Lands of Sweden
Lands of Sweden are the three unofficial regions into which the Kingdom of Sweden is divided: Svealand, the central region, named after the historic Sweden proper and the smallest of the three regions; Norrland (literally "Northern lands"), the northern region, which is the largest of the three regions, covering 60 percent of the total Swedish territory; and Götaland the southern, most densely populated region, which today also includes one of the Lands of Denmark, acquired by Sweden in the 17th century.
The lands have no administrative function, but are primarily used in weather reports and as a reference to the older division
for the Swedish judicial system. During the imperial
era,
The lands are further divided into provinces, which also have only cultural meaning today.
 Norrland |
 Svealand |
 Götaland |
Historical lands
Sweden was historically divided into the four lands: Götaland, Svealand, Norrland and Österland.
- Österland (literally Eastern lands) is the old name for Swedish Finland. It represents the southern and middle parts of Finland. It may in prehistoric times have been inhabited by various tribes with their own kings (such as the Kvens).
- Norrland (literally Northern lands) is the name for annexed lands to the north on both sides of the Gulf of Bothnia.
- In Sweden's prehistoric times Sweden was largely restricted to Svealand and southern Norrland, while Götaland is mentioned in legends as a rival kingdom, and traditions of Swedish-Geatish wars survive in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf. Eventually the two countries were united under one crown by the Swedish kings somewhere between 550-1200 (the date is the matter of debate).
By the time of the Treaty of Stolbovo, 1617, the significance of these particular lands of Sweden was historical and geographical diffuse.[citation needed] Thus the concept of Norrland could easily cover also the new territories in the North, colored green on the map. Since the Treaty of Roskilde of 1658 Denmark's Scanian lands is usually considered Swedish Southern Götaland by the Swedes, although some historians consider this historically incorrect.
After the Finnish War (1808-1809) the eastern half of Sweden was ceded to Russia, thus becoming the Imperial Russian Grand Duchy of Finland. Norrland was divided between these two states. The Swedish portion of Norrland still represents more than half of Sweden's territory; it remains, however, sparsely populated compared to the south and middle. The town of Stockholm, which became the Swedish capital mostly because it was centrally located in Sweden of its medieval boundaries (i.e. the brightest area on the map) now became situated at the eastern border.[citation needed]
See also
- Lists of unofficial regions by country
- Subdivisions of Norden
- Old Finland
- Lands of Denmark
- Dominions of Sweden
- Provinces of Sweden
- Historical provinces of Finland
External links
- Courts of Appeal: The Court Districts of Sweden - Official site of The National Courts Administration
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