Finland Proper (historical province)

This article is about the historical province. For the modern region, see Varsinais-Suomi. For other uses, see Varsinais-Suomi (disambiguation).

Historical province of Southwest Finland
(borders of the modern provinces,
i.e. regions with pink colour)

Southwest Finland or Finland Proper (Finnish: Varsinais-Suomi, Swedish: Egentliga Finland, Latin: Ducatus Finlandiae Meridionalis), is a historical province in southwestern Finland, centred on the historic city of Turku (Swedish: Åbo) and the Turku Castle. It borders Satakunta, Tavastia and Uusimaa. It is also bounded by the Baltic sea facing Åland. There was also a modern region by the name Finland Proper. Finland Proper is not to be confused with Mainland Finland.

Administration

Southwest Finland was comprised within the boundaries of the administrative province of Turku and Pori from 1917 to 1997 and that of Western Finland from 1997 to 2009, when the provinces of Finland were abolished.

History

The province, which had been a part of Sweden from the 13th century, separated when Finland was ceded to Russia in 1809. The provinces has no administrative function today but lives on as a historical legacy in both countries. Originally Finland referred only to this region but later replaced the traditional Österland (Eastern land) in meaning.

Heraldry

Arms granted at the burial of Gustav I of Sweden in 1560. The arms is crowned by a ducal coronet, though by Finnish tradition this more resembles a Swedish comital coronet. Blazon: "Gules, a crowned jousting helmet in front of two lances in saltire, all Or. On each lance is attached a forked hanging flag azure, charged with a Scandinavian cross Or."

External links

Southwest Finland at Flags of the World

Historical provinces of Finland

Finland Proper	Finland Proper (except Loimaa and Somero municipalities)

Karelia	North Karelia South Karelia southeastern Kymenlaakso easternmost Northern Savonia southernmost Southern Savonia

Laponia	northern Lapland

Ostrobothnia	Central Ostrobothnia Coastal Ostrobothnia Kainuu Northern Ostrobothnia predominantly Southern Ostrobothnia southern Lapland

Satakunta	Satakunta predominantly Pirkanmaa westernmost Central Finland northeastern Finland Proper southeastern Southern Ostrobothnia Loimaa municipality of Finland Proper

Savonia	predominantly Northern Savonia predominantly Southern Savonia

Tavastia	Päijänne Tavastia Tavastia Proper predominantly Central Finland northern Kymenlaakso westernmost Northern Savonia southern and southwestern Pirkanmaa southwesternmost Southern Savonia Somero municipality of Finland Proper

Uusimaa	Uusimaa southern Kymenlaakso

Åland	Åland

Coordinates: 60°29′37″N 22°17′48″E / 60.4936°N 22.2967°E / 60.4936; 22.2967

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