Vyborg Castle.

Vyborg Castle (Russian: Выборгский замок, Finnish: Viipurin linna, Swedish: Viborgs fästning) is a Swedish built medieval fortress around which the town of Vyborg, Russia evolved. Currently it is a museum. Image File history File linksMetadata Vyborg_s_vody. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Vyborg_s_vody. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... A view of Vyborg from the castle tower Vyborg (Russian: ; Finnish: ; Swedish: ; German: ) is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, 130 km to the northwest of St. ...

General

Viipurin linna was one of the three major castles of Finland. It was built as the easternmost outpost of the medieval Kingdom of Sweden: it is located on the Karelian isthmus, on a little islet in the innermost corner of the Gulf of Finland, in a tight strait which connects Suomenvedenpohja to Bay of Viipuri. It was originally constructed in the 1290s. The Karelian Isthmus is the narrow stretch of land between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia. ... The Baltic Sea The Gulf of Finland is an arm of the Baltic Sea that extends between Finland (to the north) and Estonia (to the south) all the way to the city of Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the river Neva drains into it. ... The Bay of Vyborg is a deep inlet running northeastward near the eastern end of Gulf of Finland. ...

The town was originally located inside the outer fortifications of the castle, at the fortress island, but it had to be moved to its present location out of the island because of lack of space.

Medieval history

View of the castle.

Walls of the castle.

The construction of the fortress started in 1293 by orders of Torkel Knutsson, the Lord High Constable of Sweden who made in 1290s a so-called crusade to Karelia, the so-called Third Finnish Crusade, actually aimed against Russians, i.e Novgorod. He chose the location of the new fortress to keep the Bay of Vyborg, which was a trading site used by locals already for a long time. From the bay, a river way goes inland, ultimately connecting the place to several districts, lakes, and indirectly also to rivers going to Ladoga. Image File history File linksMetadata Vyborgzamok. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Vyborgzamok. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Vyborg_wall. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Vyborg_wall. ... Torkel Knutsson, d. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article is about the medieval crusades. ... Map showing the parts Karelia is traditionally divided into. ... The Republic of Novgorod and medieval Sweden waged a number of wars for control of the Gulf of Finland, an area vital for the lucrative Hanseatic trade. ... Medieval walls of Novgorod City The Novgorod Feudal Republic (Russian: ) was a powerful mediæval Russian state which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains between the 12th and 15th centuries. ... The Bay of Vyborg or Bay of Viipuri is a deep inlet running northeastward near the eastern end of Gulf of Finland. ...

The three high-medieval Finnish "castle fiefs" were ruled from the castles of Turku, Hämeenlinna and Viipuri, respectively until the 1360s. Turku (IPA:  , Swedish:  ), founded in the 13th century, is the oldest and fifth largest city in Finland, with a population of 174,868 (as of 2005). ... View of Lake Vanajavesi, next to Hämeenlinna. ...

In 1366, Albert III of Mecklenburg was elected king, and according to the German model he began to divide up the castle fiefs, which were immense in Finland, into smaller provinces. In some cases, these new, smaller provinces were given separate bailiffs' residences which have since disappeared; this was the case with the Linnavuori castle mound in Porvoo and the castle of Korsholm in Ostrobothnia, near the today city of Vaasa which was founded later. Only earthworks remain at these sites, but in two places, stone strongholds were built which still exist, although in ruins. One is Raseborg Castle in western Uusimaa (west of Helsinki), the other Kastelholm castle in the Åland (Ahvenanmaa) islands Royal Seal of Albert of Sweden Albert of Sweden (or Albrecht von Mecklenburg in German or Albrekt av Mecklenburg in Swedish) was born in 1338 and became king of Sweden in 1363. ... Bailiff (from Late Latin bajulivus, adjectival form of bajulus) is a governor or custodian (cf. ... Founded 1346 Province Southern Finland Region Eastern Uusimaa Sub-region Porvoo Area - Of which land - Rank 663. ... Ostrobothnia, Österbotten (literally East (of) Bottom / the Gulf of Bothnia) or Pohjanmaa (literally Bottom land / soil / ground), is a historical province to the north in Finland. ... Founded 1606 Province Western Finland Region Ostrobothnia Sub-region Vaasa Area - Of which land - Rank 397 km² 183 km² ranked 345th Population - Population density - Rank 57,266 311,2 inh. ... Founded 1550 Country Finland Province Southern Finland Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki Area[1] - Of which land - Rank 185. ... Motto: none Anthem: Ã…länningens sÃ¥ng Capital Mariehamn Official languages Swedish Government Autonomous province  - Governor Peter Lindbäck1  - Premier Roger Nordlund Autonomy    - Declared 1920   - Recognized 19212  Accession to EU January 1, 19953 Area  - Total 13,517 km² (n/a) 5,267 sq mi   - Water (%) 89 Population  - 2005 estimate 26...

