in 1771, establishing a brief absolute monarchy in Sweden. This was a response to perceived harm wrought upon Sweden by a half-century of parliamentarism during the...
. However, the Swedish counterpart withered quickly, while the Valhalla
Valhalla
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over by the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those that die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led by valkyries, while the other half go to the goddess Freyja's field Fólkvangr...
society took root in the Suomenlinna fortress. In addition to the originating lodge in Sweden, they had a cabin called Cabin of the Holy Axel based in Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
.
Historical context
Walhalla-orden was hardly unique to its period in Sveaborg; quite the contrary, besides A masonic lodgeMasonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
and Walhalla-orden, there were a number of societys of the like; a British inspired secret society of "kirvesmiehet" called Saint Carolinus' cabin and another unconnected society called Brothers of February the Seventeenth. On the frivolous side, there was also a "secret society" called "hypotenuse" society, which was primarily oriented around marathon-drinking; registering every shot of punch as a "working" in the meeting minutes.
Name
The walhalla orden originally was preceded by a lodge taking the name of an early ancestor of Jägerhorn, namely Rutger Ingesson, who according to legends inspired by the Song of Roland was a crusader knightKnight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
in the troops of Erik the Holy
Eric IX of Sweden
Eric "IX" of Sweden, , also called Eric the Lawgiver, Erik the Saint, Eric the Holy and in Sweden Sankt Erik meaning Saint Eric was a Swedish king c.1155 – 1160...
. In fact there was a brief time during which "St. Eriks" cabin was the Finnish locus of activities.
Symbology
The symbology it adopted drew from Gothic revivalist notions of ancient scandinaviaScandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n roots, and the lodges for instance were called by a more archaic Scandinavian name. Even though the initiation ceremonies centered on a five part play expressing the history of the creation of the Swedish nation in allegorical fashion, the symbolic organizational structure was entirely Finnish without reference to Swedish counties or emblems.
Development
It had begun on a strict loyalist foundation and stayed nominally in support of the constitution, but in actual reality the society quickly consisted mainly of officers stationed there who had a grievance with Gustav IIIGustav III of Sweden
Gustav 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....
, and the strong expectation of the conversations being oath bound to remain frank and confidential, means that it is inevitable that many seditious matters were broached, in one form or another, and it is a fact that nearly all of the people implicated in the Anjala conspiracy
Anjala conspiracy
The Anjala conspiracy of 1788 was a scheme by disgruntled Swedish officers to end Gustav III's Russian War of 1788–90. Declaring Finland an independent state was part of the plot, although it is disputed what importance the conspirators connected to that aspect.- Rising anger against the king...
, including its leadership, were members of it.
Activities
Though only few fragments of encrypted correspondence remain, and the archives likewise will have been burned to protect the members later implicated in plotting nefarious in the view of the crown (such as the Anjala conspiracyAnjala conspiracy
The Anjala conspiracy of 1788 was a scheme by disgruntled Swedish officers to end Gustav III's Russian War of 1788–90. Declaring Finland an independent state was part of the plot, although it is disputed what importance the conspirators connected to that aspect.- Rising anger against the king...
), it is thought that Walhalla society may have been the first time the thought of Finnish independence was mentioned as a serious idea. Indeed in the society, people floated the idea of Finland becoming a protectorate of Russia.