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2 Provinces of Sweden 3 Counties of Sweden 4 Dominions of Sweden 5 Possesions of Sweden 6 Unions of Sweden |
The nucleus of the Swedish kingdom lay in unification of the ancient lands of Götaland and Svealand in the 11th and 12th century. As the kingdom expanded to the east, Österland, present-day Finland, and to the north Norrland these were in the 14th century also made parts of the kingdom proper. In the 17th century the kingdom expanded to the south where Terra Scania, or Skåneland, and some other territories became incorporated.
The four Swedish lands were in turn divided into separate Provinces or Landskap which were governed by their own laws under the rule of a Thing. The monarchs would gradually strengthen their authority at the expense of the provinces and in the 15th century the provincial laws were replaced by a single law for the entire kingdom.
The Counties were established in 1634 to supersede the Provinces and to introduce a modern administration. The most significant change to the county system took place when Sweden was forced to cede the Finnish Counties to Russia in 1809. Despite this the county reform survived in Finland until 1997 and is still in force in Sweden today.
The Counties and Provinces represent territories that were fully integrated into the Swedish kingdom. Apart from this there also existed dominions that were under Swedish rule, sometimes for centuries, that for various reasons weren't fully integrated.
The Swedish Crown also exercised control over various territories during shorter periods of time. These included time-limited fiefs, colonies and conquered territories under Swedish government.
Sweden has for political and dynastic reasons been in union with other kingdoms and princely states, ostensibly personal unions.
See also: History of Sweden, List of Swedish monarchsLands of Sweden
Main article: Lands of SwedenProvinces of Sweden
Main article: Provinces of SwedenCounties of Sweden
Main article: Counties of SwedenDominions of Sweden
Main article: Dominions of SwedenPossesions of Sweden
Main article: Possessions of SwedenUnions of Sweden
Main article: Unions of Sweden