Diet of Porvoo Facts for Kids

Alexander I opening the Diet of Porvoo.

The Diet of Porvoo was a very important meeting held in Finland in 1809. It was like a special parliament or assembly. Its main goal was to officially create the Grand Duchy of Finland. This new "Grand Duchy" was a part of Russia, but it had its own laws and rights. The meeting took place from March to July in 1809.

The promise made by the ruler, printed in Finnish.

During the Finnish War, Sweden and Russia were fighting. Russia had taken over Finland. The Russian ruler, Tsar Alexander I, called together representatives from all parts of Finland. These representatives were from the four main groups of society, called the Estates: the Nobles, the Clergy (church leaders), the Burghers (townspeople), and the Peasants.

They met in the city of Porvoo between March 25 and July 19, 1809. The most important moment happened on March 29 in Porvoo Cathedral. Tsar Alexander I made a special promise, and the Estates also made their promises.

All the Estates swore to be loyal to Alexander I. They accepted him as the new ruler, or Grand Prince, of Finland. They also promised to keep Finland's existing laws and government structure. In return, Alexander I promised to rule Finland according to its own laws. He also said that Finns could keep their religion and rights. Many people believed this meant he would follow the Swedish Instrument of Government from 1772, which was like Finland's constitution at the time.

The Diet asked that they be called together again after the war ended. The war finished on September 17 with the Treaty of Fredrikshamn. However, it took another 50 years before the Finnish Estates were called to meet again.

Later in the 1800s, when Finnish nationalism grew, some people said that the Diet of Porvoo was like a treaty between two equal countries: Finland and Russia. However, historians today often explain that while Alexander I did say Finland was becoming a "nation among nations," the idea of it being a treaty between equals was more of a political idea used later when Finland was trying to become independent.

Who Participated?

The Diet of Porvoo had representatives from different groups of people, known as the Estates. Here's who was there:

Nobility: 75 representatives. Their leader was Count Robert Wilhelm De Geer.
Clergy: 8 representatives. Their leader was the Bishop of Turku, Jakob Tengström.
Burghers: 20 representatives. These were mainly merchants, and their leader was Kristian Trapp from Turku.
Peasants: 31 representatives. Their leader was Pehr Klockars from Uusikaarlepyy.

It's interesting to know that out of 205 noble families in Finland, 130 did not send anyone to the Diet. Also, 60 of the chosen representatives did not attend the opening ceremony.

Diet of Porvoo facts for kids

Who Participated?

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