Finland

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Finland

[Flag of Sweden]
                c.1154 - 29 Mar 1809

[Russian flag]
            29 Mar 1809 - 6 Dec 1917

[Finland Merchant Ensign 1809-21]
             Merchant Flag 1809 - 1821

Finland Temporary State Flag (1918)
             6 Dec 1917 - 29 May 1918
                Temporary State Flag

Finland Temporary Merchant Ensign (1918)
            27 Feb 1918 - 29 May 1918
           Temporary Merchant Ensign

Finland State Flag (1918-1920)
             29 May 1918 - 26 May 1978

     29 May 1918 - 12 Feb 1920 State Flag

[Flag of Finland]
           Adopted 26 May 1978 Civil Flag

State Flag of Finland 1978
        Adopted 26 May 1978 State Flag

Map of Finland Hear National Anthem
"Maamme"(Our Land)
Adopted 1917 Former Anthem
"Keisarihymni"
(Song to the Grand Duke)
c.1830-1917
Constitution
(1 Mar 2000)
----------------------------
1919 Constitution
(17 Jul 1919-22 Dec 1995)

Capital: Helsinki
(Turku to 1812 ) Currency: Euro (EUR);
to 1 Jan 2002: Markka (FIM) National Holiday: 6 Dec (1917)
Independence Day Population: 5,244,749 (2008)

GDP: $195.2 billion (2008) Exports: $104.3 billion (2008)
Imports: $93.2 billion (2008) Ethnic groups: Finnish 93.4%, Swedish 5.6%, Russian 0.5%,
Estonian 0.3%, Roma (Gypsy) 0.1%, Sami 0.1% (2006)

Total Active Armed Forces: 28,300 (2006)
Merchant marine: 98 ships (2008) Religions: Lutheran Church of Finland 83.1%,
nonreligious 14.7%, Finnish Orthodox 1.1%,
Muslim 0.4%, other 0.7% (2006)

International Organizations/Treaties: AC, ACS (observer), AfDB (nonregional), ADB (nonregional), AG, ANT, BIS, BTWC, CBSS, CE, CERN, CTBT, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ENMOD, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISA, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, KP, MIGA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NPT, NSG, NTBT, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Finland Index Chronology
c.1154                     Conquest of Finland by Sweden begins (called
                             Österland or Österlanden). Later divided
                             into 7 provinces of Sweden; with four periods
                             granted as a fief of King of Sweden as a duchy
                             with varying size and degrees of autonomy.
1284 - 1291                Duchy of Finland created as fief of Swedish crown
1302 - 1317                Duchy of Finland (restored).
1323                       Peace of Nöteburg (Pähkinäsaari) between Sweden
                             and Russia. Finland's eastern border is defined
                             for the first time.
1353 - 1356                Duchy of Finland (restored).
1371 - 1396                Bo Jonsson, effectively independent ruler of
                             Finland from 1374, in opposition to unpopular

                             King Albert.
1556                       Duchy of Finland (restored).
1581                       Grand Duchy of Finland (subject to, and from 21 Aug
                             1772 in nominal personal union with, Sweden).
27 Feb 1617                Karelia joined to Finland by treaty of Stolbova.
Feb/Jul 1714 - 30 Aug 1721 Russian occupation.
30 Aug 1721                Karelia and Vyborg (Viipuri) ceded to Russia.
Aug 1742 - 17 Aug 1743     Russian occupation.
20 Feb 1808                Russian occupation.
29 Mar 1809                Personal union with Russia (Grand Duchy of Finland)

17 Sep 1809                Transfer from Sweden to Russia ratified in
                             the Treaty of Fredrikshamn.

