During the war with Napoleon in 1812 six jaegerbattalions were formed in Finland. These were disbanded in 1830.
A training battalion formed in 1827 was renamed Henkikaartin Suomen Tarkk'ampujapataljoona (Guards Sharpshooter battalion) which was more familiarily known as the Guard of Finland (Suomen kaarti). It stayed as a unit of the imperial Russian army until 1905 when it was disbanded. The Cadet school in Hamnina was founded in 1812 and continued until 1903. A Suomen Krenatööritarkk'ampujapataljoona (Grenadier Sharpshooter Battalion) was founded in 1846, but later disbanded 1860.
Crimean war
During the Crimean War nine battalions were formed in Finland. The soldiers were drafted using the old Ruotulaitos method, a remnant from the old Swedish system. The battalions were disbanded in 1867.
The conscription act of 1878
Ranks
English
Finnish
Russian
Generals
Kenraalit
General
Kenraali
Lieutenant-General
Kenraaliluutnantti
Major-General
Kenraalimajuri
Esiupseerit
Colonel
Eversti
Lieutenant Colonel
Everstiluutnantti
Yliupseerit
Captain
Kapteeni
Kapitan
Secon Captain
Alikapteeni
Stabs-kapitan
Lieutenant
Luutnantti
Sub-Lieutenant
Aliluutnantti
Ensign
Vänrikki
Commissioned officers
Alipäällikkö-kunta ja miehistö
Quartermaster Sergeant
Varusmestari
Kaptenarmus
Senior Sergeant
Vanhempi aliupseeri
Starshii unterofitser
Junior Sergeant
Nuorempi aliupseeri
Mladshii unterofitser
Corporal
Jefreitteri
Efreitor
Soldier
Sotamies
During the 1860sconscription was seen as an effective way to maintain an army. In 1878 a law was passed by the Emperor Alexander II calling for a general conscription in Finland. The result was a army that was separated from the Russian army. The army was to consist of only Finnish citizens and was to be led by the Governor-General of Finland. The maximum number of men in the army was set to 5600 and it was to consist of .
The battalions were founded in 1880-1881 and were full in 1883.
Finland was made a titulary GrandDuchy in 1581, when king John III of Sweden, who had been royal duke of Finland since 1556, made himself Grand Duke.
In 1808, Finland was conquered by the armies of Russian Emperor Alexander I and thereafter made an autonomous grandduchy in personal union with Imperial Russia until its fall in the end of 1917.
For the foundation of the GrandDuchy as an entity with relatively great autonomy within the Russian realm, and for the regain of the so called Old Finland, that was lost to Russia in the previous century, the Finland-born Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt, councillor to the emperor, was instrumental.
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