Intended for 3d print
This model pack includes nine shields embossed with the historical coat of arms of the provinces of Finland, from the era when Finland was a part of Sweden (12th century ad-1809 ad) . Most of the coat of arms were first standardized at the royal funeral procession of king Gustav Vasa in 1560 ad. Finland was not considered conquered territory, but an integral part of Sweden. The nine provinces are as follows:
1. Finland. Also known as "Egentliga Finland" (Finland Proper), Ducatus Finlandiae Meridionalis (Duchy of Southern Finland), or Varsinais-Suomi in finnish. The province was originally only a small region centred on the town of Turku, and one of the first areas of Finland settled by swedes. It was known simply as "Finland" from the 12th century up until Gustav Vasa's son Johan was gifted the province shortly before the king's death. It then became known as the duchy of Southern Finland, and later "Finland Proper" to distinguish it when the entire area of modern Finland started to be called "Finland" in the 17th century. Its coat of arms was a crowned knight's helm, with twin crossed lances adorned with one of the earliest known depictions of the Swedish flag.
2. Karelen. Also known as "Karjala" in finnish, and "Karelia" in English and Latin. A frontier province bordering Russia, the coat of arms (two arms, one with a sword and one with a scimitar) symbolized the frequent armed struggles between Sweden and its eastern rival.
3. Lappland. A vast northern province, that originally stretched across both modern Finland and Sweden. Its coat of arms was the mythological red-skinned, club-wielding Wildman.
4. Nyland. A southern coastal province, its coat of arms is a golden boat between two waves.
5. Satakunda. Also known as Finnia Septentrionalis (Northern Finland) in early Swedish imperial times. Satakunda is a combination of the finnish words "hundred" and "parish", so an approximate translation would be "the hundred-parish province". Its coat of arms was a bear wielding a sword, though it instead wields a scimitar in some depictions.
6. Savolax. The province name, far as I can tell, stems from a local people called Savonians, and the finnish word "lahti" meaning "bay". The Savonians, proficient in slash-and-burn agriculture, would later migrate to Norway and Sweden, becoming known as "Forest Finns". The coat of arms of Savolax was a drawn bow and arrow.
7. Tavastland. A southern province, its coat of arms was a lynx with stars above it and a field of roses below. The lynx was plentiful in the province, and hunting it was considered a priority. An earlier emblem for the province was christ crucified, accompanied by a star and half-moon.
8. Åland. An island group originally considered part of the duchy of Southern Finland, Åland was eventually turned into a separate province in 1569 as a domain of king Gustav Vasa's widow queen Katarina Stenbock. Its coat of arms is a golden deer, and very similar to the coat of arms of the swedish province of Öland (another island province).
9. Österbotten. Also known as "Ostrobothnia", "Botnia orientalis" or "Pohjanmaa". A large province in central Finland. Its coat of arms is six ermines.
