A Governor-General ( sv, generalguvernör) was appointed by the Swedish monarch as his permanent representative, with both civil and military jurisdiction, over parts of

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic countries, Nordic c ...

, from the 17th century to the early 19th century, when constitutional changes made the office obsolete. A

Governor-General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

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 A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the French word ''roy'', meaning " ...

is better reserved for the '' stattholder'', the representative of the Swedish monarch in

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of ...

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 Sweden proper ( sv, Egentliga Sverige) 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. Only the estates of ...

, today's

and

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bot ...

, and usually consisting of several

counties A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

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 A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mo ...

. The list of Governors-General given below is not complete. Some of those listed held the title of governor, not Governor-General.

Finland

The following were the Governors-General of

: * * Gabriel Bengtsson Oxenstierna (1631–) * Per Brahe the Younger (1637–; 1648–1654) * * (1664–1669) * * Carl Nieroth (1710–1712)

Ingria

The following were the Governors-General of

Ingria Ingria is a historical region in what is now northwestern European Russia. It lies along the southeastern shore of the Gulf of Finland, bordered by Lake Ladoga on the Karelian Isthmus in the north and by the River Narva on the border with Esto ...

: *

Carl Carlsson Gyllenhielm Baron Carl Carlsson Gyllenhielm (4 March 1574 – 17 March 1650) was a Swedish soldier and politician. He was made a baron (''friherre'') in 1615, appointed Field Marshal in 1616, Privy Councilor in 1617, Governor General of Ingria in 1617 an ...

(1617–) *

Nils Assersson Mannersköld Nils is a Scandinavian given name, a chiefly Norwegian, Danish, Swedish and Latvian variant of Niels, cognate to Nicholas. People and animals with the given name * Nils Bergström (born 1985), Swedish ice hockey player *Nils Björk (1898–1989), ...

(1626–1629) *

Johan Skytte Johan Skytte (1577, in Nyköping – 15 March 1645, in Söderåkra, Sweden) was a Swedish statesman, and the founder of the ''Academia Gustaviana'' (today's University of Tartu in Estonia), in 1632. He was a son of the mayor of Nyköping, Beng ...

(1629–1633) *

Bengt Bengtsson Oxenstierna Bengt Bengtsson Oxenstierna af Eka och Lindö, Baron of Eka and Lindö (1591 at Frösvik near Rydbo – 1643 in Riga, Swedish Livonia), in non-contemporary sources sometimes referred to as Resare-Bengt ''("Bengt the Traveller")'', was a Swedish d ...

(1634–1643) * Erik Stenbock (1651–1654) * Gustaf Evertsson Horn (1654–1657) *

Krister Klasson Horn af Åminne Krister is a Swedish variant of the Swedish masculine given name Christer and may refer to: *Krister Bringéus (born 1954), Swedish diplomat *Krister Classon (born 1955), Swedish comedian, actor, director and screenwriter *Krister Dreyer (born 1974 ...

(1657–1659) *

Simon Grundel-Helmfelt Baron Simon Grundel-Helmfelt (1617–1677) was a Swedish field marshal and governor.Alf ÅbergSimon Grundel-Helmfelt Riksarkivet.se, retrieved 28 August 2013 Helmfelt is most notable for his overwhelming victory at the Battle of Lund despite b ...

(1659) *

Jacob Johan Taube Jacob (; ; ar, يَعْقُوب, Yaʿqūb; gr, Ἰακώβ, Iakṓb), later given the name Israel, is regarded as a patriarch of the Israelites and is an important figure in Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jac ...

(1660–1668) *

(1668–1673) *

(1673–1681) *

Martin Schultz (von Ascheraden) Martin Schultz (or Shultz, Schulz) may refer to: * Martin Schulz (born 1955), former president of the European Parliament * Martin Schulz (paratriathlete) Martin Schulz (born 17 March 1990) is a PTS5 class paratriathlete who had his debut in t ...

(1681–1682) ''(governor)'' * Hans von Fersen d.ä. (1682–1683) ''(governor)'' * Göran Sperling (1683–1690) *

Otto Wilhelm von Fersen Otto Wilhelm von Fersen (1623, Reval – 1703, Kurna) 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 ...

(1691–1698) *

Otto Vellingk Count Otto Ottoson Vellingk (1649- 1708) was a Swedish general during the Great Northern War. Biography He was born in Jama in Swedish Ingria to Otto Gotthardsson Vellingk and Christina Nilsdotter Mannersköld. In 1664, Vellingk became a lie ...

