List of heads of state of Finland explained

This is a list of heads of state of Finland; that is, the kings of Sweden with regents and viceroys of the Kalmar Union, the grand dukes of Finland, a title used by most Swedish monarchs and Russian emperors, up to the two-year regency following the independence in 1917, with a brief flirtation with a truly domestic monarchy.

Kingdom of Sweden (until 1809)

Finland as an integral part of Sweden under the King of Sweden

Some texts suggest the Swedish rule of Finland started as early as during the Houses of Sverker and Eric (Sverker I of Sweden 1130–1156 and Eric the Saint 1156–1160). But the first historic documents suggesting rule by Swedish kings in Finland not limited to sparse crusades and conquests are dated at around 1249.

House of Bjälbo

• 1250–1275 : Valdemar Birgersson (Valdemar Birgerinpoika)
  • regent: Birger Jarl
• 1275–1284 : Magnus Ladulås (Maunu Ladonlukko)
• 1284–1291 : Bengt Birgersson (Bengt Birgerinpoika )
• 1291–1302 : Birger Magnusson (Birger Maununpoika)
• 1302–1319 : Valdemar Magnusson (Valdemar Maununpoika) and his first wife
• 1319–1353 : Ingeborg Eriksdottir (Ingeborg Eerikintytär), widow of Valdemar
• 1353–1356 : Bengt Algotsson (Pentti Algotinpoika)
• 1357-1359 : Erik Magnusson (Eerik Maununpoika)
• 1359 : Magnus Eriksson (Maunu Eerikinpoika) with his son Erik Magnusson
• 1359–1364 : Magnus Eriksson and his son Haakon

House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

• 1364–1395 : Albert, King of Sweden (Albrekt Mecklenburgilainen)

Kalmar Union monarchs and Swedish regents

• 1389–1412 : Margaret (Margareeta), widow of King Haakon of Sweden, mother of Olav IV, and heiress of Estonia, a Danish dominion
• 1396–1439 : Eric of Pomerania (Eerik Pommerilainen, died 1459), a first cousin twice removed of Haakon I of Sweden
• 1438–1440 : Karl Knutsson, as regent of Sweden (Kaarle Knuutinpoika)
• 1441–1448 : Christopher of Bavaria (Kristoffer Baijerilainen)
• 1448–1448 : Regents Bengt and Nils Jönsson (Oxenstierna) (Bengt Jönsinpoika Oxenstierna and Nils Jönsinpoika Oxenstierna)
• 1448–1457 : Karl Knutsson, as King of Sweden, he had been 1442–48 chatelain and margrave of Viipuri county
• 1457–1457 : Regents Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna (Jöns Pentinpoika Oxenstierna) the archbishop and Eric Axelsson Tott (Eerik Akselinpoika Tott)
• 1457–1464 : Christian I (Kristian I)
• 1464–1470 : Karl Knutsson (restored)
• 1470–1497 : Regent Sten Sture the Elder (Sten Sture vanhempi) - also, 1483–1501 chatelain and margrave of Viipuri county
• 1497–1501 : Hans (Hannu)
• 1501–1503 : Regent Sten Sture the Elder (Sten Sture vanhempi)
• 1504–1511 : Regent Svante Nilsson (Svante Niilonpoika)
• 1512–1512 : Regent Eric Trolle
• 1512–1520 : Regent Sten Sture the Younger (Sten Sture nuorempi)
• 1520–1521 : Christian II (Kristian II)

House of Vasa

• 1521–1560 : Gustav I Vasa (Kustaa I Vaasa)
• 1560–1569 : Eric XIV (Eerik XIV)
• 1569–1592 : John III (restored), adopted title Grand Prince of Finland (Suomen suuriruhtinas) around 1580
• 1592–1599 : Sigismund (titled Grand Prince of Finland) and John III
• 1599-1606 : John III
• 1606–1632 : Gustav II Adolph the Great (Kustaa II Aadolf), also titled Grand Prince of Finland
• 1632–1654 : Christina of Sweden (Kristiina), also titled Grand Princess of Finland

House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken

• 1654–1660 : Charles X Gustav (Kaarle X Kustaa), also titled Grand Prince of Finland
• 1660–1697 : Charles XI (Kaarle XI), also titled Grand Prince of Finland
• 1697–1718 : Charles XII (Kaarle XII), also titled Grand Prince of Finland
• 1719–1720 : Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden (Ulriika Eleonoora), also titled Grand Princess of Finland

House of Hesse

• 1720–1751 : Frederick I of Sweden (Fredrik I), also titled Grand Prince of Finland

House of Holstein-Gottorp

• 1751–1771 : Adolph Frederick (Aadolf Fredrik), Grand Prince of Finland
• 1771–1792 : Gustav III (Kustaa III), Grand Prince of Finland
  • 1792–1796 : Charles, duke of Södermanland as Regent (Södermanlannin herttua Kaarle)
• 1792–1809 : Gustav IV Adolph (Kustaa IV Aadolf), Grand Prince of Finland

Interim period (1917–1919)

During the interregnum from the fall of Nicholas II to the end of the Finnish Civil War in spring 1918, sovereignty in Finland was exercised by the Finnish Parliament and, until the October Revolution and the declaration of independence, the Russian interim government. After the civil war, regents (valtionhoitaja) were appointed by the parliament and a new king elected.

In May 1918, President Woodrow Wilson stated that the U.S. “shall be willing to recognize the Republic of Finland only when she shows that she is not controlled by Germany, as she now seems to be".^[1]

Regents appointed by parliament

• 27 May 1918 – 12 December 1918 : Pehr Evind Svinhufvud^[2]
• 12 December 1918 – 26 July 1919 : Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim

House of Hesse

|-| Fredrik Kaarle
9 October 1918

14 December 1918
| | 1868
Prussia

---

Son of Frederick William, Landgrave of Hesse
and Princess Anna of Prussia| Princess Margaret of Prussia
1893
6 children| 28 May 1940
Kassel
Aged 72| King-elect of Finland|}

See also

• Ancient kings of Finland
• Duke of Finland
• Governor-General of Finland
• King of Kvenland
• List of Danish monarchs
• List of Greenlandic rulers
• List of Norwegian monarchs
• List of rulers of Iceland
• List of Russian monarchs
• List of Swedish governors-general
• List of Swedish monarchs
• Monarchy of Finland
• President of Finland
• Prime Minister of Finland

Notes and References

1. Web site: Centennial Story of Finland Part 2: First Years of Independence 1917–1927 .
2. During Svinhufvud's regency, Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse was elected as the King of Finland on 9 October 1918. He never took office and renounced the throne on 14 December 1918.