The history of

Åland Åland ( , ; ) is an Federacy, autonomous and Demilitarized zone, demilitarised region of Finland. Receiving its autonomy by a 1920 decision of the League of Nations, it is the smallest region of Finland by both area () and population (30,54 ...

can be traced back to roughly 4000 BC, when

humans Humans (''Homo sapiens'') or modern humans are the most common and widespread species of primate, and the last surviving species of the genus ''Homo''. They are Hominidae, great apes characterized by their Prehistory of nakedness and clothing ...

first reached the

archipelago An archipelago ( ), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands. An archipelago may be in an ocean, a sea, or a smaller body of water. Example archipelagos include the Aegean Islands (the o ...

in the

Neolithic The Neolithic or New Stone Age (from Ancient Greek, Greek 'new' and 'stone') is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Mesopotamia, Asia, Europe and Africa (c. 10,000 BCE to c. 2,000 BCE). It saw the Neolithic Revo ...

period.Early history. (2014, September 25). Visit Åland. https://www.visitaland.com/en/good-to-know/history/early-history/ Retrieved 25 August 2021 Several

Bronze Age The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...

villages have been found on Åland. During the

Viking Age The Viking Age (about ) was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonising, conquest, and trading throughout Europe and reached North America. The Viking Age applies not only to their ...

, six

hillforts A hillfort is a type of fortified refuge or defended settlement located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typical of the late European Bronze Age and Iron Age. Some were used in the post- Roman period. The forti ...

were built. Sweden controlled the Åland Islands from the 1200s until 1809, during which Kastelholm Castle was the focal point of many battles. In 1809, the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

took Åland and

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

. In 1854,

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

and French forces attacked Bomarsund. The Åland Islands were then demilitarised until 1906. In 1918, Swedish and

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

forces occupied the Åland Islands. After the

Finnish Civil War The Finnish Civil War was a civil war in Finland in 1918 fought for the leadership and control of the country between Whites (Finland), White Finland and the Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic (Red Finland) during the country's transition fr ...

, Åland joined Finland following the

Åland Convention Åland ( , ; ) is an Federacy, autonomous and Demilitarized zone, demilitarised region of Finland. Receiving its autonomy by a 1920 decision of the League of Nations, it is the smallest region of Finland by both area () and population (30,54 ...

of 1921.

Geology and prehistory

Paleolithic period

Around 18,000 BC, during the Weichselian glaciation, a thick cover of ice stretched over

Scandinavia Scandinavia is a subregion#Europe, subregion of northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can sometimes also ...

, which eventually receded from the islands around 9000 BC. Around 8000 BC the highest peaks of the then submerged archipelago rose from the

Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by the countries of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and the North European Plain, North and Central European Plain regions. It is the ...

.Stone Age Åland
Retrieved 29 August 2006. The sea levels would alternate in the Baltic Sea, but a

land bridge In biogeography, a land bridge is an isthmus or wider land connection between otherwise separate areas, over which animals and plants are able to cross and colonize new lands. A land bridge can be created by marine regression, in which sea le ...

to Åland never formed, indicating the first humans came by

boat A boat is a watercraft of a large range of types and sizes, but generally smaller than a ship, which is distinguished by its larger size or capacity, its shape, or its ability to carry boats. Small boats are typically used on inland waterways s ...

or over the ice. Due to the

post-glacial rebound Post-glacial rebound (also called isostatic rebound or crustal rebound) is the rise of land masses after the removal of the huge weight of ice sheets during the last glacial period, which had caused isostatic depression. Post-glacial rebound an ...

after the icecaps melted, the area around Åland is still rising several millimeters per year, marginally expanding the archipelago's surface.

Neolithic period

Artifacts of human remains,

pottery Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other raw materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. The place where such wares are made by a ''potter'' is al ...

and animal

bones A bone is a rigid organ that constitutes part of the skeleton in most vertebrate animals. Bones protect the various other organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells, store minerals, provide structure and support for the body, an ...

were found dating as far back as the

Middle Neolithic The Neolithic or New Stone Age (from Greek 'new' and 'stone') is an archaeological period, the final division of the Stone Age in Mesopotamia, Asia, Europe and Africa (c. 10,000 BCE to c. 2,000 BCE). It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wi ...

