Västmanland
Encyclopedia
is a historical Swedish province
, or landskap, in middle Sweden
. It borders Södermanland
, Närke
, Värmland
, Dalarna
and Uppland
.
The name comes from "West men", referring to the people west of Uppland
, the core province of early Sweden.
serve no administrative or political purposes, but are historical and cultural entities. In the case of Västmanland the corresponding administrative county, Västmanland County
, constitutes the eastern part of the province. The western part is in Örebro County
.
: "Argent, in base tripple Mount Azure issuant from each Flames Gules." When crowned with a dukal coronet it represents the province. However rather different in size Västmanland County was granted the same CoA in 1943.
In the other parts it consists mostly of plains.
The largest lake is Mälaren
marking the southern border, Sweden's third largest lake.
Western Västmanland traditionally belonged to the mining district of Bergslagen
.
, founded sometime around 990. The city was once the provincial capital, and from 1120 the seat of the diocese of Västerås
. Västerås is today also the largest city in the province, with 130,000 inhabitants in the municipality
.
After that Arboga
, was chartered in the 12th century, Köping
in 1474, Sala
in 1624; Lindesberg
and Nora
both in 1643, and finally Fagersta
in 1944. With city status in Sweden
being abolished in 1971, these are solely historical titles.
The mines of Norberg
and Skinnskatteberg
began being in use in the 14th century. The mine of Lindesberg
was being cultivated in the early 16th century.
they were called mountain districts (bergslag), and in the rest of the province hundreds.
Provinces of Sweden
The provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....
, or landskap, in middle 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....
. It borders Södermanland
Södermanland
', sometimes referred to under its Latin form Sudermannia or Sudermania, is a historical province or landskap on the south eastern coast of Sweden. It borders Östergötland, Närke, Västmanland and Uppland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea.In Swedish, the province name is...
, Närke
Närke
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Svealand in south central Sweden. It is bordered by Västmanland to the north, Södermanland to the east, Östergötland to the southeast, Västergötland to the southwest, and Värmland to the northwest...
, Värmland
Värmland
' is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. It is also bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are Vermelandia and Wermelandia. Although the province's land originally was Götaland, the...
, Dalarna
Dalarna
', English exonym: Dalecarlia, is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. Another English language form established in literature is the Dales. Places involving the element Dalecarlia exist in the United States....
and Uppland
Uppland
Uppland is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea...
.
The name comes from "West men", referring to the people west of Uppland
Uppland
Uppland is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea...
, the core province of early Sweden.
Administration
The traditional provinces of SwedenProvinces of Sweden
The provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....
serve no administrative or political purposes, but are historical and cultural entities. In the case of Västmanland the corresponding administrative county, Västmanland County
Västmanland County
Västmanland County is a county or län in central Sweden. It borders to the counties of Södermanland, Örebro, Gävleborg, Dalarna and Uppsala...
, constitutes the eastern part of the province. The western part is in Örebro County
Örebro County
Örebro County is a county or län in central Sweden. It borders the counties of Västra Götaland, Värmland, Dalarna, Västmanland, Södermanland and Östergötland.- Province :...
.
Heraldry
The coat of arms was granted in 1560. At the time it featured one fire mountain, to represent the mine of Sala Municipality. Soon, their numbers were increased to three, to also symbolize the Lindesberg and Norberg/Skinnskatteberg mines and the present blazon was ratified in 1943. BlazonBlazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
: "Argent, in base tripple Mount Azure issuant from each Flames Gules." When crowned with a dukal coronet it represents the province. However rather different in size Västmanland County was granted the same CoA in 1943.
Geography
The terrain is to the north and north-west rocky. In these parts the highest mountains are located: Älvhöjden with 422 meters, and Gillersklack with 408 meters.In the other parts it consists mostly of plains.
The largest lake is Mälaren
Mälaren
Lake Mälaren is the third-largest lake in Sweden, after Lakes Vänern and Vättern. Its area is 1,140 km² and its greatest depth is 64 m. Mälaren spans 120 kilometers from east to west...
marking the southern border, Sweden's third largest lake.
- National parks: FärnebofjärdenFärnebofjärdenFärnebofjärden is a Swedish National Park in Uppsala County and Gävleborg County, on the border between Svealand and Norrland around the lower Dalälven River.-External links:* from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency...
