Governor-General of Finland
Encyclopedia
Governor-General of Finland ; was the military commander and the highest administrator of Finland sporadically under Swedish rule in the 17th and 18th centuries and continuously in the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland
between 1808 and 1917.
, the Governor-General's position was permanent. He was Vicar of the Emperor, who was not personally present in Helsinki
, but resided in St Petersburg, just outside Finnish borders. The Governor-General was constitutionally the chairman of the Senate of Finland
, the government in the autonomous Grand Duchy. The chairmanship he represented, with two votes in the Senate, belonged to the Grand Duke of Finland, a title held by the Emperor of Russia. The Governor-General was the highest representative of the Emperor and received his instructions directly from the Imperial Government in Saint Petersburg.
Finnish citizenship was not required of the Governor-General, contrary to all other highest positions such as senators and the Minister-Secretary of State
. Most Governors-Generals were Russians, men whom the Emperor trusted as counterparts of potential Finnish separatism. Many of them, up to baron Rokassovski, however were also made Finnish subjects, by granting them a Finnish nobility
rank.
Many of the Governors-Generals were disliked by the Finnish population. The first man on the post, Georg Magnus Sprengtporten
, resigned after only a year while another, Nikolai Bobrikov
, was assassinated
in 1904 by the Finnish nationalist Eugen Schauman
. On the other hand, several Governor-Generals worked in a way that guaranteed the Finnish autonomy in face of the interests of ministers of the Imperial Court.
The Governor-General between 1831 and 1855, Prince Menshikov
, sojourned his entire term in St Petersburg, being simultaneously the Russian Minister of Navy. Gubernatorial duties in Helsinki were cared for by the deputy Governor-General. For most of the term, in that position was general Alexander Amatus Thesleff.
Grand Duchy of Finland
The Grand Duchy of Finland was the predecessor state of modern Finland. It existed 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire and was ruled by the Russian czar as Grand Prince.- History :...
between 1808 and 1917.
Swedish rule
After the final abolition of the Duchy of Finland and related feudal privileges in the late 16th century, the King of Sweden sporadically granted most or all of Finland under a specially appointed governor-general, who took care of the matters in the eastern part of the country more or less according to his own best judgement. Best known of these officials is count Per Brahe whose reign is still referred to in Finland as the "count's days" (kreivin aikaan), meaning something positive that happens just in time.List of Swedish Governors-General of Finland
Translation in- Nils BielkeNils Turesson BielkeNils Turesson Bielke 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 in 1602 when he became Kansliråd, deputy director of the kingdom; in 1605 he became governor of...
(1623–31) - Gabriel OxenstiernaGabriel OxenstiernaBaron Gabriel Gustafsson Oxenstierna was a Swedish statesman.Born either in Tyresö, Sweden, or in Reval , he was the son of Privy Councillor Gustaf Gabrielsson Oxenstierna and Barbro Axelsdotter Bielke...
(1631–34) - Per Brahe (1637–40, 1648–54)
- Gustav Evertsson HornGustav Evertsson HornBaron Gustav Evertsson Horn of Marienburg was a Finnish-Swedish military and politician. He was a member of the Privy Council of Sweden and Governor General....
(1657–58) - Herman Fleming (1664–69)
- Henrik von Rehbinder (1672-80)
- Carl Nieroth (1710–12)
- Gustaf Friederich von Rosen (13 February 1747–1752)
Russian rule
During the time when Finland was a part of the Russian EmpireRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, the Governor-General's position was permanent. He was Vicar of the Emperor, who was not personally present in 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...
, but resided in St Petersburg, just outside Finnish borders. The Governor-General was constitutionally the chairman of the Senate of Finland
Senate of Finland
The Senate of Finland combined the functions of cabinet and supreme court in the Grand Duchy of Finland from 1816 to 1917 and in the independent Republic of Finland from 1917 to 1918....
, the government in the autonomous Grand Duchy. The chairmanship he represented, with two votes in the Senate, belonged to the Grand Duke of Finland, a title held by the Emperor of Russia. The Governor-General was the highest representative of the Emperor and received his instructions directly from the Imperial Government in Saint Petersburg.
Finnish citizenship was not required of the Governor-General, contrary to all other highest positions such as senators and the Minister-Secretary of State
Finnish Minister Secretary of State
The Minister–Secretary of State for Finland represented Finnish interests in the Imperial Court in Saint Petersburg. Before 1834 the title was secretary of state...
. Most Governors-Generals were Russians, men whom the Emperor trusted as counterparts of potential Finnish separatism. Many of them, up to baron Rokassovski, however were also made Finnish subjects, by granting them a Finnish nobility
Finnish nobility
The Finnish nobility was historically a privileged class in Finland, deriving from its period as part of Sweden and the Russian Empire. Noble families and their descendants are still a part of Finnish republican society today, but except for the titles themselves, no longer retain any specific or...
rank.
Many of the Governors-Generals were disliked by the Finnish population. The first man on the post, Georg Magnus Sprengtporten
Georg Magnus Sprengtporten
Count Georg Magnus Sprengtporten, or Göran Magnus Sprengtporten as he preferred to call himself, was a Swedish, Finnish and Russian politician, younger brother of Jacob Magnus Sprengtporten....
, resigned after only a year while another, Nikolai Bobrikov
Nikolai Ivanovich Bobrikov
Nikolay Ivanovich Bobrikov ; born on in St. Petersburg – June 16, 1904 in Helsingfors, Grand Duchy of Finland) was a Russian soldier and politician....
, was assassinated
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
in 1904 by the Finnish nationalist Eugen Schauman
Eugen Schauman
Eugen Schauman was a Finnish nationalist and nobleman who assassinated the Governor-General Nikolai Ivanovich Bobrikov.- Schauman's life :...
