Västergötland: Encyclopedia II - Västergötland - History

Västergötland - History

Västergötland - Prehistory and middle ages

There are many ancient remains in Västergötland, and most prominent are probably the dolmens from the Funnelbeaker culture, in the Falköping area south of lake Vänern.

The population of Västergötland, the Geats appear in the writings of the Greek Ptolemaios (as Goutai). The province of Västergötland represents the heartland of Götaland, and it is believed that it was once an independent petty kingdom with a long line of Geatish kings. These are mainly described in foreign sources (Frankish), and through legends. It is possible that Västergötland had the same king as the rest of Sweden at the time of the monk Ansgar's mission to Sweden in the 9th century, but both date and nature of its inclusion into the Swedish kingdom is a matter of much debate. Some dating it as early as the 6th century, based on the Beowulf epos; others dating it as late as the 12th century.

Around year 1000 King Olof Skötkonung is held to have received baptism in Husaby, near lake Vänern. However, the christianization was met with heavy opposition in the rest of his kingdom, and so Olof had to restrict the Christian activities to Västergötland. The Christian faith was spread, and by the time the provincial law Västgötalagen was written in the 13th century, Västergötland had 517 churches. The seat of the areas diocese seems to originally have been Husaby, but since 1150 the city Skara (just some 20 kilometers south) permanentely overtook that distinction.

From the election of Stenkil in the 11th century, Swedish and Geatish dynasties vied for the control of Sweden during long civil wars. For instance, the Swedish king Ragnvald Knaphövde was elected king by the Swedes, but when he entered Västergötland, he chose not to demand hostage from the powerful Geatish clans and was slain by the Geats near Falköping. Several times, Västergötland was independent from Sweden with kings such as Inge I of Sweden and Magnus the Strong. The area was successively closer tied to the Swedish kingdom.

Being in peace with Sweden did not mean being in peace. Located along the borders of Denmark (the so called Scanian lands) and Norway (with the Bohus County), the area was often involved in armed disputed and invaded by hostile armies.

Some places and dates of early battles were the Battle of Älgarås (1205), the Battle of Lena (1208), the Battle of Hova (1275), the Battle of Gälakvist (1279) and the Battle of Falköping (1389). Thereafter Sweden was involved in the Sweden-Dano wars; some notable years 1452, 1511, 1520, 1566, 1612, 1676.

In 1658 the current borders of Sweden were established when Sweden annected both the Scanian lands and Bohus County. Västergötland became less exposed as it was further from the country borders. Sea side battles at the end of Nordic Seven Years' War in the 1670s were the last of Västergötlands warlike involvations.

Sources:

• Nordisk Familjebok (link below).

Västergötland - 16th century and after

In 1634 the province was modernized with the establishment of two counties: Skaraborg County (with Skara as capital) and Älvsborg County (Capital first in Gothenburg but after 1679 in Vänersborg).

Västergötland - Heraldry

Västergötland was granted its arms at the time of the funeral of Gustav Vasa in 1560. The province is also a duchy and the arms can be represented with the ducal coronet. Blazon: "Per bend sinister Sable and Or, a Lion rampant counterchanged langued and armed Gules between two Mullets Argent in the Sable field."

Västergötland - Dukes of Västergötland

Since 1772, Swedish Kings have created princes as Dukes of various provinces - with purely nominal titles.

• Prince Carl (1861-1951)
• Crown Princess Victoria (since the succession reform of 1980)

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "History", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki