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The Finns appear for the first time in a written history when Tacitus mentions Fenni in his Germania. It is unclear, however, if the reference was actually to what is now modern Finland. An early Scandinavian documents mentions a "land of the Finns". Trading and raiding contacts between Sweden and what is now Finland was considerable during the pre-Christian times. There does not appear to have been any major Scandinavian settlement. Christianity began to gain a foothold (11th century). Soon afterwards Finland became part of the Swedish realm. Finland was ruled by the Swedes for over 600 years. Russia acquired Finland during the Napoleonic Wars (1809). Finland obtained its independance after the Russian Revolution. The Soviet Union after signing the Non-Agression Pact with the NAZIs attacked Poland (September 1939) and then after demanding bases from the Baltic countries, attacked Finland in the Winter War. They suffered sizeable losses, but eventually prevailed, extracting substantial concessions from the Finns (1940). To regain the lost land, the Finns fought as co-belgerants with the NAZIs after Htler invaded the Soviet Union (June 1941). The failure of the NAZIs to defeat the Soviets eventually forced the Finns to seek terms from the Soviets. The Finns managed to maintain their independence and persued neutral policies during the Cold war. The Finns have joined the European Union.
Archaeologists have found evidence of human habitation (about 100,000 BC).
The Finns appear for the first time in a written history when Tacitus mentions Fenni in his Germania. It is unclear, however, if the reference was actually to what is now modern Finland. Many historians believe that he was referring to the Lapps. An early Scandinavian documents mentions a "land of the Finns". The Scadanavians were the northern German tribes. The Finns were of different, but poorly understood origins.
Trading and raiding contacts between Sweden and what is now Finland was considerable during the pre-Christian times. There does not appear to have been any major Scandinavian settlement.
Christianity began to gain a foothold (11th century).
Finland for much of its history was ruled by Sweden. Soon afterwards Christianity began to spread, Finland became part of the Swedish realm.
The Swedes conquered Finland (12th century). The Swedish conquest and Christinization were part of the Northern Crusades which was also conducted against the Balts to the south. The conquest of Finland began in the south. King Erik of Sweden and the English-born Bishop Henry (Henrik) led the First Crusade in south-western Finland (1150s). This brought the Baltic coastal areas under Swedish control. Birger, Earl of Sweden, led the Second Crusade, attacking the interior province of Tavastia (Häme, Tavastland) (1238-49).
Tyrgils Knutsson led Sweden's Third Crusade against Finland (1293). This brought Karelia or eastern Finland ybder Swedish control. The Swedish conquest of Finland established the northern boundary between the Catholic west and the Orthodox east. The Swedes to secure their Finnish territory built fortified castles at Turku (Åbo), Häme (Tavastehus) and Viipuri (Viborg) (late 13th century). The Finns managed to gain a level of autonomy when Finland was made a grand duchy (16th century). Finland was ruled by the Swedes for over 600 years.
Tsar Alexander I Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte meet on the River Navra to avoid war (1807). Alexander agrees to join in to Napoleon's Continental System and blockade Britain. As part of this arrangement, Alexander commits to convincing Sweden to join the embrgo. This requires military action. Thr Tsarist Army defeats Sweden in the Finnish War (1808-09). As a result, Sweden loses Finland. This is confirmed at the Congress of Vienna,
Russia acquired Finland during the Napoleonic Wars (1809). Sweden was forced to cede Finland to Russia. The Russians as they did in the southern Baltic area, accepted the existing constitutional arrangements. Thus conntinued to be a Grand Duchy with its own constitution and parliament. This made Finland an anomally within the absolutist Russian Empire. These arrangements were confirmed in the first meeting of a separate Diet. Finland under the Russians were thus able to retain its own legal code and its social order.
This including the free status of the peasantry. At the time Russia's rural society was still based on serfdom. The Finns wre also allowed to retain their Protestant (Lutheran) religion. The Russians join "Old Finland" to the Grand Duchy (1812). The Russians also desinate Helsinki (Helsingfors) as the capital.
Finland's universityb is movced from Turku to Helsinki (1828). Finland like the rest of Europe was affected by the French Revolution and Napoleon. One of the impcts was the risng force of nationalism. Elias Lönnrot publishes the first edition of the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic (1835).