9 Nov 1917 Finnish Diet begins to exercise sovereign

   authority (Finland).
6 Dec 1917                Formal declaration of independence from Russia.
4 Jan 1918                Independence recognized by Russia.
28 Jan 1918 - 25 Apr 1918 A Finnish Socialist Conciliar ("Soviet") Republic
                             in southern Finland during the civil war.
18 May 1918                Kingdom of Finland
Apr 1918 - Nov 1918        Germans military intervention in southern Finland.
17 Jul 1919                Republic of Finland (becomes officially accepted
   name of the state, although it was not given
   constitutional recognition).
14 Oct 1920                Finland acquires the Arctic port of Petsamo
                             (Pechenga) in treaty with the Soviet Russia.
24 Jun 1921                Sovereignty over Åland Islands awarded to Finland.
1 Dec 1939 - 12 Mar 1940 A Finnish Democratic Republic, at the
                             Soviet occupied town of Terijoki.
13 Mar 1940                Finland cedes Karelian Isthmus (incl. Viipuri
                             [Vyborg]), Finnish Aunus Karelia (Sordavala,
                             north Ladoga), the Salla region, the Rybachi
                             peninsula in the arctic, and a 30 year lease on
                             the Hangö peninsula to the Soviet Union.
27 Jul 1941 - 19 Sep 1944 Karelo-Finnish S.S.R. in the Soviet Union almost
                             entirely occupied by Finland.
7 Dec 1941                Territories annexed by Soviet Union on 13 Mar 1940
                             re-integrated into Finland (Rybachi penins.
                             reoccupied 29 Jun 1941, Viipuri on 29 Aug 1941).
4 Oct 1944 - 25 Apr 1945 Formerly allied German forces occupy Lapland
                            (retroactive to 15 Sep 1944).
19 Sep 1944 - 10 Feb 1947 Allied (Soviet) occupation; restoration of
                             the 13 Mar 1940 borders (in Viipuri from
                             20 Jun 1944, from 15 Oct 1944 in Petsmo).
10 Feb 1947                Petsamo ceded to Soviet Union; Porkkala peninsula
                             is leased to Soviet Union until 26 Jan 1956.
30 Sep 1963 -    Finland leases the Saimaa Canal and the island of
   Malyj Vysotskij (Ravansaari)from Russia.

Regions

Provinces
(1634-2009)

Aland Islands

Hanko and
Porkkala
(1940-1941,
1944-1956)

Alternate Governments

Finnish Socialist Conciliar Republic
(1918)
-----------------------
Finnish Democratic Republic
(1939-1940)

Allied Control
Commission
(1945-1947)

