Savonia (historical province)

Historical province of Finland

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Arms of Savonia: Sable, per bend a drawn composite bow Or fletched and strung Argent

Savonia (Finnish: Savo; Swedish: Savolax) is a historical province in the east of Finland. It borders Tavastia, Ostrobothnia and Karelia. Savonia is now divided into two provinces: North Savonia and South Savonia. The largest cities in Savonia by population are Kuopio, Mikkeli, Savonlinna, Varkaus and Iisalmi.

## Administration

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Historical province of Savonia in dark blue (modern regions bordered in yellow)

In the 19th century, Savonia was divided between Kuopio Province and Mikkeli Province. From 1997 to 2010, it lay within the administrative province of Eastern Finland. The provinces have no administrative function today but survive as ceremonial units. Since 2010, Savonia has been divided between the regions of North Savonia and South Savonia.

## History

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The province of Savo represents the original homeland of the Savonians, one of the subgroups that later became assimilated to form the Finns. It was the heartland of the east Finnish or Savonian dialects.

The people of Savonia traditionally pursued slash-and-burn agriculture, which settlers successfully imported into Ostrobothnia and Kainuu, Värmland in southwestern Sweden, and eastern Norway. Savonian settlers also migrated to Finnish Karelia, Ingria (see: Ingrian Finns) and to southern Sweden, parts of northern Sweden, and Norway (see: Forest Finns).

Savonia, which had been a part of Sweden from the late-13th century, was separated from Sweden when Finland was ceded to Russia in September 1809.

## Culture

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Traditionally, the Savonian people have often been considered as "sneaky". Recent research has shown that this reputation is largely due to misunderstandings caused by Savonians' traditional lack of social directness.[1]

## Heraldry

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The arms of Savonia are crowned by a count's coronet, though by Finnish tradition this more resembles a Swedish baronial coronet. Blazon: "Sable, a drawn hand bow in and arrow aimed toward dexter chief, or; bow string, arrowhead and feathered tail, argent." The traditional colors of the province are black and gold.

## References

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1. ^ Yle News - Savolainen kierous onkin vaarinymmarrys : http://yle.fi/uutiset/3-5338205

## Further reading

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* Anna-Maria Åström (1993). 'Sockenboarne' : herrgårdskultur i Savolax 1790-1850 / Anna-Maria Åström. Skrifter utgivna av Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland (in Swedish). Helsinki: Society of Swedish Literature in Finland. ISBN 951-583-007-9. ISSN 0039-6842. Wikidata Q113529937.

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Historical provinces of Finland

Finland Proper |

* Finland Proper (except Loimaa and Somero municipalities)

Karelia |

* North Karelia (except Heinävesi municipality)
* South Karelia

* eastern Kymenlaakso
* easternmost North Savo
* southwestern South Savo

Laponia |

* Lapland, northern (Enontekiö, Inari, Kittilä, Pelkosenniemi, Savukoski, Sodankylä and Utsjoki municipalities)

Ostrobothnia |

* Central Ostrobothnia
* Coastal Ostrobothnia
* Kainuu
* Lapland, southern (Kemi, Kemijärvi, Keminmaa, Kolari, Muonio, Pello, Posio, Ranua, Rovaniemi, Salla, Simo, Tervola, Tornio and Ylitornio municipalities)
* North Ostrobothnia
* South Ostrobothnia (except Soini and Ähtäri municipalities)

Satakunta |

* Satakunta
* predominantly Pirkanmaa

* Keuruu and Multia of Central Finland
* Loimaa of Finland Proper
* Soini and Ähtäri of South Ostrobothnia

Savonia |

* predominantly North Savo
* predominantly South Savo

Tavastia |

* Central Finland (except Keuruu and Multia municipalities)
* Kanta-Häme
* Päijät-Häme

* Somero of Finland Proper
* northwestern Kymenlaakso
* westernmost North Savo
* southern and easternmost Pirkanmaa
* southwesternmost South Savo

Uusimaa |

* Uusimaa

* southwestern Kymenlaakso

Åland |

* Åland

Authority control databases

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* VIAF

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* IdRef

62°35′00″N 27°49′00″E﻿ / ﻿62.5833°N 27.8167°E﻿ / 62.5833; 27.8167
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