The Louhisaari

noble family Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. The characteris ...

, otherwise known as Fleming or Flemming, is a

Finnish Finnish may refer to: * Something or someone from, or related to Finland * Culture of Finland * Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland * Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people * Finnish cuisine See also ...

family of

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

frälse The Swedish nobility ( sv, Adeln eller Ridderskapet och Adeln) has historically been a legally and/or socially privileged class in Sweden, and part of the so-called ''frälse'' (a derivation from Old Swedish meaning ''free neck''). The archaic term ...

History

Its first certainly known male ancestor, Knight Peder Klasson (Sir Peder Fleming), is documented living yet in 1406. He came from Denmark to Sweden during the early reign of king

Eric XIII of Sweden Eric of Pomerania (1381 or 1382 – 24 September 1459) was the ruler of the Kalmar Union from 1396 until 1439, succeeding his grandaunt, Queen Margaret I. He is known as Eric III as King of Norway (1389–1442), Eric VII as King of Denmark (1 ...

and is buried in the

Riddarholm Church Riddarholmen Church ( sv, Riddarholmskyrkan) is the church of the former medieval Greyfriars Monastery in Stockholm, Sweden. The church serves as the final resting place of most Swedish monarchs. Riddarholmen Church is located on the island o ...

, Stockholm. He was probably son of a Claus Fleming who between 1331 and 1354 is mentioned as bailiff of Barth in the Pomeranian

principality of Rügen The Principality of Rügen; da, Fyrstendømmet Rygien; pl, Księstwo rugijskie; la, Rugia was a Danish principality, formerly a duchy, consisting of the island of Rügen and the adjacent mainland from 1168 until 1325. It was governed by a loc ...

(a Danish fief) and had in principle the same Coat of Arms. The name of the family denotes some of its origin to

Flanders Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to cultu ...

. When having first settled in the eastern part of Sweden (modern-day Finland), they soon became assimilated with the country, having married from among natives and grown into local societal activities. They inherited Louhisaari manor (in Swedish ''Villnäs'') in Finland Proper (located in the modern-day municipality of

Masku Masku () is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southwest Finland region. The municipality, which is located about just north of Turku, has a population of () and covers an area of of w ...

). The family was one of the most prominent in Finland at the end of Middle Ages. The then head of the house, sir Lars Fleming (died 1562), governor of the

Stockholm Palace Stockholm Palace or the Royal Palace ( sv, Stockholms slott or ) is the official residence and major royal palace of the Swedish monarch (King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia use Drottningholm Palace as their usual residence). Stockholm Pala ...

, was among the first ones to ever be created

friherre (; male, abbreviated as ), (; his wife, abbreviated as , literally "free lord" or "free lady") and (, his unmarried daughters and maiden aunts) are designations used as titles of nobility in the German-speaking areas of the Holy Roman Empire ...

in Sweden, which took place in the

coronation A coronation is the act of placement or bestowal of a crown upon a monarch's head. The term also generally refers not only to the physical crowning but to the whole ceremony wherein the act of crowning occurs, along with the presentation of ot ...

Eric XIV of Sweden Eric XIV ( sv, Erik XIV; 13 December 153326 February 1577) was King of Sweden from 1560 until he was deposed in 1569. Eric XIV was the eldest son of Gustav I (1496–1560) and Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg (1513–1535). He was also ruler of Est ...

on 29 June 1561. Baron Lars got the title ''Baron of Nynes'' (''Nynäs'') from one of his maternally inherited manors. His male line became extinct on 5 January 1569. His cousin, sir Klaus Eriksson Fleming (died 1535-1597), member of the

Privy Council of Sweden The Council of the Realm, or simply The Council ( sv, Riksrådet or sv, Rådet: sometimes in la, Senatus Regni Sueciae), was a cabinet of medieval origin, consisting of magnates ( sv, stormän) which advised, and at times co-ruled with, the Ki ...