Evangelical
Lutheran Church
of Finland

Orthodox Church
of Finland

Historial Maps
of Finland

Dukes
1284 - 1291 Bengt I Folkunga, Bishop (b. 1254 - d. 1291)
of Linköping
1302 - 1317 Valdemar Folkunga (b. bf.1290 - d. 1318)
1353 - 1356 Bengt II Algotsson (b. c.1330 - d. 1360)
(Duke Benedict of Halland and Finland)
1556 - 1581 Johan Vasa (b. 1537 - d. 1592)
(from 26 Jan 1569, Johan III King of Sweden)
Grand Dukes (also 29 Mar 1809 - 15 Mar 1917 the Emperors of Russia)
1581 - 29 Mar 1809 the Kings of Sweden
29 Mar 1809 - 1 Dec 1825 Alexander I (b. 1777 - d. 1825)
1 Dec 1825 - 25 Dec 1825 Konstantin (b. 1779 - d. 1831)
15 Mar 1917 - 9 Nov 1917 Vacant; Russian provisional government
exercising grand-ducal authority
1637 - 1640 Per greve Brahe af Visingsborg (b. 1602 - d. 1680)
(1st time)
1640 - 1648 ....
1648 - 1654 Per greve Brahe af Visingsborg (s.a.)
(2nd time)
1654 - 1657 ....
1657 - 1659 Gustaf Evertsson Horn (b. 1614 - d. 1666)
1659 - 1664 ....
1664 - 1669 Herman Claesson friherre Fleming (b. 1619 - d. 1673)
1669 - 1674 ....
27 Aug 1674 - 1674 Henrik Henriksson friherre Horn (b. 1618 - d. 1693)
1674 - 1710 ....
1710 - 25 Jan 1712 Carl greve Nieroth (b. c.1650 - d. 1712)
Russian Military Governors
1710 - 1725 Aleksandr Danilovich, (b. 1673 - d. 1729)
1717 - 1721 Gustaf Otto Douglas (b. 1687 - d. 1771)
Governors
1721 - 1735 ....
1735 - 24 Oct 1736 Carl Gustaf friherre Armfelt (b. 1666 - d. 1736)
24 Oct 1736 - 1742 ....
1742 - 1743 Johann Balthasar von Campenhausen (b. 1689 - d. 1758)
(Russian governor-general)
174. - 1746 Anders Johan greve von Höpken (b. 1712 - d. 1789)
1747 - 1753 Gustaf Fredrik von Rosen (b. 1688 - d. 1769)
1753 - 20 Feb 1808 ....
Russian Military Administrator
20 Feb 1808 - 1 Dec 1808 Friedrich Wilhelm Graf von (b. 1750 - d. 1811)
Buxhöveden
(Fyodor Fyodorovich Graf Buksgevden)
Governors-general
1 Dec 1808 - 17 Jun 1809 Göran Magnus Sprengtporten (b. 1740 - d. 1819)
17 Jun 1809 - 1 Feb 1810 Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly (b. 1761 - d. 1818)
(Mikhail Bogdanovich Barklay-de-Tolli)
3 Mar 1810 - 22 Mar 1824 Fabian Gotthard Graf von Steinheil (b. 1762 - d. 1831)
(Faddey Fyodorovich Shteyngel)
(acting from 1823)
Sep 1812 - Apr 1813 Gustav Mauritz Armfelt (b. 1757 - d. 1814)
(acting for Steinheil)
28 Mar 1824 - 1 Dec 1831 Arseny Andreyevich Zakrevsky (b. 1783 - d. 1865)
1 Dec 1831 - 8 Mar 1855 Aleksandr Sergeyevich Menshikov (b. 1787 - d. 1869)
24 Apr 1833 - 1846 Alexander Amatus Theslseff (b. 1778 - d. 1847)
(acting intermittently for Menshikov)
1848 - 1855 Platon Ivanovich Rokasovsky (b. 1800 - d. 1869)
(acting intermittently for Menshikov)
8 Mar 1855 - 20 Nov 1861 Fredrik Wilhelm Rembert Berg (b. 1794 - d. 1874)
(Fyodor Fyodorovich Graf Berg)
(acting for Menshikov from 26 Jan 1855)
20 Nov 1861 - 1 May 1866 Platon Ivanovich Rokasovsky (s.a.)
5 Aug 1864 - 16 Oct 1864 Johan Mauritz Nordenstam (b. 1802 - d. 1882)
(acting for Rokasovsky)
1 May 1866 - 3 Jun 1881 Nikolay Vladimirovich Graf von (b. 1819 - d. 1892)
Adlerberg
23 Jun 1866 - 21 Jul 1866 Bernhard Indrenius (1st time) (b. 1812 - d. 1884)
(acting for Adlerberg)
18 Jul 1867 - 18 Oct 1867 Bernhard Indrenius (2nd time) (s.a.)