(1698–1708)

Estonia

The following were the Governors-General of

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, an ...

: *

Anders Torstenson Count Anders Torstenson (20 January 16418 November 1686), Swedish statesman, son of Lennart Torstenson and member of the Privy Council, was from 1674 to 1681 Governor-General of Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a c ...

(1674–1681) *

Robert Lichton Robert Lichton (1631–1692) (a.k.a.: Leighton, Lichtoun, Lichtone, Lyton), Lord of Ulishaven, Forfarshire, Scotland and Lord of Tervik. He was a Lieutenant General in the Swedish Army and President of the Superior Court of Justice (hovrätt) at Å ...

(1681–1687) *

Nils Turesson Bielke Nils Turesson Bielke (5 November 1569 – 17 December 1639) was a Swedish statesman, member of the privy council, son of Ture Pedersson Bielke. Career Nils Turesson Bielke was an ardent supporter of Duke Carl which rewarded his fidelity ...

(1687) *

Axel Julius De la Gardie Axel Julius de la Gardie (1637–1710) 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 ...

(1687–1704) *

Wolmar Anton von Schlippenbach Wolmar Anton von Schlippenbach (1653–1721) was Governor General of Swedish Estonia from 1704 to 1706. Biography Born in Livonia, into the Schlippenbach noble family participated as a captain in the Swedish army Scanian War under Charles XI and s ...

(1704–1706) *

Niels Jonsson Stromberg af Clastorp Niels Jonsson Stromberg af Clastorp (March 25, 1646 – August 16, 1723) was a Swedish soldier and Governor-General of Swedish Estonia from 1706 to 1709. He was born with the family name Brattman which was ennobled to Strömberg in 1674, and aft ...

(1706–1709) * Carl Nieroth (1709–1710)

Livonia

The following were the Governors-General of

Livonia Livonia ( liv, Līvõmō, et, Liivimaa, fi, Liivinmaa, German and Scandinavian languages: ', archaic German: ''Liefland'', nl, Lijfland, Latvian and lt, Livonija, pl, Inflanty, archaic English: ''Livland'', ''Liwlandia''; russian: Ли ...

: *

Jacob De la Gardie Field Marshal and Count Jacob Pontusson De la Gardie ( Reval, 20 June 1583 – Stockholm, 22 August 1652) was a statesman and a soldier of the Swedish Empire, and a Marshal from 1620 onward. He was Privy Councilor from 1613 onward, Governo ...

(1622–1628) *

(1629–1634) * Bengt Oxenstierna (1634–1643) *

Herman Wrangel Herman Wrangel (born 1584/1587 – 10 December 1643) was a Swedish military officer and politician of Baltic German extraction. Biography Herman von Wrangel was born in Livonia. He came to Sweden around 1608. In 1612, he participated in th ...

(1643) * Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie (1655–) *

Jacob Johan Hastfer Jacob Johan Hastfer (11 December 1647 Tallinn – 24 December 1695 Riga) was a Swedish officer and governor of the Livonia province between 1687 and 1695. References * 1647 births 1695 deaths Politicians from Tallinn Baltic-German peo ...

(1687–1695) *

Erik Dahlberg '' Count Erik Jönsson Dahlbergh (10 October 162516 January 1703) was a Swedish military engineer, Governor-general and Field marshal. He rose to the level of nobility through his military competence. As an architect and draftsman, he was reno ...

(1696–1702) *

Carl Gustaf Frölich Count Carl Gustaf Frölich (163714 March 1714) was a Sweden, Swedish military officer of German descent, Riga Governor in 1700-1706 and infantry general. He was the brother of a Pietist writer and mystic Eva Margareta Frölich (1650-1692) and ...

(1702–1706) *

Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt (15 April 1659 – 12 February 1719) was a Swedish general, particularly known for his participation in the Great Northern War. Biography He was born on 15 April 1659 in a Swedish fortified camp near Copenhagen. He atten ...

(1706–1709) *

Henrik Otto Albedyll Henrik Otto von Albedyll (1666 —1738), was a Swedes, Swedish freiherr and military officer of German Baltic origin. In 1719 he was acting General Governor of Swedish Livonia. Biography Henrik Otto von Albedyl was born in a family of an old ...

(1709) *

(1709–1710)

Karelia

The following were the Governors-General of

Karelia Karelia ( Karelian and fi, Karjala, ; rus, Каре́лия, links=y, r=Karélija, p=kɐˈrʲelʲɪjə, historically ''Korjela''; sv, Karelen), the land of the Karelian people, is an area in Northern Europe of historical significance fo ...