The castle became the stronghold of the Swedish realm in Karelian regions. Throughout the centuries, it was the first defence of the kingdom against Russians. Its military and strategic status was in the late Middle Ages only second to the fortified capital Stockholm. Nickname: Location of Stockholm in northern Europe Coordinates: Country Sweden Municipality Stockholm Municipality County Stockholm Province Södermanland and Uppland Charter 13th Century Population (April 2007)  - City 782,885  - Density 4,160/km² (10,774. ...

The castle and the large surrounding fief became a virtually autonomous principality. Its governors were usually fiefed with the incomes of the county. The fief of Viborg became known as a margraviate. Its governors were generally from the most powerful families of the kingdom. They enjoyed large administrative powers and a good distance from the capital. Those realities made them practically independent rulers. Usually, the castle of Olavinlinna (built in 1470s) was subjugated to Viipuri. Autonomy is the condition of something that does not depend on anything else. ... A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a Monarch with the title of prince or princess (a synonym is princedom) or (in the widest sense) a Monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince. ... Margraviate of Wiburg or fief of Viipuri or Viipuri county, 1320-1534, was for some two centuries a late medieval feudal fief in the southeastern border of Finland and the entire Swedish realm, held by its chatelain, a fiefed, appointed feudal lord. ... Graf is a German noble title equal in rank to a count or an earl. ... External links Savonlinna Opera Festival - Official site Categories: Stub | Castles in Finland | Fortresses in the Swedish Realm ...

Prominent figures who held Viipuri as their fief, were Bo Jonsson Grip, Christer Nilsson Vasa (1417-42), Karl Knutsson Bonde (1442-48, the future king), Eric Axelson Tott (1457-81), Knut Posse (1495-97), Sten Sture the Elder (1497-99, between his regencies), Eric Bielke and count John of Hoya. Particularly in 1440s and in late 15th century, the fortresses were further enlarged. Bo Jonsson Grip (b. ... Charles VIII of Sweden, Carl I of Norway, or Karl Knutsson (Bonde), king of Sweden (1448-1457, 1464-1465 and from 1467 to his death in 1470); king of Norway (1449-1450). ... Sten Sture the Elder (Sten Sture den äldre; 1440–1503) was a Swedish statesman and regent of Sweden during the Union of Kalmar (1470–1497 and 1501–1503). ... Eric Bielke (d 1511), also known as Eerikki Tuurenpoika and Eric Tureson, royal councillor of Sweden, knighted, feudal fiefholder of Viipuri castle (=margrave) He was son of sir Ture Tureson of Kråkerum, Lord High Constable of Sweden, and Ingegerd Kyrningsdatter af Farlöv (being descended from different Danish families...

The first mention of firearms in Finland relates to Viborg castle, in 1429. During the Middle Ages the castle was repeatedly besieged by the Russians, most famously in 1495, during the Russo-Swedish War (1496-1499). Governor Knut Posse was in office 1495-1497. The situation of the defenders looked hopeless, but they were saved by the Viborg blast on 30 November 1495, a mysterious explosion which scared off the Russians because they reportedly saw a St. Andrew's cross in the sky. ... The Viipuri blast during the Russo-Swedish War, 1496-1499 is, according to well-preserved folklore and some indications in contemporary documents, an immense explosion which on 30 November 1495 destroyed fortifications of the then Swedish Vyborg Castle when it was besieged by Russians. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining. ... 1495 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Modern history

Castle Vyborg 2003

In the 16th century, much was renovated and additions made. In the 17th century, the castle was allowed to decay, as Russian danger was decreased and the border was much more eastwards. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 143 KB) [edit] Summary [edit] Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Vyborg (castle) Talk:Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 143 KB) [edit] Summary [edit] Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Vyborg (castle) Talk:Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper ...

Viipuri was taken by the Russians in 1710, but passed back to Finnish hands in 1812 when all of Old Finland was attached to the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland. The castle owes its present appearance to extensive restorations undertaken in the 1890s. The military of the Russian Empire used the castle until 1918 for housing administration. Old Finland (Vanha Suomi in Finnish) is a name used for the areas that Sweden lost to Russia in the Great Northern War and in the Hats Russian War. ... The Grand Duchy of Finland was a state that existed 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire. ... Anthem God Save the Tsar! The Russian Empire in 1914 Capital Saint Petersburg Language(s) Russian Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1721-1725 Peter the Great (first)  - 1894-1917 Nicholas II (last) History  - Established 22 October, 1721  - February Revolution 2 March, 1917 Area  - 1897 22,400,000 km2 8,648,688 sq...

Viipuri belonged to the independent Republic of Finland between 1917-1940 and again 1941-1944. As a result of border changes in World War II it has again been on the Russian side of the border since 1944. Areas ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Architecture

Main castle, located in eastern part of the islet on itts highest hill, has an irregular four-cornered layout, with the immense tower of St. Olav (Pyhän Olavin torni in Finnish) as its biggest part. 3 or 4 floors, varying in places. Outer fortresses surround the main castle. They follow the islet's coastlines.

See also

• Karelian question in Finnish politics

Areas ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union. ...

References

• Medieval castles of Finland, by Dr Carl Jacob Gardberg, state archaeologist