20 Jul 1868 - 18 Oct 1868 Johan Maurtiz Nordenstam (1st time)(s.a.)
(acting for Adlerberg)
7 May 1870 - 11 Sep 1870 Johan Maurtiz Nordenstam (2nd time)(s.a.)
(acting for Adlerberg)
19 Nov 1872 - 24 Mar 1873 Johan Maurtiz Nordenstam (3rd time)(s.a.)
(acting for Adlerberg)
3 Jun 1881 - 13 Jan 1897 Feodor Logginovitsh Heiden (b. 1831 - d. 1900)
31 Jan 1897 - 29 Aug 1898 Stepan Osipovich Gonscharov (b. 1831 - d. 1912)
(acting)
29 Aug 1898 - 17 Jun 1904 Nikolay Ivanovich Bobrikov (b. 1839 - d. 1904)
18 Jun 1904 - 18 Aug 1904 Nikolay Matveyevich Turbin (acting)
18 Aug 1904 - 18 Nov 1905 Prince Ivan Mikhailovich Obolensky (b. 1853 - d. 1910)
18 Nov 1905 - 6 Dec 1905 Anton von Saltza (acting) (b. 1843 - d. 1916)
6 Dec 1905 - 2 Feb 1908 Nikolay Nikolayevich Gerard (b. 1838 - d. 1929)
2 Feb 1908 - 24 Nov 1909 Vladimir Aleksandrovich Boeckmann (b. 1848 - d. 1923)
24 Nov 1909 - 16 Mar 1917 Frans Albert von Seyn (b. 1862 - d. 1918)
16 Mar 1917 - 19 Mar 1917 Adam Iosipovich Lipsky (acting) (b. 1860 - d. 19..)
19 Mar 1917 - 31 Mar 1917 Sergey Aleksandrovitsh Korov (b. 1876 - d. 1924)
(acting)
31 Mar 1917 - 17 Sep 1917 Mikhail Aleksandrovich Stakhovich (b. 1861 - d. 1923)
17 Sep 1917 - 7 Nov 1917 Nikolay Vissarionovitsh Nekrasov (b. 1879 - d. 1940)
Nov 1917 - 6 Dec 1917 Juhana "Jukka" Rahja (b. 1887 - d. 1920)
(appointed by the Tsentrobalt, not recognized)
Chairmen of Central Committee of Baltic Fleet (Tsentrobalt)
(not recognized by the Finnish government)
May 1917 - 1917 Pavel Yefimovich Dybenko (b. 1889 - d. 1938)
1917 Vladimir Aleksandrovich (b. 1884 - d. 1939)
Antonov-Ovseenko
1917 - 6 Dec 1917 Ivar Tenisovich Smilga (b. 1892 - d. 1937)
Acting Heads of State
7 Nov 1917 - 15 Nov 1917 Eemil Nestor Setälä (b. 1864 - d. 1935) NSP
(chief minister)
15 Nov 1917 - 28 Nov 1917 Otto Johannes Lundson (b. 1867 - d. 1939) NSP
(Speaker of Diet)
af Qvalstad (chief minister)
State Protectors (Lieutenants of the Realm, usually referred to as Regents)
18 May 1918 - 12 Dec 1918 Pehr Evind Perinpoika Svinhufvud (s.a.) NSP
af Qvalstad
12 Dec 1918 - 27 Jul 1919 Baron Carl Gustaf Mannerheim (b. 1867 - d. 1951) Mil
King-elect¹
10 Oct 1918 - 14 Dec 1918 Väinö I (did not take office) (b. 1868 - d. 1940)
Presidents
27 Jul 1919 - 1 Mar 1925 Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg (b. 1865 - d. 1952) ED
1 Mar 1925 - 1 Mar 1931 Lauri Kristian Relander (b. 1883 - d. 1942) ML
1 Mar 1931 - 1 Mar 1937 Pehr Evind Perinpoika Svinhufvud (s.a.) SDP
af Qvalstad
1 Mar 1937 - 19 Dec 1940 Kyösti Kallio (b. 1873 - d. 1940) ML
19 Dec 1940 - 4 Aug 1944 Risto Heikki Ryti (b. 1889 - d. 1956) ED
(acting [for Kallio from 27 Nov 1940] to 21 Dec 1940)
4 Aug 1944 - 11 Mar 1946 Carl Gustaf Mannerheim (s.a.) Mil/Non-party
11 Mar 1946 - 1 Mar 1956 Juho Kusti Paasikivi (b. 1870 - d. 1956) KOK
(acting for Mannerheim from 5 Mar 1945)
1 Mar 1956 - 27 Jan 1982 Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (b. 1900 - d. 1986) ML/KESK
27 Jan 1982 - 1 Mar 1994 Mauno Henrik Koivisto (b. 1923) SDP
(acting for Kekkonen 11 Sep 1981 - 27 Jan 1982)
1 Mar 1994 - 1 Mar 2000 Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari (b. 1937) SDP
1 Mar 2000 - Tarja Kaarina Halonen (f) (b. 1943) SDP


