Horn of Kankas
Encyclopedia
The Kankas noble family, otherwise known as Horn, is a noble
family from Finland
of medieval frälse.
Its first known member, Olof Mattsson, was documented between 1381 and 1415, having a seat in Halikko
, near the present town of Salo. His seal
featured the figure of a drinking horn
. The family became one of the most prominent in Finland at the end of Middle Ages. In the 16th century, the use of the word signifying their horned logo became established as surname.
Its head, Sir Claes Christersson Horn (1518-66), was among the first to be created friherre (baron) in Sweden
, which took place at the coronation
of Eric XIV of Sweden
in 1560. Friherre Claes got the title Baron of Åminne (fi. Joensuu).
(1512-95), who held his seat in Masku
which is nearer to Turku than Halikko.
Sir Henrik Horn (Marienborg) (1618-93) was created friherre of the barony of Marienborg in Livonia in 1651 by queen Christina of Sweden
. His male line went extinct in 1728. He was a nephew of Gustav, Count of Björneborg (fi. Pori).
. However, he did not leave any sons.
Sir Arvid Horn
(1664-1742), the future President of the Chancellery of Sweden and the head of its government, a great-great-grandson of Sir Henry, was created Baron of Ekebyholm in 1700, and in 1706 Count of Ekebyholm, both creations by king Charles XII of Sweden
. His male line went extinct in 1798.
Baron Fredrik Horn (1725-96) of the Åminne branch, the genealogical
head of the house, lieutenant general
, was created Count
on 12 September 1772 by king Gustav III of Sweden
.
"...En skjöld genom ett gyllende utbögdt korss fördeld i fyra fält, och mitt uppå korsset en hjertskjöld, hvaruti förekommer theras gamla friherrliga stamvapn, et svart på yttre kanten liggande krumt horn i gyllende fäldt. Utaf fördelningarne i grefve vapnet är then första och fierde blå, hvarutinnan Vi efterlåte them at föra Vårt namns chifre, nämligen ett latinskt G och theruti ett romersk III af guld, krönt med en gyllende kongelig krona. I thet andra och tredje fäldtet, som begge äro röda, förekommer en blå till höger vänd och något bögd vänster arm, omknuten ofvan för armbogen med ett hvitt kläde, varandes handen beklädd med med en köllerfärgad cavalleriehandske och icke mer än främsta fingret utsträckt. Ofvan på skjölden ses trenne öpna krönte torner-hjelmar. Uppå den medlersta hjelm-kronan ses tvänne svarta uprättstående naturligt bögde horn och theremellan en stående och strålar från sig kastande vase af guld. Utur then högra hjelmkronan upräcker tvenne blåsande estandar, det högra blått, tecknat med trenne gyllende kronor, och thet vänstra af guld, hvaruppå ses augusti månads teckn n p och therunder ett romerskt XIX, och emellan begge thesse estandar ses en uprätt stående trompet af guld. Uppå then vänstra hjelmkronan åter ses en i generals uniform uppå en svart häst ridande man, till höger vänd, med utdragen värja, varandes thess vänstra arm omknuten med ett hvitt kläde. Skjöldhållare äro, till höger en gyllende grip med utsträckte vingar och tunga samt till vänster en svart häst, begge tilbaka seende och upreste, ståndande lika som skjölden uppå en grönskande mark. Aldeles som thet i thetta Vårt gifna bref med sina rätta färgor afmålat och afritat är..."
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
family from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
of medieval frälse.
Its first known member, Olof Mattsson, was documented between 1381 and 1415, having a seat in Halikko
Halikko
Halikko is a former municipality of Finland that existed until December 31, 2008. On January 1, 2009 the municipality was merged with the larger neighboring Salo. Before the merge Halikko had become a rapidly urbanizing rural area....
, near the present town of Salo. His seal
Seal (device)
A seal can be a figure impressed in wax, clay, or some other medium, or embossed on paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document ; but the term can also mean the device for making such impressions, being essentially a mould with the mirror image of the design carved in sunken- relief or...
featured the figure of a drinking horn
Drinking horn
A drinking horn is the horn of a bovid used as a drinking vessel. Drinking horns are known from Classical Antiquity especially in Thrace and the Balkans, and remained in use for ceremonial purposes throughout the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period in some parts of Europe, notably in Germanic...
. The family became one of the most prominent in Finland at the end of Middle Ages. In the 16th century, the use of the word signifying their horned logo became established as surname.
Its head, Sir Claes Christersson Horn (1518-66), was among the first to be created friherre (baron) in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, which took place at the coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
of Eric XIV of Sweden
Eric XIV of Sweden
-Family and descendants:Eric XIV had several relationships before his marriage. With Agda Persdotter he had four daughters:#Margareta Eriksdotter , married 1592 to Olov Simonsson, vicar of Horn....
in 1560. Friherre Claes got the title Baron of Åminne (fi. Joensuu).
