Part of a series on
Scandinavia
Countries Denmark Finland Iceland Norway Sweden
History History by country Åland Denmark Faroe Islands Finland Greenland Iceland Norway Scotland Sweden Chronological history Prehistory Stone Age Bronze Age Iron Age Migration Period Viking Age Norsemen Christianization Kalmar Union Sweden Denmark–Norway Sweden–Norway Denmark–Iceland Nordic Council
Geography Mountains Peninsula Baltic Sea North Sea
Economy Nordic model Finland Sweden
Related Languages Scandinavism Nordic countries Monetary Union Defence Union Scandinavian Airlines
Denmark Faroe Islands Finland Iceland Norway Sweden
v t e

The history of Åland can be traced back to roughly 4000 BCE, when humans first reached the archipelago in the Neolithic period.^[1] Several Bronze Age villages have been found on Åland. During the Viking Age, six hillforts were built. Sweden controlled the Åland Islands from the 1200s until 1809, during which Kastelholm Castle was the focal point of many battles. In 1809, the Russian empire took Åland and Finland. In 1854, British and French forces attacked Bomarsund. The Åland Islands were then demilitarised until 1906. In 1918, Swedish and German forces occupied the Åland Islands. After the Finnish Civil War, Åland joined Finland following the Åland Convention of 1921.

Around 18,000 BC, during the Weichselian glaciation, a thick cover of ice stretched over Scandinavia,^[2] which eventually receded from the islands around 9000 BC.^[3] Around 8000 BC the highest peaks of the then submerged archipelago rose from the Baltic Sea.^[4] The sea levels would alternate in the Baltic Sea,^[5] but a land bridge to Åland never formed, indicating the first humans came by boat or over the ice.^[1]

Due to the post-glacial rebound after the icecaps melted, the area around Åland is still rising several millimeters per year, marginally expanding the archipelago's surface.^[6]

Artifacts of human remains, pottery and animal bones were found dating as far back as the Middle Neolithic (ca. 4000 BC). These are the oldest findings, denoting human presence on the isles by then. Their cultures were Scandinavian, firstly the Pitted Ware culture and later joined by the Comb Ceramic culture.^[1][7] Around this time is when the first primitive agriculture began.^[8]

Many Bronze Age villages have been found on Åland. Ceramics and animal bones have been found on Kökar.^[9] Signs of livestock have been found from the Bronze Age on Åland.^[10]

Dense settlements were built on Fasta Åland during this time.^[8] Large burial grounds have been found on Åland as well.^[11] Arabic mint coins from 400 C.E. have been found on Åland.^[1] On Åland, there are six hillforts from this period.^[12] There was extensive trade with other areas, as far as Arabia.^[8][13][14] The first signs of Christianity were found from the Middle Ages.^[8]

The first wooden churches were built on Åland.^[8][13] The Åland Islands might have been occupied by Eric the Saint, other sources claim Åland was already an integral part of Sweden. The first stone churches were built in the 1300s to 1400s on Åland.^[13][8] When construction began on Kastelholm Castle is not exactly known, but it most likely began in the 1380s.^[8][15] Kastelholm is first mentioned in 1388.^[15] Many noble families lived on Åland.^[13] The Franciscan order founded a monastery on Hamnö in Kökar in the 1400s.^[13] Åland joined the Kalmar Union.

In 1507 the Danish naval officer Søren Norby captured Kastelholm castle.^[13][8] Many battles would take place between the Danish and Swedish over Kastelholm between 1521 and 1523.^[8] Gustav Vasa made Åland a royal castle county in 1537.^[13] Healso established three large breeding farm estates.^[13] Catholicism came to an end on Åland. The monasteries were closed, and the churches and monasteries had to give their silver to the state.^[13]

Åland became part of the Swedish Empire, and many Ålanders were enrolled for war.^[13] The postal service was given a permanent route which went from Stockholm to Turku through Åland.^[8][13]

Between 1665 and 1668 the Kastelholm witch trials took place on Åland. Over 20 women were accused of witchcraft and executed.^[13]

The first school was founded on Åland in the 1600s in Saltvik.^[13]

During the Great Northern War, many Ålanders fled west from the advancing Russians.^[13] The Battle of Grengam took place in Åland during the Great Northern War on 7 August 1720.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the Russians occupied Åland in 1808. The Treaty of Fredrikshamn was signed by Russia and Sweden. Finland and Åland were ceded to Russia.^[16][8][13]

In 1829 the Fortress of Bomarsund began construction.^[8][17] As part of the Crimean War, the Anglo-French invasion of Åland took place. The coalition force attacked and destroyed the fortress of Bomarsund during the Battle of Bomarsund.^[8] British Prime Minister Palmerston had protested against this fortification some twenty years prior, without effect. The Treaty of Paris forbade the fortification of the islands after the destruction of Bomarsund.^[18]

As the result of abundant Anopheles claviger mosquitoes, malaria was endemic in Åland for at least 150 years, with severe outbreaks being recorded in the 18th century, and in 1853 and 1862.^[19]

In 1882, Lemströms canal opened to ship traffic.^[8] A telegraph cable was in use from Mariehamn to Nystad in 1877. The Önningeby artists' colony was founded in 1886. The first telephone was installed in Mariehamnin in 1892.^[20] A Russian garrison was established in the islands in 1906. Some attention went to the earlier Treaty of Paris when Russia, under pretext of stopping the smuggling of arms into Finland, placed considerable naval and military forces on the islands. The secret Treaty of Björkö (Russia and Germany), which gave Russia a free hand to install military forces on the islands, was signed in 1907.

World War I broke out, and Russia began building fortifications on Åland.^[8][21] Fortifications would be built on Saggö, Börkö, Sålis, Frebbenby, Mellantrop, Kungsö, Korsö, Herrö, Storklobb and Kökar.^[21] Many Ålanders wanted to join Sweden.^[8][22] A referendum was held on Åland, and 95% were willing to join Sweden.^[23] Finland declared independence from Russia in 1917, and sent troops to take over Åland. Sweden sent troops to Åland on 13 February 1918. The Finnish Whites took Boxö and Saggö. Finnish Reds landed on Åland on 17 February 1918. The Finnish Whites and Reds fought over Godby, and the Whites won. Germans landed on Åland on 28 February 1918.

In 1918 the islanders internationally pled to reunite with Sweden. In 1919 Sweden brought the question before the Paris Peace Conference on 18 March, but the islands remained part of Finland.^[18] Also in 1919, the 1919 Ålandic status referendum took place, where the islanders had an unofficial referendum to integrate into Sweden. In 1921 the Åland convention re-established the demilitarised status of the islands.

• History of Finland
• Invasion of Åland
• Battle of Bomarsund
• Kastelholm Castle
• Åland Convention
• Wikimedia Atlas of Åland

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Åland Islands". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 469.
• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Prothero, G.W. (1920). The Åland Islands. Great Britain. Foreign Office. Historical Section. pp. 9–10.

• Media related to History of Åland at Wikimedia Commons