The Politico-Religious Landscape of Medieval Karelia

The politico-religious landscape of medieval Karelia JOHN H. LIND Lind, John H. (2004). The politico-religious landscape of medieval Karelia. Fen- nia 182: 1, pp. 3–11. Helsinki. ISSN 0015-0010. In historical sources the Karelians appear in the 12th century although archaeological excavations suggest that the amalgamation of groups of Baltic Finns, centered on the Karelian Isthmus, that came together from east and west respectively to form them originated in the late Iron Age and early Viking Age. Accordingly they were from the start recipients of impulses from both east and west, a phenomenon that continued throughout the medieval period and ended with their physical division between what became a politico-religious division of Europe between east and west, lasting until today. The article con- centrates on the role played by the landscape, situated on an important pas- sageway of international trade and close to two growing neighbouring pow- ers, Sweden and Novgorod, that profited from this trade route but at the same time became ever more opposed to one another as result of the crusading movement of the Latin Church. John H. Lind, Center of Medieval Studies, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark. E-mail: [email protected]. Introduction lets, connected this Karelian ‘island’ to the large inland lake district of Lake Saimaa with its easy The role a landscape has played in the politico- passages to other more distant lake and river sys- religious context of a region of course varies ac- tems. cording to which period of its history we are look- The climate played its role in defining two quite ing at. As far as Karelia in the Middle Ages is con- distinct seasons in which these features could be cerned, we can say that it is determined by these utilised by human settlers; by boat in the summer factors at least; the physical features of the land- or sledge in the winter, thus making it possible to scape, the climate, the pattern of settlement in the cover considerable distances in each season. Fur- region, and the role the region has played in a thermore, the climate ensured that it was worth- larger historical context. while taking advantage of these possibilities. As regards the physical features of the land- Some of the finest fur pelts could be obtained in scape, the position of the Karelian centre on an the winter season; berries, wax, and other forest isthmus, the Karelian Isthmus, between Lake products could be gathered in the summer sea- Ladoga with its many river connections to Russia son; while hunting and fishing could be practised and beyond to the Caspian and Black Sea regions, in both seasons. Consequently, these were good is undoubtedly of the utmost importance, linking conditions for the local population to secure its as it does this vast territory with Northern and livelihood. Western Europe via the Gulf of Finland. In the late At the same time such a location between Lake Iron Age and well into the Middle Ages, this isth- Ladoga and the Gulf of Finland placed the Kare- mus might even have been seen as an island with lian Isthmus in a key position in the transit area the Neva as its southern coast and the two out- of one of the major trade routes of medieval Eu- lets of the River Vuoksi into Lake Ladoga and the rope. Indeed this position seems to have been one Gulf of Finland, respectively, as the northern of the factors that determined the pattern of set- coast. Another important feature was that the Riv- tlement in the region and the composition its pop- er Vuoksi, before it divided itself into the two out- ulation. 4 John H. Lind FENNIA 182: 1 (2004) The archaeological finds from the Karelian Isth- the problem (Ronimus 1906a, 1906b), but his re- mus clearly reflect the connections the local pop- sults can in many respects be disputed. In this ulation had forged with international trade already context it is a major problem that the edition from from the so-called Merovingian period. They in- 1851 and 1852 (Vremennik… 1851, 1852) on clude, as noted by Pirjo Uino, a great number of which Ronimus based his work is in badly need “multinational prestige objects”, which she quite of a contemporary and professional replacement rightly sees as evidence of the prominent role that utilise the possibilities of internal dating of Karelia had played in the Merovingian period a various parts, separating the basic text from later role it continued to play throughout the Middle interpolations. Ages (Uino 1997, 202). The impression we get from these sources is, however, one of fairly evenly dispersed settlements, with a concentration close to – although The origin of the Karelians not exactly along – the shores of Lake Ladoga and, not least, along