The Tsarist goverment as part of its general Russification effort moved to gain greater control over Finland (1890s).
Finland was part of the Russian Empire. Thus Finns fought with the Tsarist Army when war broke out (August 1914). The most noted Finnish soldier involved in the War was Gustaf Mannerheim. He was promoted to Major General (1911). He was the commander of the Emperor's Uhlans of the Guard which was deployed in Warsaw. Perhaps because he was not Russian he had good relations with the Poles. He was thus in Poland when World War broke out. He fought against the Austrians, first as a brigade commander and then as the commander of the 12th Cavalry Division. He was awarded the the Cross of St George, the highest Tsarist military decoration (1914). He was promoted to Lieutenant-General and and commanded the 6th Cavalry Corps deployed on the southern front.
The Russian Revolution gave the Finns the opportunity to achieve independence. The vast power of Russia had been weakened by first World war I and than the Russian Revolution. With the collapse of the Russian Army and the Bolshevick Revolution (October 1917), Mannerheim made his way back to Finland (December 1917). Finland had declared its independence. The result was chaos. There were 40,000 Russian soldiers in Finland and the Bolsheviks were contesting the streets with the new Government. Mannerheim was the highest ranking Finnish Tsarist officer. The Finnish Senate assigned Mannerheim the responsibility of forming a Finnish national army and establishing order. Mannerheim's used his troops to disarm the Russian garrisons in the north. When the revolutionary Red Guards attempted to seize power in the south, civil war broke out. Fighting lasted 3 moths. Mannerheim's White Army emerged victorious (May 1918). After this achievement, Mannerheim's relations with the Senate souered. The primary issue was the Sente's generally pro-German policy. Germny's defeat of the Russians had made Finnish independence policy. Mannerheim believed that a pro-German policy left Finland vulnerable if Germany lost the War in the West, which of corse is precisely what transpired. Mannerheim resigned and left Finland. He was able to influence Allied policy toward Finland. When Germany capitulated (November 1918), the political situation shifted and he was called back (December 1918). He was appointed regent. (Finland was still theoreticlly a monarchy.)
The Finns established a republic (1919). Finland's held its first presidential election (Summer 1919). Mannerheim was defeated by K.J. Ståhlberg. Mannerheim participated in creating the constitution of the Republic of Finland (July 1919). Mannerheim wanted Finland to fight the Bolshevicks in the Russian Civil War. He failed in this effort and retired to private life. He worked with charities, including the Red Cross. He founded the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (1920).An extensive land reform program broke up the large estates and made 90 opercent of the farmers who had been tennant farmers land owners. Finland joined the League of Nations. The Government gave little attention to the military. The country maintained only a small army and did not have modern airplanes or tanks.
The Soviet Union after signing the Non-Agression Pact with the NAZIs as they attacked Poland and launched World War II (September 1939). The Soviets allacked from the east afew days later. After seizing eastern Poland, Stlalin looked north and demanded the demilitarization of Finnish fortifications facing Lenningrad (Mannerheim Line) and the cession of military bases. The Sovierts were making similar demands on the Baltic Republics which in a secret codicil of the NAI-Soviet Non-Agression Pact (1939) had been relegated to Soviet control. The Finn's refused the Soviet demand and the Siviets invaded. Stalin was stunned at Finnish resistance in the Winter War (1939-40). The Red Army sufferd heavy losses, but eventually prevailed. A peace treaty transferred sections of the Karelian Penninsula, Vyborg, and border territories to the Soviets (March 1940). Hitler noted the poor performance of the Red Army in the War.
Finland joined in the NAZI invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941). To regain the lost land, the Finns fought as co-belgerants with the NAZIs after Htler invaded the Soviet Union (June 1941). The Finns limited their operations to recovering the lost territory. The limited Finnish participation in the NAZI war with the Soviets were a key factor in the Soviet success in stopping the Wehrmacht at Lenningrad. When the resurgence oif the Red Army, Finland was forced to capituale again to Soviet forces. The Soviets required the Finns in addition to the territories ceeded in 1940 to cede Petsamo and lease Porkkala area. They also had to expel German forces fighting in northern Finland which resulted in coinsiderable destruction.
The Finns managed to maintain their independence and persued neutral policies during the Cold war. The Finns have joined the European Union.
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