(ca. 4000 BC). These are the oldest findings, denoting human presence on the isles by then. Their cultures were

n, firstly the

Pitted Ware culture The Pitted Ware culture ( 3500 BC– 2300 BC) was a hunter-gatherer culture in southern Scandinavia, mainly along the coasts of Svealand, Götaland, Åland, north-eastern Denmark and southern Norway. Despite its Mesolithic economy, it ...

and later joined by the

Comb Ceramic culture The Comb Ceramic culture or Pit-Comb Ware culture, often abbreviated as CCC or PCW, was a northeast European culture characterised by its Pit–Comb Ware. It existed from around 4200 BCE to around 2000 BCE. The bearers of the Comb Ceramic cultu ...

. Around this time is when the first primitive agriculture began.

Bronze Age

Many

villages have been found on Åland. Ceramics and animal bones have been found on Kökar. Signs of livestock have been found from the Bronze Age on Åland.

Viking age

Dense settlements were built on

Fasta Åland Fasta Åland ( or , meaning mainland Åland) is the largest and most populous island of Åland, an autonomous province of Finland. The island is home to the provincial capital Mariehamn. About ninety percent of the archipelago's population lives ...

during this time. Large burial grounds have been found on Åland as well. Arabic mint coins from 400 C.E. have been found on Åland. On Åland, there are six

from this period. There was extensive trade with other areas, as far as

Arabia The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world. Geographically, the ...

. The first signs of Christianity were found from the Middle Ages.

Middle Ages

The first wooden churches were built on Åland. The Åland Islands might have been occupied by Eric the Saint, other sources claim Åland was already an integral part of Sweden. The first stone churches were built in the 1300s to 1400s on Åland. When construction began on Kastelholm Castle is not exactly known, but it most likely began in the 1380s. Kastelholm is first mentioned in 1388. Many noble families lived on Åland. The Franciscan order founded a

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

on Hamnö in Kökar in the 1400s. Åland joined the

Kalmar Union The Kalmar Union was a personal union in Scandinavia, agreed at Kalmar in Sweden as designed by Queen Margaret I of Denmark, Margaret of Denmark. From 1397 to 1523, it joined under a single monarch the three kingdoms of Denmark, Sweden (then in ...

Swedish rule

In 1507 the Danish naval officer

Søren Norby Søren Norby, self-styled as Severin Norbi (died 1530), was a Danish leading naval officer in the fleets of Danish kings Hans I and Christian II. He commandeered the greatest ship of the Danish fleet in naval wars against Sweden and Lübeck. Nor ...

captured Kastelholm castle. Many battles would take place between the Danish and Swedish over Kastelholm between 1521 and 1523.

Gustav Vasa Gustav Eriksson Vasa (12 May 1496 – 29 September 1560), also known as Gustav I, was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death in 1560. He was previously self-recognised Protector of the Realm (''Reichsverweser#Sweden, Riksföreståndare'') fr ...

made Åland a royal castle county in 1537. He also established three large breeding farm estates. Catholicism came to an end on Åland. The monasteries were closed, and the churches and monasteries had to give their silver to the state. Åland became part of the

Swedish Empire The Swedish Empire or the Great Power era () was the period in Swedish history spanning much of the 17th and early 18th centuries during which Sweden became a European great power that exercised territorial control over much of the Baltic regi ...

, and many Ålanders were enrolled for war. The postal service was given a permanent route which went from

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

Turku Turku ( ; ; , ) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of Southwest Finland. It is located on the southwestern coast of the country at the mouth of the Aura River (Finland), River Aura. The population of Turku is approximately , while t ...

through Åland. Between 1665 and 1668 the Kastelholm witch trials took place on Åland. Over 20 women were accused of witchcraft and executed. The first school was founded on Åland in the 1600s in

Saltvik Saltvik is a municipality of Åland, an autonomous territory of Finland. The total area is 1 161,8 km2, of which 150,7 km2 is land, 4,7 km2 lakes and 1006,4 km2 sea. The archipelago north of Saltvik is perhaps the most beauti ...