Head of the Committee for Finnish Affairs (in the Russian government)
1809 - 1811 Mikhail Mikhailovich Speranskiy (b. 1772 - d. 1839)
State Secretary (in the Russian government)
1811 - 1834 Robert Henrik Rehbinder (b. 1777 - d. 1841)
Minister State Secretaries (in the Russian government)
1834 - 1841 Robert Henrik Rehbinder (s.a.)
1841 - 1876 Alexander Armfelt (b. 1794 - d. 1876)
1904 - 1905 Edvard Oerström (b. 1862 - d. 1922)
Chief ministers (from 1 Oct 1822, vice chairmen of the Senate's Economy Department)
18 Jul 1809 - 1820 Robert Wilhelm de Geer till (b. 1750 - d. 1820)
Tervikin
1820 - 1 Mar 1826 Carl Erik Mannerheim (b. 1759 - d. 1837)
12 Dec 1826 - 12 Jan 1828 Samuel Fredrik von Born (acting) (b. 1782 - d. 1850)
12 Jan 1828 - 10 Apr 1833 Anders Henrik Falck (b. 1772 - d. 1851)
10 Apr 1833 - 1 Oct 1841 Gustaf Hjärne (b. 1768 - d. 1845)
17 Aug 1917 - 27 Nov 1917 Eemil Nestor Setälä (s.a.) NSP
Prime ministers
27 Nov 1917 - 27 May 1918 Pehr Evind Perinpoika Svinhufvud (s.a.) NSP
af Qvalstad (1st time)
27 May 1918 - 26 Nov 1918 Juho Kusti Paasikivi (1st time) (s.a.) KOK
26 Nov 1918 - 17 Apr 1919 Lauri Johannes Ingman (1st time) (b. 1868 - d. 1934) KOK
17 Apr 1919 - 15 Aug 1919 Kaarlo Castrén (b. 1860 - d. 1938) NPP
15 Aug 1919 - 15 Mar 1920 Juho Heikki Vennola (1st time) (b. 1872 - d. 1938) NPP
15 Mar 1920 - 9 Apr 1921 Rafael Waldemar Erich (b. 1879 - d. 1946) KOK
9 Apr 1921 - 2 Jun 1922 Juho Heikki Vennola (2nd time) (s.a.) NPP
2 Jun 1922 - 14 Nov 1922 Aimo Kaarlo Cajander (1st time) (b. 1879 - d. 1943) Non-party
14 Nov 1922 - 18 Jan 1924 Kyösti Kallio (1st time) (s.a.) ML
18 Jan 1924 - 31 May 1924 Aimo Kaarlo Cajander (2nd time) (s.a.) ED
31 May 1924 - 31 Mar 1925 Lauri Johannes Ingman (2nd time) (s.a.) KOK
31 Mar 1925 - 31 Dec 1925 Antti Agaton Tulenheimo (b. 1879 - d. 1952) KOK
31 Dec 1925 - 13 Dec 1926 Kyösti Kallio (2nd time) (s.a.) ML
13 Dec 1926 - 17 Dec 1927 Väinö Alfred Tanner (b. 1881 - d. 1966) SDP
17 Dec 1927 - 22 Dec 1928 Juho Emil Sunila (1st time) (b. 1875 - d. 1936) ML
22 Dec 1928 - 16 Aug 1929 Oskari Mantere (b. 1874 - d. 1942) NPP
16 Aug 1929 - 6 Jul 1930 Kyösti Kallio (3rd time) (s.a.) ML
6 Jul 1930 - 16 Feb 1931 Pehr Evind Perinpoika Svinhufvud (s.a.) KOK
af Qvalstad (2nd time)
16 Feb 1931 - 21 Mar 1931 Juho Heikki Vennola (3rd time) (s.a.) ED
21 Mar 1931 - 14 Dec 1932 Juho Emil Sunila (2nd time) (s.a.) ML
14 Dec 1932 - 7 Oct 1936 Toivo Mikael Kivimäki (b. 1886 - d. 1968) NPP
7 Oct 1936 - 12 Mar 1937 Kyösti Kallio (4th time) (s.a.) ML/SDP
12 Mar 1937 - 1 Dec 1939 Aimo Kaarlo Cajander (3rd time) (s.a.) NPP
1 Dec 1939 - 21 Dec 1940 Risto Heikki Ryti (s.a.) NPP
21 Dec 1940 - 3 Jan 1941 Karl Rudolf Walden (acting) (b. 1878 - d. 1946) Mil
3 Jan 1941 - 5 Mar 1943 Johan Wilhelm Rangell (b. 1894 - d. 1982) NPP
5 Mar 1943 - 8 Aug 1944 Edwin Johannes Hildegard Linkomies (b. 1894 - d. 1963) KOK
8 Aug 1944 - 21 Sep 1944 Antti Verner Hackzell (b. 1881 - d. 1946) KOK
21 Sep 1944 - 17 Nov 1944 Urho Jonas Castrén (b. 1886 - d. 1965) Non-party
17 Nov 1944 - 26 Mar 1946 Juho Kusti Paasikivi (2nd time) (s.a.) KOK
26 Mar 1946 - 29 Jul 1948 Mauno Pekkala (b. 1890 - d. 1952) SKDL
29 Jul 1948 - 17 Mar 1950 Karl August Fagerholm (1st time) (b. 1901 - d. 1984) SDP
17 Mar 1950 - 17 Nov 1953 Urho Kekkonen (1st time) (s.a.) ML
17 Nov 1953 - 5 May 1954 Sakari Severi Tuomioja (b. 1911 - d. 1964) VL
5 May 1954 - 20 Oct 1954 Ralf Johan Gustaf Törngren (b. 1899 - d. 1961) SFP
20 Oct 1954 - 17 Feb 1956 Urho Kekkonen (2nd time) (s.a.) ML
17 Feb 1956 - 27 May 1957 Karl August Fagerholm (2nd time) (s.a.) SDP
27 May 1957 - 29 Nov 1957 Väinö Johannes Sukselainen (b. 1906 - d. 1995) ML
(1st time)
29 Nov 1957 - 26 Apr 1958 Berndt Rainer von Fieandt (b. 1890 - d. 1972) Non-party
26 Apr 1958 - 29 Aug 1958 Reino Iisakki Kuuskoski (b. 1907 - d. 1965) Non-party
29 Aug 1958 - 13 Jan 1959 Karl August Fagerholm (3rd time) (s.a.) SDP
13 Jan 1959 - 19 May 1961 Väinö Johannes Sukselainen (s.a.) ML
(2nd time)
19 May 1961 - 14 Jul 1961 Eemil Vihtori Luukka (acting) (b. 1892 - d. 1970) ML
14 Jul 1961 - 13 Apr 1962 Martti Johannes Miettunen (b. 1907 - d. 2002) ML
(1st time)
13 Apr 1962 - 18 Dec 1963 Ahti Kalle Samuli Karjalainen (b. 1923 - d. 1990) ML
(1st time)
18 Dec 1963 - 12 Sep 1964 Reino Ragnar Lehto (b. 1898 - d. 1966) Non-party
12 Sep 1964 - 27 May 1966 Johannes Virolainen (b. 1914 - d. 2000) ML/KESK
27 May 1966 - 22 Mar 1968 Kustaa Rafael Paasio (1st time) (b. 1903 - d. 1980) SDP
22 Mar 1968 - 14 May 1970 Mauno Koivisto (1st time) (s.a.) SDP
14 May 1970 - 15 Jul 1970 Teuvo Ensio Aura (1st time)(acting)(b. 1912 - d. 1999) Non-party
15 Jul 1970 - 29 Oct 1971 Ahti Kalle Samuli Karjalainen (s.a.) KESK
(2nd time)
29 Oct 1971 - 23 Feb 1972 Teuvo Ensio Aura (2nd time)(acting)(s.a.) Non-party
23 Feb 1972 - 4 Sep 1972 Kustaa Rafael Paasio (2nd time) (s.a.) SDP
4 Sep 1972 - 13 Jun 1975 Taisto Kalevi Sorsa (1st time) (b. 1930 - d. 2004) SDP
13 Jun 1975 - 30 Nov 1975 Keijo Anfero Liinamaa (acting) (b. 1929 - d. 1980) Non-party
30 Nov 1975 - 15 May 1977 Martti Johannes Miettunen (s.a.) KESK
(2nd time)
15 May 1977 - 26 May 1979 Taisto Kalevi Sorsa (2nd time) (s.a.) SDP
26 May 1979 - 27 Jan 1982 Mauno Koivisto (2nd time) (s.a.) SDP
11 Sep 1981 - 19 Feb 1982 Eino Oskari Uusitalo (b. 1924) KESK
(acting [for Koivisto to 27 Jan 1982])
19 Feb 1982 - 30 Apr 1987 Tasito Kalevi Sorsa (3rd time) (s.a.) SDP
30 Apr 1987 - 26 Apr 1991 Harri Hermanni Holkeri (b. 1937) KOK
26 Apr 1991 - 13 Apr 1995 Esko Tapani Aho (b. 1954) KESK
13 Apr 1995 - 17 Apr 2003 Paavo Tapio Lipponen (b. 1941) SDP
17 Apr 2003 - 24 Jun 2003 Anneli Tuulikki Jäätteenmäki (f) (b. 1955) KESK
24 Jun 2003 - 22 Jun 2010 Matti Taneli Vanhanen (b. 1955) KESK
22 Jun 2010 - Mari Kiviniemi (f) (b. 1968) KESK


