The island group in the mouth of the Gulf of Bothnia, on the sea road between the Uppland coast (Roslagen) and Finland.
Its people speak Scandinavian; their ancestors came from the west in the 7th century, and in the Iron Age and Viking Age the islands were fairly densely settled, with many burial fields and six hillforts, the largest at Borge (de.wikipedia Åland; en.wikipedia History of Åland). In 1200 they have no attested lord. The sources differ on when the Swedish crown took hold: en.wikipedia says 'Åland came under Swedish rule in the 13th century'; de.wikipedia says Åland joined the Swedish kingdom 'well before' Swedish control reached mainland Finland, and that in the church it belonged to the diocese of Linköping, not Turku.
Christianisation is under way; the stone church of Jomala (built 1275-1285) and those of Lemland, Sund, Hammarland, Saltvik and Eckerö are later. They are drawn with the finland realm only because the brief keeps that colour for lordless lands round the Gulf of Finland and no Swedish lordship is attested that winter: they are not Finns.
Who holds it
- Name
- none named
- Title
- the island farmers (no leader named)
- Confidence
- medium
No leader or assembly is recorded; Swedish rule is first attested in the 13th century (en.wikipedia History of Åland).
Overlord
None attested in 1200. The islanders speak a Scandinavian tongue and look across the Sea of Åland to Uppland; Swedish royal lordship is attested only from the 13th century.
What it holds
- the main island and the archipelago from Eckerö to Brändö and Kökar
How things stand that morning
Islanders on the sea road with no attested lord on 1 January 1200; Swedish lordship is attested only later (13th century per en.wikipedia; earlier but undated per de.wikipedia). Christianisation under way; the surviving churches are later.
Wealth
Farming, fishing, sealing; a stopping place for ships crossing between Sweden and Finland.
Military
Old hillforts (Viking Age); none known in use in 1200.
Threats
- passing fleets and sea raiders
Law and courts
Not recorded for 1200.
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 13th century (after this year)Swedish rule is attested; parishes form and the stone churches are built (Jomala 1275-1285).
Places of note
- Jomala: the central parish of the main island (church later)
- Saltvik: the northern bay of the main island, with an old hillfort
Where the sources disagree
- The brief allows Åland to be finland 'if not Swedish that winter'. Nothing pins Swedish lordship on 1 January 1200 (en.wikipedia: Swedish rule in the 13th century; de.wikipedia: in the Swedish kingdom 'well before' mainland Finland, undated), so it is drawn here as lordless. If the campaign prefers the Swedish reading, recolour the province sweden; swn may anchor it so. Either way the islanders spoke Scandinavian and their church looked to Sweden (Linköping, per de.wikipedia).
Evidence: en.wikipedia gives the 13th century for Swedish rule, de.wikipedia an undated earlier date; no source for 1200.
On the map: Whole island group.
Primary sources for Finland
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- The Swedish diplomatarium and its main register, SDHK (documents of 817 to 1540). The register of every known Swedish medieval letter, with full texts for the early centuries. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.