: *

(1629–1634)

Scania

The Scanian Dominion ( sv, Skånska Generalguvernementet), was established after the

Treaty of Roskilde The Treaty of Roskilde (concluded on 26 February ( OS), or 8 March 1658) ( NS) during the Second Northern War between Frederick III of Denmark–Norway and Karl X Gustav of Sweden in the Danish city of Roskilde. After a devastating defeat ...

in 1658 and initially included all of

Skåneland Skåneland ( Swedish and Danish) or Skånelandene ( Danish) is a region on the southern Scandinavian peninsula. It includes the Swedish provinces of Blekinge, Halland, and Scania. The Danish island of Bornholm is traditionally also include ...

. In 1660, Bornholm was returned to Denmark.

Blekinge Blekinge (, old da, Bleking) is one of the traditional Swedish provinces (), situated in the southern coast of the geographic region of Götaland, in southern Sweden. It borders Småland, Scania and the Baltic Sea. It is the country's sec ...

, which had been part of Kristianstad County while under the dominion, was removed in 1680 and placed under

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 counties are mainly administrative units. ...

. The dominion was suspended in 1670, but recreated during the

Scanian War The Scanian War ( da, Skånske Krig, , sv, Skånska kriget, german: Schonischer Krieg) was a part of the Northern Wars involving the union of Denmark–Norway, Brandenburg and Sweden. It was fought from 1675 to 1679 mainly on Scanian soil, ...

. 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 Scania, also known by its native name of Skåne (, ), is the southernmost of the historical provinces (''landskap'') of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous with Skån ...

only. The following were the Governors-General of Scania: *

Gustaf Otto Stenbock Count Gustaf Otto Stenbock (7 September 1614 – 24 September 1685) was a Swedish soldier and politician. He was son of Friherre Gustav Eriksson Stenbock (1575–1629) and Countess Beata Margareta Brahe (1583–1645), born in Torpa, Länghem ...

(1658–1664) (

Bornholm Bornholm () is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea, to the east of the rest of Denmark, south of Sweden, northeast of Germany and north of Poland. Strategically located, Bornholm has been fought over for centuries. It has usually been ruled by ...

was returned to

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

in 1660.) * Gustaf Persson Banér (1664–1669) *

Fabian von Fersen Baron Fabian von Fersen (February 7, 1626 – July 30, 1677) was a Swedish general, freelord, field-marshal and governor general of Skåne, Halland and Blekinge. He served the Swedish Empire in multiple wars and received appointments Field ...

(1676–1677) * Göran Sperling (1677–1679) * Johan Gyllenstierna (1679–1680) *

Rutger von Ascheberg Count Rutger von Ascheberg (2 June 1621 – 17 April 1693), also known as Roger 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, Gover ...

(1680–1693) (Bohus County added 1675; Blekinge removed 1680.) The following were the Governors-General of Scania (the province only): *

(1693–1698) *

Carl Gustaf Rehnskiöld Carl may refer to: * Carl, Georgia, city in USA * Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name * Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of ...

(July 4, 1698 – December 27, 1705) *

Magnus Stenbock Count Magnus Stenbock (22 May 1665 – 23 February 1717) was a Swedish field marshal ('' Fältmarskalk'') and Royal Councillor. A renowned commander of the Carolean Army during the Great Northern War, he was a prominent member of the Sten ...

(December 27, 1705–1711) *

Jacob Burenskiöld Jacob (; ; ar, يَعْقُوب, Yaʿqūb; gr, Ἰακώβ, Iakṓb), later given the name Israel, is regarded as a patriarch of the Israelites and is an important figure in Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Isla ...

(1711–1716) * Carl Gustaf Skytte (1716–1719) *

Carl Gustaf Hård Carl may refer to: *Carl, Georgia, city in USA *Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name *Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of tel ...

(1717–1719) *

Johan Christopher Toll Count Johan Christopher Toll (1 February 1743 – 21 May 1817), Swedish statesman and soldier, was born at Mölleröd in Scania (now part of Hässleholm Municipality, Skåne County). Toll came of an ancient family, of Dutch origin, which can b ...

(February 9, 1801 – March 27, 1809)

Prussia

The following were the Governors-General of

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an e ...

: *

Axel Oxenstierna Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna af Södermöre (; 1583–1654), Count of Södermöre, was a Swedish statesman. He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1609 and served as Lord High Chancellor of Sweden from 1612 until his death. He was a c ...

