|
|
|
EUROPE PAGE
FINLAND PAGE
FINLAND: 
Description
Fast Facts
Famous Natives
Flag
Islands/Regions
Landforms
Lat/Long
Links
Maps
Symbols
Time
Timeline
Travel Info
Weather
PRINT THIS MAP
Gustav Vasa (Gustav I), King of Sweden
by Jokob Bincks, painted in 1542
 photo copyrighted by: Finnish Defense Forces
|
|
Timeline
(100 - 400) Migrations to Finland from southern Baltic
(400 - 800) Iron Age culture developed; Finland strengthened ties with regional powers
(800 - 1050) Swedish Vikings established trade ties with Russia via Finland
(1150's) Swedish led crusades to southwestern Finland; converted Finns to Christianity
(1155 - 1809) Finland incorporated into Kingdom of Sweden
(1238 -1249) Second crusade to Tavasita by Swedes
(1293) Third Crusade by Swedes to eastern Finland; established dividing line between Catholic West and Orthodox East
(1323) Peace treaty of Pähkinäsaari signed
(1362) Finns granted right to send representatives to vote in Sweden's election
(1523) Gustavus Vasa (King of Sweden) established Lutheran Church in Sweden and Finland
(1550) Helsinki founded
(1596 - 1597) "Mallet War" took place, farmers revolted against nobels
(1617) Peace of Stolbova enacted; Sweden became ruler of Baltic Sea, controlled entire Gulf of Finland
(1696 - 1697) Devastating famine killed one-third of population
(1713 - 1721) Russia invaded Finland; maintained reign of terror
(1721) In Treaty of Uusikaupunki, Sweden gave southeastern Finland, Livonia, Estonia and Ingria to Russia
(1743) In Treaty of Abo, Sweden ceded southeast Finland to Russia
(1808 - 1809) "Finnish War" fought between Sweden and Russia
(1809) Sweden ceded Finland to Russia; Finland became Grand Duchy of Russia; State Council of Finns appointed; Finland enjoys limited autonomy
(1812) Helsinki named capital of Finland
(1860) Finland acquired its own currency, the markka (Finnish mark)
(1864) Finnish peasants allowed to buy land
(1879 - 1880) Finnish explorer, A.E. Nordenskiöld, took first ship through Arctic via Northeast Passage
(1881 - 1894) Earlier rights in Finland encroached upon by Tsar Alexander III; rural poverty led to large-scale emigration to U. S.
(1894 - 1917) Finland lost much autonomy; russification of Finland policy initiated; censorship and conscription introduced; civil disobedience began
(1906) Finland acquired national parliament
(1907) Finland became first European country to give women right to vote
(1917) Finland declared independence from Russia; Finnish Republic demanded withdrawal of Russian troops; Russia declared Finland to be independent
(1918) Civil War in Finland occurred between "Whites" (Finland forces) and "Reds" (Russian troops); Whites victorious
(1919) Finland became republic; K. J. Ståhlberg became first president
(1920) Peace of Tartu officially declared Finland's independence; Finland became member of League of Nations
(1930) Laupa (Fascist) movement resulted in great peasants' march to Helsinki
(1930 - 1955) Finland enacted forced sterilization program
(1932) Finland and Soviet Union signed non-aggression treaty
(1939) World War II began; Finland declared neutrality; Soviet Union invaded, Winter War began
(1940) Finland forced to concede to Soviet Union; Treaty of Moscow gave 10% of Finnish territory to Soviet Union
(1941) Germany attacked Soviet Union; Finland launched military campaign to regain territory from Soviet Union; Britain declared war on Finland
(1941 - 1944) "Continuation War" with Russia
(1944) Red Army (Soviets) invaded; armistice signed; Finland conceded more land to Soviet Union; paid hundreds of millions of dollars in war reparations
(1945) Finland fought against Germany in Lapland
(1947) Peace treaty signed between Soviet Union and Finland
(1948) Finland and Soviet Union signed Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance
(1952) Olympic Games held in Helsinki
(1955) Finland joined United Nations and Nordic Council
(1956) Soviet Union returned Porkkala Naval Base to Finland
(1956 - 1981) Urho Kekkonen serves as President
(1958) "Night frost crisis" - Soviet Union intervened in composition of Finnish government
(1961) Finland became associate member of European Free Trade Association (EFTA); Soviet Union intervened in Finnish presidential election - "the note crisis"
(1970) Finland adopted 40-hour work week
(1973) Finland signed free-trade agreement with European Economic Community (EEC)
(1975) Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe took place in Helsinki, representatives from 35 countries attended
(1989) Finland became member of Council of Europe
(1991) Soviet Union broke up; Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance lapsed
(1991 - 1993) Former Soviet Union and eastern European markets collapsed; Finnish economy suffered deep recession
(1992) Finland applied for membership in the European Union (EU) community
(1994) Finland became member of NATO Partnership for Peace Program; voters approved membership of European Union
(1995) Finland became member of European Union
(1999) Social Democratic Party returned to power by voters; EU summit held in Helsinki, expanded to 28 members
(2000) Tarja Halonen elected Finland's first female president; new Constitution went into effect
(2002) Blast in Myyrmanni shopping mall killed seven, 80 injured; Finland changed currency to Euro; Parliament approved construction of fifth nuclear reactor; Green Party withdrew from government coalition in protest
(2003) Center-left government formed by three political parties;(April) Anneli Jaatteenmake became first female prime minister; (June) Prime Minister Jaatteenmake resigned due to accusations about leaks of information during campaign
(2004) Icy road conditions in southern Finland caused bus/truck accident, killed 24, injured 15; two Finnish businessmen shot and killed in Baghdad
(2005) Nation-wide paper industry strike due to holiday pay and work conditions
(2006) Parliament voted in favor of EU constitution
(2007) Centre Party won parliamentary elections
|
|
|