River Vuoksi. Here we also find The identity of the Karelians, that is, the ethnic major settlements like Käkisalmi (Korela or elements, which came together to form a distinct Korel’skii gorodok). They give us a clue both to Karelian culture, has always been eagerly dis- the location of settlements and regions of politi- cussed. To clarify this process many kinds of ar- cal importance, – not least the distribution of for- chaeological, linguistic, ethnographic and histor- tifications like Käkisalmi itself, Tiurinlinna on the ical evidence have been advanced. Here is not River Vuoksi and the fortifications in Kurkijoki and the place to enter this discussion. The present Sortavala (see locations on map in Uino 1997, view, however, seems to be that what we can call 77). proto-Karelians – perhaps of similar origin to the Vepsians – must have inhabited the Ladogian shores of the Isthmus since the early Iron Age. The The emergence of states in the region rise of international trade attracted a colonising movement from the west of Tavastian (Häme) el- In the early stages of the Viking Age, when the ements. This resulted in an amalgamated popula- trade route between east and west became of par- tion during the Merovingian and Viking Ages that amount importance in the region, the location of eventually produced a distinct culture, which the Isthmus in relation to the trade route makes it clearly distinguishes itself in 12th century archae- cogent to suggest that the Isthmus and its popu- ological finds and which we label Karelian (this lation could have become the core of an embry- discussion is summarised in Uino 1997). It was onic state formation. However, this did not hap- approximately at the same time that the term pen. Instead it was other centres along the route, ‘Karelians’ first occurs in Russian and Norse Birka in the west and Staraia Ladoga in the east sources. that took on this function. One reason for this could have been that the population on the Karelian Isthmus was more cen- Settlement in medieval Karelia tred on the Vuoksi link between Lake Ladoga and the Gulf of Finland than the Neva link: the former The pattern of settlement in Karelia through out we can safely assume was favoured by interna- the Middle Ages is insufficiently known about. The tional trade, since it shortened the route. There- information that archaeological excavations have fore the political centres from, which the region- provided only concerns the early period. Still, ex- al states arose were not Karelian but Swedish in cavations have so far not been systematically car- the west and the more multiethnic – but eventu- ried out over the whole region thus the picture ally Slavonic – Russian in the east. Since the Kare- they present is rather patchy. More informative are lian Isthmus retained its importance for the inter- the cadastral books (pistsovye knigi) from the pe- national trade route, – not least because it was riod after Novgorod’s fall in 1478. The place- possible to control the route from the Isthmus – it names they list are, however, difficult to pinpoint is not surprising that both emerging and expand- in the landscape as identified settlements. The at- ing states, Sweden and Russia, should wish to tempt made by J.V. Ronimus in 1906, made on control the Isthmus. the basis of poorly edited texts, does cast light on FENNIA 182: 1 (2004) The politico-religious landscape of medieval Karelia 5 Karelia and Novgorod pand eastwards along the ancient trade route. This expansion coincided with the rise of the crusad- The relative proximity to what became the ing movement in the Baltic region from the mid- Novgorodian city-state meant that Karelia became 12th century, which was soon to create a hither- loosely linked to Novgorod during a process, for to unknown confessional animosity between which we have hardly any sources. When Kare- Scandinavians and Russians (Lind 2001b). lia does appear in Russian sources, from 1143 Through a succession of campaigns, which took onwards, this link seems already to have been es- the form of crusades, the southern part of present- tablished. Presumably, however, the Karelians day Finland was gradually incorporated into Swe- were a relatively independent agent. This is indi- den. Thereby Finland also became firmly linked cated both by Russian sources and by the paral- to the western Catholic Church. Apart from a mil- lel information in Norse sources. In these there is itary presence, Swedish church organisation in no indication of this link to Novgorod. The rea- Finland may have even, in fact, preceded secular son for this may, of course, be that Norse sources organisation. first of all reflect mutual contacts in regions to the By the end of the 13th century this expansion north, far from Novgorod.

Load more