Provincial Governors of Finland

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Gustaf Ignatius, governor of Kuopio province

The Governor (Finnish: Maaherra, or Swedish: Landshövding) of a province of Finland headed the activities of the State Provincial Office (Finnish: Lääninhallitus, or Swedish: Länsstyrelse) until the end of 2009, when the provinces were abolished.[1] The governors were appointed by the President. Many former ministers including but not limited to Kaarlo Hillilä, Martti Miettunen, Hannele Pokka and Anneli Taina served as governors, since the post was regarded as prestigious enough for a retiring minister, but still politically neutral. The title of maaherra was also considered a personal title, such that once appointed, the title maaherra remained for life.

During the Swedish period (1634–1809) and the Russian period (1809–1917) the governor was a royal plenipotentiary, representing the sovereign, but with independence, the function was reversed: the governor represented his territory to the central government.

List of Provincial Governors[edit]

Province of Turku and Pori 1634–1997[edit]

Province of Nyland and Tavastehus 1634–1831[edit]

Province of Ostrobothnia 1634–1775[edit]

Province of Viborg and Nyslott 1634–1721[edit]

Province of Kexholm 1634–1721[edit]

Province of Kymmenegård and Nyslott 1721–1747[edit]

Province of Savolax and Kymmenegård 1747–1775[edit]

Province of Vaasa 1775–1997[edit]

Province of Oulu 1775–2009[edit]

Province of Kymmenegård 1775–1831[edit]

Province of Savolax and Karelia 1775–1831[edit]

Province of Viipuri 1812–1945[edit]

Province of Uusimaa 1831–1997[edit]

Province of Häme 1831–1997[edit]

Province of Mikkeli 1831–1997[edit]

Province of Kuopio 1831–1997[edit]

Province of Åland 1918–2009[edit]

Province of Petsamo 1921–1921[edit]

Province of Lapland 1938–2009[edit]

Province of Kymi 1945–1997[edit]

Province of Central Finland 1960–1997[edit]

Province of Northern Karelia 1960–1997[edit]

Province of Southern Finland 1997–2009[edit]

Province of Western Finland 1997–2009[edit]

Province of Eastern Finland 1997–2009[edit]

Governors of Västernorrland County, Västerbotten County, Saint Petersburg Governorate and Vyborg Governorate[edit]

Governors of Västernorrland County and Västerbotten County ruled in 1634–1809 also northern part of Finnish Lapland and eastern part of Torne Valley. Governors of Saint Petersburg Governorate and Vyborg Governorate ruled Old Finland (predecessor of Province of Viipuri) in 1721–1812.

Västernorrland County 1634–1638[edit]

Västerbotten County 1638–1809[edit]

Saint Petersburg Governorate 1721–1744[edit]

Vyborg Governorate 1744–1812[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "New regional administration model abolishes provinces in 2010". Helsingin Sanomat International Edition. Sanoma Corporation. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2010.