List of Finnish rulers

This is a list of Finnish rulers, that is, the Kingss, ruling Dukes and Queenss of Sweden with Regents and Viceroys of the Kalmar Union, the Grand dukes of Finland (Tsars of Russia), up to the short lived dream of the Kingdom of Finland at independence in 1917. This includes:

• The Swedish kingdom (from the Swedish expansion in Finland) (1154-1389)
  • The Union of the Swedish and Norwegian kingdoms (1319-1343)
• The Kalmar Union (the United Kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden) (1389-1523)
• The Kingdom of Sweden (Sweden-Finland) (1523-1809)
• The Grand Duchy of Finland (in the Russian Empire) (1809-1917)
• The Kingdom of Finland (1917-1918) (Superseded by the Republic of Finland)

Swedish influence in Finland was considerable in pre-Christian times. The Vikings were known to Finns both due to their participation in commerce and plundering. Finland's nearly 700-year association with the Kingdom of Sweden began in 1154 with the introduction of Christianity by King Eric IX of Sweden (Saint Eric).

Finnish rulers

The Houses of Sverker and Eric

• 1130-1156 : Sverker I of Sweden (Sverker den äldre) - The House of Sverker
• 1156-1160 : Eric the Saint (Erik den helige) - The House of Eric
• 1160-1167 : Charles VII of Sweden (Karl Sverkersson) - The House of Sverker
• 1167-1195 : Canute I of Sweden (Knut Eriksson) - The House of Eric
• 1196-1208 : Sverker II of Sweden (Sverker den yngre) - The House of Sverker
• 1208-1216 : Eric X of Sweden (Erik Knutsson) - The House of Eric
• 1216-1222 : John I of Sweden (Johan Sverkersson) - The House of Sverker
• 1222-1229 : Eric XI of Sweden (Erik Eriksson) - The House of Eric
• 1229-1234 : Canute II of Sweden (Knut Långe)
• 1234-1250 : Eric XII of Sweden (Erik Eriksson) - The House of Eric

The House of Folkung

• 1250-1275 : Valdemar of Sweden (Valdemar Birgersson)
• 1275-1290 : Magnus I of Sweden (Magnus Ladulås)
• 1290-1318 : Birger of Sweden (Birger Magnusson)
• 1319-1364 : Magnus II of Sweden (Magnus Eriksson)
• 1363-1395 : Albert of Mecklenburg (Albrekt av Mecklenburg)

Regents of the Kalmar Union and Viceroys (Riksföreståndare)

• 1389-1412 : Margaret I of Sweden (Margareta)
• 1396-1439 : Eric of Pomerania (Erik av Pommern)
• 1438-1440 : Charles VIII of Sweden (Karl Knutsson Bonde)
• 1441-1448 : Christopher of Bavaria (Kristoffer av Bayern)
• 1448-1448 : Viceroys Bengt and Nils Jönsson Oxenstierna
• 1448-1457 : Charles VIII of Sweden
• 1457-1457 : Viceroys Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna and Eric Axelsson Tott
• 1457-1464 : Christian I of Sweden (Kristian I)
• 1464-1465 : Charles VIII of Sweden
• 1465-1465 : Viceroy Kettil Karlsson Vasa
• 1465-1466 : Viceroy Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna
• 1466-1467 : Viceroy Eric Axelsson Tott
• 1467-1470 : Charles VIII of Sweden
• 1470-1497 : Viceroy Sten Sture the elder (Sten Sture den äldre)
• 1497-1501 : John II of Sweden (Hans)
• 1501-1503 : Viceroy Sten Sture the elder
• 1504-1511 : Viceroy Svante Sture (Svante Nilsson Sture)
• 1512-1512 : Viceroy Eric Trolle
• 1512-1520 : Viceroy Sten Sture the younger (Sten Sture den yngre)
• 1520-1521 : Christian II of Sweden (Kristian II Tyrann)

The House of Vasa

• 1521-1560 : Gustav I of Sweden (Gustav Vasa)
  • As Gustav Vasa, viceroy 1521-1523
• 1560-1568 : Eric XIV of Sweden (Erik XIV)
• 1568-1592 : John III of Sweden (Johan III)
  • As Duke John of Finland, 1556-1563
• 1592-1599 : Sigismund of Sweden (Sigismund)
• 1599-1611 : Charles IX of Sweden (Karl IX)
  • As Duke Charles, viceroy 1599-1604
• 1611-1632 : Gustav Adolphus the great (Gustaf II Adolf den store)
• 1632-1654 : Christina of Sweden (Kristina)

The House of Palatinate

• 1654-1660 : Charles X Gustav of Sweden (Karl X Gustav)
• 1660-1697 : Charles XI of Sweden (Karl XI)
• 1697-1718 : Charles XII of Sweden (Karl XII)
• 1719-1720 : Ulrike Eleonora of Sweden (Ulrika Eleonora)

The House of Hesse

• 1720-1751 : Frederick I of Sweden (Fredrik I)

The House of Holstein-Gottorp

• 1751-1771 : Adolf Frederick of Sweden (Adolf Fredrik)
• 1771-1792 : Gustav III of Sweden (Gustav III)
• 1792-1809 : Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden (Gustav IV Adolf)

The House of Romanov

• 1809-1825 : Alexander I of Russia (Aleksandr I)
• 1825-1855 : Nicholas I of Russia (Nikolay I)
• 1855-1881 : Alexander II of Russia (Aleksandr II)
• 1881-1894 : Alexander III of Russia (Aleksandr III)
• 1894-1917 : Nicholas II of Russia (Nikolay II)

The House of Hesse

• 1918-1918 : Väinö I of Finland (Friedrich Karl von Hessen) - Elected

See also

• President of Finland
• Prime Minister of Finland

• List of Swedish monarchs
• List of Swedish Governors General

• List of Russian tsars
• Governor-General of Finland

• Lists of incumbents