Gödik Fincke Explained

Gödik Fincke
Birth Date:c. 1546
Birth Place:Lammi, Kingdom of Sweden (now Finland)
Death Date:1617 (70–71 years)
Death Place:Ulvila, Swedish Empire (now Finland)
Allegiance: Sweden
Rank:Stadtholder
Battles:Livonian War
Cudgel War
War against Sigismund

Gödik Gustafsson Fincke (c. 1546–1617) was a Finnish-born member of the Swedish nobility and military officer who served as the stadtholder of Olavinlinna Castle.

Life

During the Livonian War he served in the Swedish military and was severely wounded 1573 in a battle by the Koluvere Castle in Estonia. Fincke was then transferred to administrative duties. In 1582, he was named as the stadtholder of the Olavinlinna Castle in Savonia. In 1596–1597 Fincke took part in suppressing the revolting Finnish peasants in the Cudgel War. In the 1598–1599 War against Sigismund, Olavinlinna became the last stronghold of Sigismund's supporters as his brother Sten Fincke fled to the castle. Olavinlinna soon surrendered to the troops of Charles IX without any resistance, Sten was executed in the Åbo bloodbath and Gödik expelled of his post.[1] [2]

Fincke spent his last years in Ulvila, Satakunta, where he died in 1617. Fincke and his spouse, Elisabeth Boije are buried to the St. Olaf's Church in Ulvila.[2]

References

  1. Web site: Frälsesläkter i Finland intill stora ofreden. Project Runeberg. Ramsay, Jully. sv. 22 January 2017.
  2. Web site: Gödik Fincke. The Dictionary of Swedish National Biography. Anthoni, Eric. sv. 22 January 2017.