Dec 29, 2009

Kalevala | Historical Context

The Kalevala was a part of a project of independence, providing the social mandate of the nationalist period in Finland' s history (1809-1917).

In Search of a National Identity
1809 marked a turning point in Finland's history. Following the Napoleonic wars of 1808-09, Finland was annexed to Russia as an autonomous Grand Duchy, a distinct political entity with its own governing body, subject to the czar's ultimate authority.

Finland had been ruled by Sweden for 600 years prior to the annexation, and the people of the central Turku region were so heavily...