. On the other hand, several Governor-Generals worked in a way that guaranteed the Finnish autonomy in face of the interests of ministers of the Imperial Court.
The Governor-General between 1831 and 1855, Prince Menshikov
Alexander Sergeyevich Menshikov
Prince Aleksandr Sergeyevich Menschikov was a Finnish-Russian nobleman, military commander and statesman. He was made adjutant general in 1817 and admiral in 1833....
, sojourned his entire term in St Petersburg, being simultaneously the Russian Minister of Navy. Gubernatorial duties in Helsinki were cared for by the deputy Governor-General. For most of the term, in that position was general Alexander Amatus Thesleff.
List of Russian Governors-General of Finland
Translation in- Count Georg Magnus SprengtportenGeorg Magnus SprengtportenCount Georg Magnus Sprengtporten, or Göran Magnus Sprengtporten as he preferred to call himself, was a Swedish, Finnish and Russian politician, younger brother of Jacob Magnus Sprengtporten....
(December 1, 1808 - June 17, 1809) - Prince Michael Andreas Barclay de TollyMichael Andreas Barclay de TollyPrince Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly , was a Russian Field Marshal and Minister of War during Napoleon's invasion in 1812 and War of the Sixth Coalition.-Early life:...
(June 17 1809 - February 1, 1810) - Count Fabian SteinheilFabian SteinheilCount Fabian Gotthard von Steinheil was a Russian military officer, and the Governor-General of Finland between 1810 and 1824.Steinheil was born in Hapsal, Estonia...
(1810–1813) - Count Gustaf Mauritz ArmfeltGustaf Mauritz ArmfeltCount Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt was a Finnish and Swedish courtier and diplomat. In Finland, he is considered one of the great Finnish statesmen. Born in Tarvasjoki, Finland, he was the great grandson of Charles XII of Sweden's general, Carl Gustaf Armfeldt...
(1813) - Count Fabian SteinheilFabian SteinheilCount Fabian Gotthard von Steinheil was a Russian military officer, and the Governor-General of Finland between 1810 and 1824.Steinheil was born in Hapsal, Estonia...
(1814–1824) - Count Arseni Andreyevich ZakrevskiArseniy ZakrevskiyCount Arseny Andreyevich Zakrevsky was a Russian statesman and Minister of the Interior from April 19 of 1828 to November 19 of 1831....
(1824–1831) - Prince Alexander Menshikov (1831–1855)
- CountCountA count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
Friedrich Wilhelm Rembert von BergFriedrich Wilhelm Rembert von BergCount Friedrich Wilhelm Rembert von Berg was a Russian Field Marshal, and the Governor-General of Finland from 1855 to 1861....
(1855–1861) - BaronBaronBaron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
Platon Ivanovich Rokassovski (1861–1866) - Count Nikolay AdlerbergNikolay AdlerbergCount Nikolay Vladimirovich Adlerberg , Councilor of State, Chamberlain, governor of Taganrog, Simferopol and Finland.-Biography:Nikolay Adlerberg was born into a Swedish noble family of Adlerberg on May 19, 1819 in Saint Petersburg...
(1866–1881) - Count Feodor Logginovich Heiden (1881–1898)
- General Nikolai Ivanovich BobrikovNikolai Ivanovich BobrikovNikolay Ivanovich Bobrikov ; born on in St. Petersburg – June 16, 1904 in Helsingfors, Grand Duchy of Finland) was a Russian soldier and politician....
(August 29, 1898 - June 17, 1904) - Prince Ivan Mikhailovich Obolensky (August 18, 1904 - November 18, 1905)
- Nikolai Nikolajevich Gerhard (December 6, 1905 - February 2, 1908)
- Vladimir Aleksandrovich Boeckmann (February 2, 1908 - November 24, 1909)
- Franz Albert SeynFranz Albert SeynFranz Albert Seyn was a Russian general who was Governor-General of Finland between November 24, 1909 and March 16, 1917....
(November 24 1909 - March 16, 1917) - Mihail Aleksandrovich StahovichMihail Aleksandrovich StahovichMikhail Aleksandrovich Stakhovich was a Russian politician.Stakhovich was elected to the Duma in 1906 and again to the second Duma in 1907, leading the Party of Peaceful Renovation....
(March 31, 1917 - September 17, 1917) - Nikolai Vissarionovich NekrasovNikolai Vissarionovich NekrasovNikolai Vissarionovich Nekrasov was a Russian liberal politician and the last Governor-General of Finland.-Parliamentary career:...
(September 17 1917 - November 7, 1917)
See also
- Grand Duke of Finland
- Duke of FinlandDuke of FinlandDuke of Finland was an occasional medieval title granted as a tertiogeniture to the relatives of the King of Sweden between the 13th and 16th centuries. It included a duchy along with the feudal customs, and often meant a veritably independent principality...
- Diet of FinlandDiet of FinlandThe Diet of Finland , was the legislative assembly of the Grand Duchy of Finland from 1809 to 1906 and the recipient of the powers of the Swedish Riksdag of the Estates....
- Governor-General in the Swedish Realm
- Monarchy of FinlandMonarchy of FinlandThe nation of Finland has never been an independent sovereign monarchy: no attempt to establish one was crowned with success. When it finally became established as a modern independent nation-state, it was— despite a very brief flirtation with monarchy—in the form of a republic.-Early...
- Finnish Minister Secretary of StateFinnish Minister Secretary of StateThe Minister–Secretary of State for Finland represented Finnish interests in the Imperial Court in Saint Petersburg. Before 1834 the title was secretary of state...
- List of Finnish rulers