Director-general of German Forces in Finland
3 Apr 1918 - 16 Dec 1918 Rüdiger Gustav Graf von der Goltz (b. 1865 - d. 1946)


¹elected king (Suomen kuningas) 10Oct 1918, Friedrich Karl Ludwig Konstantin, Prinz und Landgraf zu Hessen (s.a.), did not arrive, and declined the throne 8 Dec 1918, the refusal became definitive on 29 Dec 1918.In the Finnish election document the prince is called Fredrik Kaarle, but according to conventional wisdom his name as king would have been Väinö I of Finland.

Noble titles: Greve = Count, Friherre = Baron, Jarl = Earl.

Territorial Disputes: Various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish government asserts no territorial demands. Finland leases the Saimaa Canal and the island of Malyj Vysotskij (Ravansaari) from Russia since 1963. Russian legislation is in force, with few exceptions concerning maritime rules and the employment of canal staff, which fall under Finnish jurisdiction, negotiations to extend the lease time beyond 2013 are presently underway between Finland and Russia.

Party abbreviations: KESK = Suomen Keskusta (Finnish Centre Party, centerist, est.1965);
KOK = Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party, conservative, est.1918);
LKP = Liberaalinen Kansanpuolue (Liberal People's Party, merger of VL and KP); SDP = Suomen Sosialidemokraatinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland, social-democratic, est.1899); SFP = Svenska Folkpartiet i Finland (Swedish People's Party in Finland, liberal, est.1906);
KD = Kristillisdemokraatit (Christian Democratic Party, to 2001 SKL); VAS = Vasemmistoliitto (Leftist Alliance, est. by merger of SKDL and SKP 1990); Mil = Military;
- Former parties: ED = Kansallinen Edistyspuolue (National Progressive Party, liberal 1918-51); IKL = Isanmaallinen Kansanliike (Patriotic People's Movement, fascist, ex-Lapua 1932-44); KP = Suomen Kansanpuolue (Finnish People's Party, 1951-65, from 1965 part of LKP);
ML = Maalaisliitto (Farmers League, agrarian, 1906-65, reorganised 1965 as KESK);
NPP = Kansallinen Edistyspuole (National Progressive Party, liberal, 1918-1951); SKDL = Suomen Kansan Demokraattinen Liitto (Finnish People's Democratic League, communists and socialists, 1944-90); NSP = Nuorsuomalainen Puolue (Young Finnish Party, formally Constitutional-Fennoman Party, liberal, opposed Russification, 1902-1918, succeded by ED); SKL = Finnish Christian League (renamed KD 2001); SKP = Suomen Kommunistinen Puolue (Finnish Communist Party, 1918-90, supressed 1923-44, merged with SKDL into VAS); SMP = Finnish Agrarian Party (1959-95, agrarian); SP = Suomalainen Puolue (Finnish Party, so-called "Old-Finnish" Party, conservative, supported concessions to Russian administration, 1863-1918, succeded by KOK);
VL = Vapaamielisten Liitto (Free-minded League, liberal, 1951-65, merged with KP as LKP);