. During the

Great Northern War In the Great Northern War (1700–1721) a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in Northern Europe, Northern, Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the ant ...

, many Ålanders fled west from the advancing Russians. The Battle of Grengam took place in Åland during the Great Northern War on 7 August 1720. During the

Napoleonic Wars {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Napoleonic Wars , partof = the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , image = Napoleonic Wars (revision).jpg , caption = Left to right, top to bottom:Battl ...

, the Russians occupied Åland in 1808. The

Treaty of Fredrikshamn The Treaty of Fredrikshamn, or the Treaty of Hamina, was a peace treaty concluded between Sweden and Imperial Russia on 17 September 1809. The treaty concluded the Finnish War and was signed in the Finnish town of Fredrikshamn ( Hamina). Russia ...

was signed by Russia and Sweden. Finland and Åland were ceded to Russia.

Russian rule

Following the Finnish War, Åland was incorporated into the Russian Empire in 1809. In 1829, construction began on the fortress of Bomarsund. British Prime Minister Palmerston protested against the fortification, but without effect. During the

Crimean War The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the Second French Empire, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861), Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont fro ...

, the Anglo-French coalition attacked and destroyed Bomarsund in 1854 during the

Battle of Bomarsund The Battle of Bomarsund, in August 1854, took place during the Åland War, which was part of the Crimean War, when an Anglo- French expeditionary force attacked a Russian fortress. It was the only major action of the war to take place at ...

. After the war, the Treaty of Paris prohibited further fortification of the islands.

Malaria Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and ''Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, Fatigue (medical), fatigue, vomitin ...

was endemic in Åland for at least 150 years, largely due to the abundance of '' Anopheles claviger'' mosquitoes. Severe outbreaks were recorded in the 18th century and in 1853 and 1862. Several infrastructure and cultural developments took place during Russian rule. A telegraph cable connected

Mariehamn Mariehamn ( , ; ; ) is the capital of Åland, an autonomous territory under Finnish sovereignty. Mariehamn is the seat of the Government and Parliament of Åland, and 40% of the population of Åland live in the city. It is mostly surrounded b ...

to Nystad in 1877. In 1882, Lemström’s canal opened to ship traffic. The Önningeby artists' colony was established in 1886. The first telephone was installed in Mariehamn in 1892. A Russian garrison was established in 1906. In 1907, the secret Treaty of Björkö between Russia and Germany gave Russia a free hand to place military forces on the islands. Russia, citing the need to stop smuggling of arms into Finland, stationed significant naval and military forces on Åland, despite the earlier Treaty of Paris.

World War I

When

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

broke out in 1914, Russia began constructing new fortifications on Åland. Forts were built on Saggö, Börkö, Sålis, Frebbenby, Mellantrop, Kungsö, Korsö, Herrö, Storklobb, and Kökar. During this period, many Ålanders wished to join Sweden. A referendum on Åland showed that 95% supported unification with Sweden. After Finland declared independence from Russia in 1917, Finnish troops landed to take control of Åland. Sweden sent troops on 13 February 1918. The Finnish Whites took Boxö and Saggö, while Finnish Reds landed on Åland on 17 February 1918. Fighting took place at Godby between the Whites and Reds, with the Whites prevailing. German forces landed on Åland on 28 February 1918.

Interwar period

In 1918 the islanders internationally pled to reunite with Sweden. In 1919 Sweden brought the question before the Paris Peace Conference on 18 March, but the islands remained part of Finland. Also in 1919, the 1919 Ålandic status referendum took place, where the islanders had an unofficial referendum to integrate into Sweden. In 1921 the

Åland convention Åland ( , ; ) is an Federacy, autonomous and Demilitarized zone, demilitarised region of Finland. Receiving its autonomy by a 1920 decision of the League of Nations, it is the smallest region of Finland by both area () and population (30,54 ...

re-established the demilitarised status of the islands.

References

* *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:History of Aland Aland