Western Västmanland traditionally belonged to the mining district of Bergslagen
Bergslagen
Bergslagen is a historically, culturally, and linguistically distinct mining district located north of Lake Mälaren in northern Svealand, Sweden. In Bergslagen mining and metallurgic industry have been important since the Middle Ages...
.
History
The oldest city of Västmanland is VästeråsVästerås
Västerås is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 km west of Stockholm...
, founded sometime around 990. The city was once the provincial capital, and from 1120 the seat of the diocese of Västerås
Diocese of Västerås
Attribution The entry cites:**Historiskt-geographiskt och statistiskt Lexikon ofver Sverige, VII , 316-18;**FANT, Scriptores rerum Svecicarum ;...
. Västerås is today also the largest city in the province, with 130,000 inhabitants in the municipality
Västerås Municipality
Västerås Municipality is a municipality in Västmanland County in central Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Västerås....
.
After that Arboga
Arboga
Arboga is a locality and the seat of Arboga Municipality in Västmanland County, Sweden with 10,369 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:The city of Arboga is known to have existed as a town since the 13th century but the area has been inhabited since around 900 AD...
, was chartered in the 12th century, Köping
Köping, Sweden
Köping is a locality and the seat of Köping Municipality in Västmanland County, Sweden. It had 17,358 inhabitants in 2005. It is known for the television series I en annan del av Köping.- History :...
in 1474, Sala
Sala, Sweden
Sala is a locality and the seat of Sala Municipality in Västmanland County, Sweden with 12,059 inhabitants in 2005.- History :The small town is best known for its historical silver mine, which dates back to at least Medieval times, and was in operation until 1908...
in 1624; Lindesberg
Lindesberg
Lindesberg is a locality and the seat of Lindesberg Municipality, Örebro County, Sweden with 8,752 inhabitants in 2005.- History :Lindesberg has centuries old history, being the center of an old mining district. The earliest known traces of a town are in the foundations of the 14th century stone...
and Nora
Nora, Sweden
Nora is a locality and the seat of Nora Municipality, Örebro County, Sweden with 6,496 inhabitants in 2005.Despite its small population, Nora is referred to as a "city" for historical reasons. Statistics Sweden, however, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants as...
both in 1643, and finally Fagersta
Fagersta
Fagersta is a locality and the seat of Fagersta Municipality in Västmanland County, Sweden, with 10,890 inhabitants in 2005.- Geography :The city is located at the junction of two railways between Ludvika-Västerås and Avesta -Örebro, in the heart of the historic Bergslagen region which is rich in...
in 1944. With city status in Sweden
City status in Sweden
Stad is a Swedish term which nominally means town but can also encompass the English word "city". Since 1971 stad has had no administrative or legal significance in Sweden and there exists no commonly accepted definition of the term.-History :...
being abolished in 1971, these are solely historical titles.
The mines of Norberg
Norberg
Norberg is a locality and the seat of Norberg Municipality in Västmanland County, Sweden with 4,634 inhabitants in 2005. Most known is the Norbergfestival which is Scandinavias biggest electronic music festival, organized in an old iron mine.- References :...
and Skinnskatteberg
Skinnskatteberg
Skinnskatteberg is a locality and the seat of Skinnskatteberg Municipality in Västmanland County, Sweden with 2,395 inhabitants in 2005.-External links:* - Official site...
began being in use in the 14th century. The mine of Lindesberg
Lindesberg
Lindesberg is a locality and the seat of Lindesberg Municipality, Örebro County, Sweden with 8,752 inhabitants in 2005.- History :Lindesberg has centuries old history, being the center of an old mining district. The earliest known traces of a town are in the foundations of the 14th century stone...
was being cultivated in the early 16th century.
Dukes of Västmanland
Since 1772, Swedish Princes have been created Dukes of various provinces. This is solely a nominal title.- Prince Erik (1889-1918)
Subdivisions
Västmanland was historically divided into districts. Within BergslagenBergslagen
Bergslagen is a historically, culturally, and linguistically distinct mining district located north of Lake Mälaren in northern Svealand, Sweden. In Bergslagen mining and metallurgic industry have been important since the Middle Ages...
they were called mountain districts (bergslag), and in the rest of the province hundreds.
|
|
|
|
External links
- Västmanland - Tourist site article Västmanland from Nordisk familjebokNordisk familjebokNordisk familjebok is a Swedish encyclopedia, published between 1876 and 1957.- History :The first edition was published in 20 volumes between 1876 and 1899. The first edition is known as the "Iðunn edition" because of the picture of Iðunn on the cover...
(1922)