Why did Finland form so late?

[Albion]

They were part of Sweden or Russia for most of their history, why did Finns not form a state of their own during all this time? Finland is quite a recent country, did Finns like being under Swedish rule or couldn't they get rid of them?

[Szegedist]

As I understand, they were a very loose organisation of tribes (very uncentralized), with few numbers, probably 10s to 100s of thousands in total, so they were easy to rule.

[Harkonnen]

During Swedish times we had a 500 year period of continuous warfare with the Russians. So I guess you could say we were preoccupied.

As I understand, they were a very loose organisation of tribes (very uncentralized), with few numbers, probably 10s to 100s of thousands in total, so they were easy to rule.

Not really. You must remember that unlike central and eastern euros we were never serf slaves, but freemen.

[Albion]

During Swedish times we had a 500 year period of continuous warfare with the Russians. So I guess you could say we were preoccupied.



Not really. You must remember that unlike central and eastern euros we were never serf slaves, but freemen.

Even still, other nations in comparable situations managed to form states or revolt at least temporarily. 'Continuous warfare' is a lame excuse.

[Harkonnen]

Even still, other nations in comparable situations managed to form states or revolt at least temporarily. 'Continuous warfare' is a lame excuse.

You clearly don't know what you are talking about, so please just stop. You are just making a muppet of yourself.

[Graham]

You could compare that to Ireland suppose..

[Albion]

You clearly don't know what you are talking about, so please just stop. You are just making a muppet of yourself.

What's the reason? It's not continuous warfare, stop acting like you're the only country ever to be occupied.

[Harkonnen]

You could compare that to Ireland suppose..

Oh please in no way are we comparable to the Irish...

[Albion]

You could compare that to Ireland suppose..

True, but Ireland probably had a slightly bigger population.

[Accountant]

The reason is that Finland was never industrialized (until 1950's), cities were small at best and people lived simple lives in the countryside, using traditional slash-and-burn agricultural technique. They simply didn't care who was collecting the taxes, whether it was a Finnish nobleman or a Swedish nobleman. Finnish nationalism started properly only once Russia started it's russification campaign under Tsar Nikolay II.