Other branches
A genealogically junior branch descended from baron Claes' uncle, knight Henrik Klasson HornHenrik Klasson Horn
Horn, Henrik Klasson af Kanckas was a Swedish army commander, officer and gentleman of Kanka. He was the son of the Privy Councillor Klas Henriksson Horn and his second wife Kristina, and cousin of the commander Klas Kristersson Horn....
(1512-95), who held his seat in Masku
Masku
Masku is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Finland Proper region. The municipality, which is located just north of Turku, has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich...
which is nearer to Turku than Halikko.
Sir Henrik Horn (Marienborg) (1618-93) was created friherre of the barony of Marienborg in Livonia in 1651 by queen Christina of Sweden
Christina of Sweden
Christina , later adopted the name Christina Alexandra, was Queen regnant of Swedes, Goths and Vandals, Grand Princess of Finland, and Duchess of Ingria, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, from 1633 to 1654. She was the only surviving legitimate child of King Gustav II Adolph and his wife Maria Eleonora...
. His male line went extinct in 1728. He was a nephew of Gustav, Count of Björneborg (fi. Pori).
Counts
Sir Gustav Horn (1592-1657), general, a grandson of Henry, was created Count of Björneborg in 1561 by queen Christina of SwedenChristina of Sweden
Christina , later adopted the name Christina Alexandra, was Queen regnant of Swedes, Goths and Vandals, Grand Princess of Finland, and Duchess of Ingria, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, from 1633 to 1654. She was the only surviving legitimate child of King Gustav II Adolph and his wife Maria Eleonora...
. However, he did not leave any sons.
Sir Arvid Horn
Arvid Horn
Count Arvid Bernhard Horn of Ekebyholm was a Swedish soldier, diplomat and politician. He served twice as President of the Privy Council Chancellery and was one of the leading figures of the Swedish Age of Liberty.- Soldier and diplomat :He was born Arvid Bernhard Horn in Vuorentaka ,...
(1664-1742), the future President of the Chancellery of Sweden and the head of its government, a great-great-grandson of Sir Henry, was created Baron of Ekebyholm in 1700, and in 1706 Count of Ekebyholm, both creations by king Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII also Carl of Sweden, , Latinized to Carolus Rex, Turkish: Demirbaş Şarl, also known as Charles the Habitué was the King of the Swedish Empire from 1697 to 1718...
. His male line went extinct in 1798.
Baron Fredrik Horn (1725-96) of the Åminne branch, the genealogical
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
head of the house, lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
, was created Count
Count
A 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...
on 12 September 1772 by king Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
.
Description of the Coat of Arms
In Swedish: Vapenbeskrivning"...En skjöld genom ett gyllende utbögdt korss fördeld i fyra fält, och mitt uppå korsset en hjertskjöld, hvaruti förekommer theras gamla friherrliga stamvapn, et svart på yttre kanten liggande krumt horn i gyllende fäldt. Utaf fördelningarne i grefve vapnet är then första och fierde blå, hvarutinnan Vi efterlåte them at föra Vårt namns chifre, nämligen ett latinskt G och theruti ett romersk III af guld, krönt med en gyllende kongelig krona. I thet andra och tredje fäldtet, som begge äro röda, förekommer en blå till höger vänd och något bögd vänster arm, omknuten ofvan för armbogen med ett hvitt kläde, varandes handen beklädd med med en köllerfärgad cavalleriehandske och icke mer än främsta fingret utsträckt. Ofvan på skjölden ses trenne öpna krönte torner-hjelmar. Uppå den medlersta hjelm-kronan ses tvänne svarta uprättstående naturligt bögde horn och theremellan en stående och strålar från sig kastande vase af guld. Utur then högra hjelmkronan upräcker tvenne blåsande estandar, det högra blått, tecknat med trenne gyllende kronor, och thet vänstra af guld, hvaruppå ses augusti månads teckn n p och therunder ett romerskt XIX, och emellan begge thesse estandar ses en uprätt stående trompet af guld. Uppå then vänstra hjelmkronan åter ses en i generals uniform uppå en svart häst ridande man, till höger vänd, med utdragen värja, varandes thess vänstra arm omknuten med ett hvitt kläde. Skjöldhållare äro, till höger en gyllende grip med utsträckte vingar och tunga samt till vänster en svart häst, begge tilbaka seende och upreste, ståndande lika som skjölden uppå en grönskande mark. Aldeles som thet i thetta Vårt gifna bref med sina rätta färgor afmålat och afritat är..."
Sources
- Finnish House of Nobility, Horniana
- Anthoni, Finlands medeltida frälse
- Carpelan, Ättartavlor
- Kaarlo Blomstedt, Horn suvun alkuhistoriaa, HArk
- Jully Ramsay, Frälsesläkter i Finland intill Stora ofreden
- Publications of the Swedish House of Nobility