, afterwards

Lord High Admiral of Sweden The Lord High Admiral or Admiral of the Realm ( sv, Riksamiral) was a prominent and influential office in Sweden, from c. 1571 until 1676, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The office holder was a member of the Swedish Privy Counci ...

Lord High Constable of Sweden The Lord High Constable ( sv, Riksmarsk or only ''Marsk'') was a prominent and influential office in Sweden, from the 13th century until 1676, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The office holder was a member of the Swedish Privy Cou ...

(''marsk'') and Governor General of Finland, was created on 2 August 1569 baron of the barony of Vik. His male line became extinct in the

Åbo Bloodbath The Åbo Bloodbath ( sv, Åbo blodbad; fi, Turun verilöyly) of 10 November 1599 was a public execution in the Finnish town of Turku (Åbo), then part of the Kingdom of Sweden, in the context of the War against Sigismund and the Club War. Swed ...

on 10 November 1599. When the Swedish House of Knights was established, the family of Fleming of Louhisaari, ''noble since time immemorial'', was registered there, under number 4 of untitled nobility. Sir Klas or Claes Larsson Fleming (Flemingvaesnsjigirhgarg) (1592–1644), was an admiral and the first

Governor of Stockholm The Governor of Stockholm ( sv, överståthållaren) was the head of the Office of the Governor of Stockholm ( sv, Överståthållarämbetet, ÖÄ), and as such he was the highest Swedish State official overseeing the affairs in the City of Stoc ...

(1634–1644) after the office was instituted by the

Instrument of Government The Instrument of Government was a constitution of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. Drafted by Major-General John Lambert in 1653, it was the first sovereign codified and written constitution in England. Antecedence The ' ...

of 1634. His children were elevated to the ''friherre'' rank on 26 March 1651 by queen

Christina of Sweden Christina ( sv, Kristina, 18 December ( New Style) 1626 – 19 April 1689), a member of the House of Vasa, was Queen of Sweden in her own right from 1632 until her abdication in 1654. She succeeded her father Gustavus Adolphus upon his death ...

, with the title Baron of Liebelitz, due to service and accomplishments of the late father. This lineage continues to present day. Sir Eric Fleming (1616–79), provincial governor, president, chamber councillor, afterwards Marshal of Nobility (''

lantmarskalk Lantmarskalk, ( en, Lord Marshal) was the title of one of the speakers of the Swedish Riksdag of the Estates, from 1627 to 1866 and of the Diet of Grand Duchy of Finland from 1809 to 1906. The Lantmarskalk was appointed by the Estate of the Nob ...

en'') was created Baron of Lais on 12 May 1654 by queen

. His male line became extinct 29 July 1786. Widow and children of Baron Claes Fleming af Liebelitz (1649–85), Marshal of Nobility,

Lord High Treasurer of Sweden The Lord High Treasurer (Swedish: ''Riksskattmästare'') was a highly prominent member of the Swedish Privy Council between 1602 and 1684, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The Lord High Treasurer was head of the ''Kammarkollegium'' ...

, president, a grandson of late sir Claes the admiral, were elevated on 10 December 1687 by king

Charles XI of Sweden Charles XI or Carl ( sv, Karl XI; ) was King of Sweden from 1660 until his death, in a period of Swedish history known as the Swedish Empire (1611–1721). He was the only son of King Charles X Gustav of Sweden and Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein- ...

to the

comital Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

rank with the title

Count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

to all male-line descendants. Their male line became extinct on 15 November 1729. Baron Claes Adolf Fleming (1771–1831), councillor of state,

was created count on 11 May 1818, but he did not leave any surviving male descendants. Some members of the family still live in Sweden and the United States, but the line ended in the

Finnish House of Nobility The House of Nobility either refers to the institution of the Finnish nobility or the palace of the noble estate. The Finnish nobility was until 1906 the first of the four estates of the realm. The Estate The estate of nobility existed fully st ...

in mid-19th century.

Notes

References

* Publications of Swedish House of Lords

External links

Swedish-language article
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fleming Of Louhisaari Finnish noble families