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Suomenlinna castle)
Suomenlinna (Finnish), or Sveaborg (Swedish), is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands, today within Helsinki, the capital of Finland. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and popular with both tourists and locals, who enjoy it as a picturesque picnic site. Originally named Sveaborg (Swedish castle), the Finns renamed it Suomenlinna (Finnish castle) for obvious patriotic reasons.
Sweden started building the fortress in 1748 as a protection against Russian expansionism. The general responsibility for the job of fortification was given to Augustin Ehrensvärd. The original plan was strongly influenced by the precepts of Vauban, the foremost military engineer of the time.
In addition to the island fortress itself, seafacing fortifications on the continent would ensure that an enemy could not get a beach-head there from which to attack. The plan was also to stock munitions for the whole Finnish contingent of the Swedish Army and Royal Swedish Navy navy there. In the Finnish War the fortress surrendered to Russia on May 3rd 1808, paving the way for a Russian occupation of Finland in 1809.
The Swedish era
Sweden started building the fortress in 1748, when Finland was still a part of the Swedish kingdom. Augustin Ehrensvärd (1710–1772) and his gigantic fortification work on the islands off the town brought the district a new and unexpected importance.
Map of Sveaborg at the
1790s In 1703 Peter the Great had founded his new capital, St. Petersburg, in the furthest-flung corner of the Gulf of Finland. In the approach to it he built the fortified naval base of Kronstadt. Russia had become a maritime power and a force to be reckoned with in the Baltic Sea.
The situation posed a threat to Sweden; Russian naval units made skirmishes right up to the Swedish coast. Other European states were also concerned about developments, especially France, with which Sweden had concluded a military alliance. After lengthy debate the Swedish parliament decided in 1747 to fortify the Russian frontier and to establish a naval base at Helsinki as a counter to Kronstadt. The frontier fortifications were established at Loviisa (Lovisa).
Fortification of Helsinki and its islands began in January 1748, when an Augustin Ehrensvard as a young lieutenant colonel came to direct the operations. A number of fortifications were also built on the Russian side of the new border during the 18th century and some of the existing Swedish ones were added to.
Following a pact between Alexander I and Napoleon, Russia launched war against Sweden and occupied Finland in 1808. By the Treaty of Fredrikshamn in 1809 Finland was ceded from Sweden and became an autonomous grand duchy within the Russian Empire. The Swedish period in Finnish history, which had lasted some seven centuries had come to an end.
Under Russian rule
The long period of peace following the transfer of power was shattered by the Crimean War of 1854–56. The allies decided to engage Russia on two fronts and sent an Anglo-French fleet to the Baltic Sea. For two summers the fleet shelled the towns and fortifications along the Finnish coast. Bombardment of Suomenlinna (then known as Sveaborg or Viapori) lasted 47 hours and the fortress was badly damaged.
After the Crimean War extensive restoration work was begun at Suomenlinna. A new ring of earthworks with artillery emplacements was built at the western and southern edges of the islands.
The next stage in the arming of Suomenlinna and the Gulf of Finland came in the build-up to the World War I. The fortress and its surrounding islands became part of "Peter the Great's naval fortification" designed to safeguard the capital, St. Petersburg.
Present
Suomenlinna has always been much more than just a part of Helsinki — it is a town within the town. Nowadays there are about 900 people living on the islands, and 350 people work here all year round. The Naval Academy of Finland is located on one of the islands. This is one of the features that make Suomenlinna unique: the fortress is not merely a museum.
Suomenlinna has always been known as an avant-garde of culture, the influence of which has affected the cultural life throughout Finland. The performances regularly draw full houses. But the easiest way to get acquainted with local culture is through the architecture of Suomenlinna. On the islands, styles from different periods form a harmonious whole. But as a monument to military architecture, the fortress is unique in the world.
Notes
The Suomenlinna Kuninkaanportti ("King's gate") entrance gateway, bearing a plaque with Augustin Ehrensvärd's famous quote "Eftervärld, stå här på egen botn och lita icke på främmande hielp" ("Progeny, stand here on your own foundation and do not rely on foreign help"), was Erik Bruun's illustration motive for the 1000 Markkaa banknote. However, it is not actually possible to see the gate exactly as it appears on the banknote. Bruun stylised the illustration a little to better show off the famous gate.
See also
External links
Last updated: 08-20-2005 09:52:28