Alternative Government: Finnish Socialist Conciliar Republic

People's Republic of Finland

28 Jan 1918 - 25 Apr 1918 Socialist Conciliar ("Soviet") Republic in the south of
Finland during civil war.

Chairman of the Central Executive Committee
14 Feb 1918 - 25 Apr 1918 Valfrid Perttilä (b. 1878 - d. 1953) SDP

Chairmen of the Council of People's Commissars
28 Jan 1918 - 13 Apr 1918 Kullervo Akilles Manner            (b. 1880 - d. 1936) SDP
13 Apr 1918 - 17 Apr 1918 Otto Ville Kuusinen                (b. 1881 - d. 1964) SDP
17 Apr 1918 - 25 Apr 1918 Edvard Gylling                     (b. 1881 - d. 1938) SDP

Party abbreviation: SDP = Suomen Sosialidemokraatinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland, social-democratic, radicalized 1917-1918, est.1899)

Alternative Government: Finnish Democratic Republic

1 Dec 1939                Finnish Democratic Republic, proclaimed at the Soviet occupied
                             town of Terijoki (now Zelenogorsk, Russia).
12 Mar 1940                Dissolution, territory fully incorporated into Soviet Union
                             as Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic.

Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
1 Dec 1939 - 12 Mar 1940 Otto Ville Kuusinen (b. 1881 - d. 1964) SKP

Party abbreviation: SKP = Suomen Kommunistinen Puolue (Finnish Communist Party, Aug 1918-90, supressed 1923-44)

Hanko and Porkkala


22 May 1940 - 4 Dec 1941;
19 Sep 1944 - 26 Jan 1956

Commanders of Hanko
22 May 1940 - 13 May 1941 Aleksey Borisovich Yeliseyev     (b. 1887 - d. 1942)
13 May 1941 - 2 Dec 1941 Sergey Ivanovich Kabanov         (b. 1901 - d. 1973)
Commanders of Porkkala
19 Sep 1944 - Jun 1945     Neon Vasilyevich Antonov         (b. 1907 - d. 1948)
194. - 1 Jan 1956         Sergey Ivanovich Kabanov         (s.a.)

Aland Islands


1922 - 7 Apr 1954 (unofficial)


18 Apr 1951 - 31 Dec 2009
Province flag


Adopted 7 Apr 1954

Map of Aland Islands	Hear Local Anthem "Ålänningens Sång" (Song of the Alands)	Text of Local Anthem (in Swedish) Adopted 1922	Autonomy Act (1 Jan 1993)
Capital: Mariehamn	Currency: Euro (EUR)	Local Holiday: 9 Jun (1922) Självstyrelsedagen (Aland Autonomy Day)	Population: 27,003 (2008)
International Organizations/Treaties: NC, NIB

c.1154                     Part of Sweden.
1556                       Granted as a feudal lordship.
13 Nov 1621                Crown possession.
1634                       Administered as a district of a Finnish province
                             (Åbo och Björneborgs län [Turun ja Porin lääni]).
27 Jul 1714 - 30 Aug 1721 Russian occupation.
Aug 1742 - 17 Aug 1743     Russian occupation.
24 Mar 1808 - 13 Mar 1809 Russian occupation.
1808 - 1809                Attempted separation from Åbo och Björneborgs län.
21 Apr 1809 - 17 Sep 1809 Russian occupation.
17 Sep 1809                Part of the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland.
Aug 1854 - Sep 1854        British and French occupation.
20 Aug 1917 - 1919         Popular movement to rejoin Sweden.
6 Dec 1917                Part of independent Finland.
Feb 1918 - 13 Jun 1918     Occupied by Sweden.
24 Jun 1921                League of Nations decides in favor of Finland
9 Jun 1922                Åland Autonomous Region.
28 Dec 1951                Autonomy confirmed.
16 Aug 1991                Autonomy reconfirmed (from 1 Jan 1993).

