Finland’s request for recognition of independence was first addressed to the Russian Constituent Assembly, which had been elected in November, but the Bolsheviks, who had seized power in the country, did not accept the request. Independent Finland. Browse The Independent’s complete collection of articles and commentary on Sweden. Finland had not been an independent state before annexing to Sweden in 1249, but an area inhabitated by three mutually hostile tribes - Finns Proper, Tavastians (Häme, Yemi) and Karelians. Meanwhile Swedish colonists migrated to Finland in large numbers and after 1323 Finland became a province of Sweden. As part of medieval Sweden, Finland was drawn into the many wars and domestic battles of the Swedish nobility. All the latest breaking news on Sweden.

Image caption Finish forces put up fierce resistance to Soviet advances in the Winter War of 1939 .

The Union broke up in 1523. Finland has been settled since after the Ice Age, and as such has had a long and intriguing history. In 1581 King John III raised Finland to the level of a grand duchy to irritate his Russian rival, Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible. When in 1917 Finland declared its separation from Russia and proclaimed itself an independent state, it did not launch on anything new which by experience was not known to its people. Sweden gained control of southwest Finland, much of the northwest coast and, in the east, the strategic town of Vyborg (Finnish: Viipuri), with its magnificent castle. Then, in 1397, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Finland). History of Finland – Guide to Finnish History. Swedish law came to apply in Finland (although it was tempered by Finnish custom). In 1362 the Swedes allowed the Finns to participate in the election of a Swedish king. and the Finns Proper had been subject to Svea crown since the 12th century already. It had at the time a fully developed system of government, including a parliament elected by universal suffrage.

A part of the Kingdom of Sweden from 13th century until 1809, it then became an autonomous duchy of the Russian Empire until 1917, when it declared independence. 1809 - Finland is ceded to Russia by Sweden, which has dominated the country since the 1300s. Suzerainty was established over Karelia by Novgorod , and it was controlled from a castle at Käkisalmi … As Sweden had refused to recognise Finland’s independence before Russia, Svinhufvud’s government turned to Russia.