(1626–1631)

Pomerania

The following were the Governors-General of

Pomerania Pomerania ( pl, Pomorze; german: Pommern; Kashubian: ''Pòmòrskô''; sv, Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The western part of Pomerania belongs to ...

: *1631–1633

Klas Horn Baron Klas Kristersson Horn (1517 – September 9, 1566) was a Finnish born, Swedish nobleman and Naval Admiral who fought for Sweden in the Northern Seven Years' War of 1563–1570. Biography Horn was born at Åminne Manor in Halikko, Finla ...

*1633–1638

Sten Svantesson Bielke Sten Svantesson Bielke, also Steno Bielke, (1598 – 2 AprilÖhman (2005), p.213 1638)Wild (2000), p.63Giese (2003), p.85 was a statesman of the Swedish Empire. Bielke studied in Uppsala and Tübingen before he became chamberlain of Gustavus Ado ...

*1638–1641

Johan Banér Johan Banér (23 June 1596 – 10 May 1641) was a Swedish field marshal in the Thirty Years' War. Early life Johan Banér was born at Djursholm Castle in Uppland. As a four-year-old he was forced to witness how his father, the Privy Councillo ...

*1641–1648 Lennart Torstenson *1648–1650

Carl Gustaf Wrangel '' Fältmarskalk'' Carl Gustaf Wrangel (also Carl Gustav von Wrangel; 23 December 1613 – 5 July 1676) was a Swedish Statesman and Military Commander who commanded the Swedish forces in the Thirty Years', Torstenson, Bremen, Second Nort ...

*1650–1652 Johan Axelsson Oxenstierna *1652–1661(?)

Axel Lillie Count Axel Lillie, also spelled Lillje (23 July 1603 – 20 December 1662) was a Swedish soldier and politician. He was appointed Lieutenant Governor General of Pomerania in 1643, Privy Councilor in 1648, Governor General of Pomerania in 1 ...

*1661–1676(?)

*1678–1679 ''possessed by Brandenburg'' *1679–1685

Otto Wilhelm Königsmarck Count Otto Wilhelm Königsmarck (5 January 1639 – 5 September 1688) was a Swedish military officer from Minden. He attained the rank of field marshal in 1676, commanded the Battle of Stralsund (1678), and became Governor General for Swedish ...

*1687–1698

Nils Bielke Count Nils Bielke (7 February 1644 in Stockholm – 26 November 1716) 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 b ...

*1698–1711 Jürgen Mellin *1715–1720 ''possessed by Prussia and Denmark'' *1720–1747 Johan August Meijerfeldt d.ä. *1748–1766

Axel Löwen Axel Löwen (1 November 1686 – 25 July 1773) was a count and Swedish Knight of the Seraphim, Commander of the Order of the Sword and privy counsellor. Löwen was a volunteer in the Fortification Corps in 1702, got his main military education ...

*1766–1772 Hans Henrik von Liewen d.y. *1772–1776 Fredrik Carl Sinclair *1776–1791

Fredrik Vilhelm von Hessenstein Frederick William, Prince von Hessenstein (17 March 1735, Stockholm — 27 July 1808, Panker), was a Swedish soldier and statesman. He was an extramarital son of King Frederick I of Sweden and his royal mistress Hedvig Taube. Biography King ...

*1792–1796

Eric Ruuth Eric Ruuth (24 October 1746 – 25 May 1820) 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 the company that would eventually bec ...

*1796–1800 Philip von Platen *1800–1807

Hans Henric von Essen Count Hans Henric von Essen (26 September 1755 – 28 June 1824) was a Swedish officer, courtier and statesman. Biography Hans Henric von Essen was born at Kavlås Castle in Tidaholm Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. He was a ...

*1807–1809 ''possessed by France'' *1811–1812 Carl Mörner af Tuna *1813-1815 Wilhelm Malte zu Putbus *1815 ce''ded to Prussia''

Bremen-Verden

The following were the Governors-General of

Bremen-Verden ), which is a public-law corporation established in 1865 succeeding the estates of the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen (established in 1397), now providing the local fire insurance in the shown area and supporting with its surplusses cultural effor ...

: * Jurgen Mellin (1696–1698) * Nils Carlsson Gyllenstierna af Fogelvik (1698–1711) * Mauritz von Vellingk (1711–1712)

References

{{reflist

Finland

Ingria

Estonia

Livonia

Karelia

Scania

Prussia

Pomerania

Bremen-Verden

References

See also