Military governors
27 Jul 1714 - 30 Aug 1721 Fyodor Matveyevich Apraksin        (b. 1671 - d. 1728)
Aug 1742 - 17 Aug 1743     Pytor Lassy
1808 - 1809                Prince Pytor Ivanovich             (b. 1765 - d. 1812)
                             Bagration
Aug 1854 - Sep 1854        Sir Charles Napier (U.K.)          (b. 1786 - d. 1860)
Feb 1918 - 1918            Hugo Erik Gustaf greve Hamilton    (b. 1849 - d. 1928)
(Sweden) 9 Mar 1918 - 13 Jun 1918 Hjalmar von Bonsdorff (Sweden)     (b. 1869 - d. 1945)
Governors (title Landshövding)
1808 - 1809                Otto Reinhold Meurman (acting)     (b. 1750 - d. 1814) 8 Feb 1918 - Apr 1918     Rudolf Wilhelm Österman            (b. 1890 - d. 1918)
                             (Åbo och Björneborgs län provincial Commissar of the Finnish Socialist Republic)13 Jun 1918 - 17 Oct 1922 William Isaksson                   (b. 1866 - d. 1924)
17 Oct 1922 - 1 Jan 1938 Wilhelm Fagerlund                  (b. 1852 - d. 1939)
1 Jan 1938 - 3 Nov 1938 Torsten Rothberg                   (b. 1884 - d. 1938)
3 Nov 1938 - 21 Dec 1938 Walter Johansson (acting)          (b. 1885 - d. 1960)
21 Nov 1938 - 1 May 1945 Ruben Österberg                    (b. 1895 - d. 1959)
14 May 1945 - 1 Jan 1954 Herman Koroleff                    (b. 1883 - d. 1957)
1 Jan 1954 - 1 Jul 1972 Tor Brenning                       (b. 1903 - d. 1983)
1 Jul 1972 - 1 Oct 1982 Martin Isaksson                    (b. 1921 - d. 2001)
1 Oct 1982 - 1 Apr 1999 Henrik Gustafsson                  (b. 1934)
1 Apr 1999 -              Peter Lindbäck                     (b. 1955)

Bailiffs
1832 - 1853                Adolf Fredrik von Willebrand       (b. 1796 - d. 1853)
1853 - 1880                Carl Oskar Lignell                 (b. 1815 - d. 1880)
1881 - 1890                Johan Frithiof Salvén              (b. 1836 - d. 1890)
1890 - 1896                Alexander Stefanus Träskelin       (b. 1854 - d. 1896)
1896 - 1897                Thure Severin Granberg             (b. 1861 - d. 19..)
1898 - 1906                Reinhold Waldemar Blomqvist        (b. 1845 - d. 1906)
1906 - 1913                Johan Axel Bergroth                (b. 1862 - d. 19..)
1913 - 1915                Robert Optatus Silander            (b. 1861 - d. 1917)
1915 - 1916                Karl Fredrik Nummelin              (b. 1881 - d. 1916)
1917                       Aarne Nyström Inha
1917                       Robert Optatus Silander            (b. 1861 - d. 19..)
1917 - 1919                Emil Valter Johansson
Leader of the Popular Movement to Rejoin Sweden1917 - 1919                Julius Sundblom                    (b. 1865 - d. 1945) Speaker of the Landsting 9 Jun 1922 - 10 Jul 1922 Julius Sundblom                    (s.a.) Chief ministers (title Lantråd)10 Jul 1922 - 30 Dec 1938 Carl Björkman                      (b. 1873 - d. 1948) Non-party 30 Dec 1938 - 1 Jan 1955 Victor Strandfeldt                 (b. 1897 - d. 1962) Non-party  1 Jan 1955 - 28 Mar 1967 Hugo Valdemar Johansson            (b. 1900 - d. 1983) Non-party 28 Mar 1967 - 1 Jul 1972 Martin Isaksson                    (s.a.) Non-party  1 Jul 1972 - 1 Jan 1979 Alarik Häggblom                    (b. 1914 - d. 1996)Non-party/LPA 1 Jan 1979 - 20 Apr 1988 Folke Woivalin                     (b. 1928)    Non-party 20 Apr 1988 - 28 Nov 1991 Sune Eriksson                      (b. 1939)            LPA28 Nov 1991 - 24 Nov 1995 Ragnar Erlandsson                  (b. 1941)            AC24 Nov 1995 - 3 Dec 1999 Roger Jansson                      (b. 1943)            FS 3 Dec 1999 - 26 Nov 2007 Roger Nordlund                     (b. 1957)            AC 26 Nov 2007 - Viveka Eriksson (f) (b. 1956)    LPA

Party abbreviations (party government introduced 1987): AC = Åländsk Center(Aland Centre, agrarian, est.1976); FS = Frisinnad Samverkan (Progressive Cooperation, conservative, est.1967); LPA = Liberalerna på Åland (Liberals for Aland, social-liberal, est.1978)