How Finland lived in Russian, and why the Finns did not pay taxes

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Suomi, as Finland is also called, due to its geographical position has long agitated the ambitions of neighboring more confident and large states - Russia and Sweden. And despite the fact that Finland existed under the Swedish rule for more than five centuries, the period of “cohabitation” with the Russian Empire was of great importance. The principality of Finland gained strength and experience in the process of many years of relationship with the Russians. But the flip side of this medal is that, in parallel, a number of stereotypes have been formed that hinder effective cooperation even today.

Swedish rule and the first penetrations of the Novgorodians

The area of modern Finland was colonized thousands of years before our era. The tribes, the predecessors of the Finns, moved from the southeast and raided the Swedes with enviable regularity. And those for a long time gathered with the spirit and in the XI-XII centuries fought back, having made several crusades. In this way, gradually Swedish laws and regulations spread to the entire modern Finnish territory. Soon the Russians also decided to visit Finland. Novgorod merchants were the first to actively make their way there, establishing trade relations with the local population and trying to introduce them to Orthodox Christianity. Later, under the energetic reformer Peter I, Suomi cleared the Finnish garrisons by the Russian regiments. But at that time, in the midst of the Great Northern War, it did not come to the annexation of a new territory.

Half a century later, the Russian army in the war with the Swedes confidently defeated the enemy. As a result of the negotiations, Finland was completely given to the Russian Empire in the status of autonomy. Russia was content with the fact that from now on it could control the Gulf of Finland, acquiring additionally several important strategic points, like the fortress of Sveaborg. Finally, the Russian capital, which had been under the potential attack of Sweden along with its allies throughout the 18th century, was under reliable protection.

Weekdays and holidays of cohabitation

The new territories annexed to the Russian Empire received a fairly wide autonomy in the status of a grand duchy. Emperor Alexander I even symbolically appropriated the title of Grand Duke of Finland, including this title in the traditional title of sovereign. Finland, which was the periphery of the Kingdom of Sweden, began to flourish with the advent of Russian power and acquired ample opportunities for the development of its own statehood. The population of Finland was provided with benefits, which the inhabitants of the Russian hinterland have never seen in a dream.

Alexander I, in his aspirations for equal interaction, considered it necessary to establish a Finnish parliament - the Landtag. For a long time, local residents were exempt from tax contributions to the imperial treasury, were exempt from compulsory service in the ranks of the Russian army, and the Finnish Bank was established. Customs control functioned in a weakened regime, which turned out to be significant economic benefits for the principality. There was no religious harassment either.

With the accession to the throne of Emperor Alexander II, the Finns received another gift - the tsar presented the Vyborg province to the Grand Duchy, which had been annexed to Russia during the time of Peter the Great. In general, the political course of Alexander II, his state management reforms brought an intensification of public life to the Grand Duchy. With the permission of the new Seimas' charter of 1869, the way was opened for the formation of political parties, and the Finnish language was given statehood. The economic position of Finland was also growing stronger, whose currency was growing behind the reliable back of the Russian eagle. Even during the reign of "the Russian tsar himself" Alexander III, who began tangible "counter-reforms" in Russia in opposition to the policies of the previous emperor, Finland developed in the spirit of the past.

Some historians are sure that such broad gestures played against Russia with the liquidation of the empire and the acquisition of Finnish independence. Perhaps the Russian tsars, hoping for reciprocal gratitude from the population of the Finnish regions, counted on Finland's permanent loyalty to the Russian throne. This logically explains the deliberate rejection of Russification and integration of the annexed territories. But it turned out that in the 20th century Finland became an enemy for Russia, replacing Sweden in this field. Nationalistic aspirations led to a series of wars and initiatives of the Finnish elite to build a "Greater Finland" at Russian expense.

The radicalization of Nicholas II

When Russia fell to Nicholas II, the Finns quickly felt the difference under the political waves of active Russification. This ruler in Finland was called the "bloody oppressor". In 1905, he decided to abolish the princely autonomy, while the very next year he allowed women to vote. This step was intended to somewhat calm the indignant population, but the flywheel of the anti-Russian movement in Finland was launched.

Since then, the Finns have established illegal arms shipments, began making bombs and organized training centers for terrorist agents to fight Russia. The offensive of the Russian throne on the autonomy of Finland continued until the start of the First World War. The European massacre somewhat postponed the Finnish question, but it expectedly surfaced on the agenda with the very first revolutionary events of 1917.

Blatant struggle for autonomy

Enjoying autonomous privileges for many decades, the Finnish people could afford to independently develop their economic and political system and establish trade relations with Europe. With the strengthening of the Russian imperial oppression in the country, as expected, opposing forces emerged. The Finns, accustomed to free flight, rose to defend their national interests. In 1915, the first classes for Finnish radicals began in the Lokstedt camp near Hamburg. The following year, the number of cadets exceeded 2,000 volunteers. They were trained to take part in hostilities on the German side in the First World War. And soon they returned home to support their own "liberation" war.

However, over time, from irreconcilable opponents, the two countries became quiet neighbors for each other. A one Soviet song and today the Finns sing throughout the country.