Gotland 284507 225279913 2008-07-12T21:22:20Z 217.229.209.47 {{otheruses4|the Swedish island province of Gotland|the Swedish HMS Gotland attack submarine|HMS Gotland (Gtd)}} {{Infobox Landskap |fullname=Gotland |name=Gotland |land=[[Sweden]] |county=[[Gotland County]] |dialects=[[Gutnish]], Gotländska |area=3,145.45 |flower=[[Hedera helix|Common Ivy]] |flower_swe=Murgröna |flower_lat=Hedera helix |animal=[[Hedgehog]] |bird=- |fish=- |coatofarms=[[Image:Gotland vapen.svg|100px|Coat of Arms]] |map=[[Image:FC-Gotland, Sweden.png|Map]]|}} '''{{Audio|sv-Gotland.ogg|Gotland}}''' is a [[Counties of Sweden|county]], [[Provinces of Sweden|province]] and [[Municipalities of Sweden|municipality]] of [[Sweden]] and the largest [[island]] in the [[Baltic Sea]]. At 3,140 square kilometers in area, it makes up less than one percent of Sweden's total land area. The region also includes the small islands of [[Fårö]] and [[Gotska Sandön]] to the north, and the tiny [[Karlsö Islands]] to the west. The inhabitants number is 57,317 (2006 SCB figure), with about 22,600 living in the primary city [[Visby]]. The main sources of income to the island are tourism and agriculture and concrete production from locally mined [[limestone]]. == Administration == The traditional [[provinces of Sweden]] serve no administrative or political purposes, but are historical and cultural entities. In the case of ''Gotland'', however, due to its insular position, the administrative [[counties of Sweden|county]], ''län'', [[Gotland County]] and the [[municipalities of Sweden|municipality]], ''kommun'', [[Gotland Municipality]] both covers the same territory as the province. Furthermore, the [[Diocese of Visby]] is also congruent with the province. == Heraldry == Gotland was granted its arms in about 1560, even though the island was at the time occupied by [[Denmark|Danish]] forces.<ref>Clara Nevéus, Bror jacques de Wærn: ''Ny svensk vapenbok'', 1992</ref> The coat of arms is represented with a ducal coronet. Blazon: "Azure a ram statant Argent armed Or holding on a cross-staff of the same a banner Gules bordered and with five tails of the third." The county was granted the same coat of arms in 1936. The municiplality, created in 1971, uses the same picture, but with other [[tincture (heraldry)|tinctures]]. The Gotlandic flag displays the Gotlandic coat of arms, white on red ground, known from the 13th century in the shape of the seal of the Gotlandic Republic with the proud ram. It reads: "Gutenses signo xpistus signatur in agno". This can be translated as follows: "I (the ram) am the sign of the Gotlanders, but with the lamb symbolize Christ". ==Geography== [[Image:Topographic map of Gotland.svg|right|140px|thumb|Gotland.]] [[Visby]], with about two fifths of the island's population (approximately 22,600), is the seat of the municipality as well as the capital of the county. Gotland is located about 90 km east of the Swedish mainland and about 130 km from the [[Baltic States]], [[Latvia]], being the nearest. The island Gotland is obviously just one island, but the historical province of Gotland also includes adjacent islands, which are often considered part of the Gotlandic culture: *Furillen *[[Fårö]] * The [[Karlsö Islands]] ([[Stora Karlsö]] and [[Lilla Karlsö]]) *[[Gotska Sandön]], a [[National park of Sweden]]. ==Geology== {{Main|Geology of Gotland}} [[Image:Gotland-reef hg.jpg|thumb|left|240px|A Silurian [[reef]] complex.]] Gotland is made up of a sequence of [[sedimentary rocks]] of a [[Silurian]] age, dipping to the south-east. The main Silurian succession of [[limestone]]s and [[shale]]s comprises thirteen units spanning 200-500&nbsp;m of stratigraphic thickness, being thickest in the south, and overlies a 75-125&nbsp;m thick [[Ordovician]] sequence.<ref name=Laufeld1974>{{cite book | author = Laufeld, S. | year = 1974 | title = Silurian Chitinozoa from Gotland | publisher = Universitetsforlaget | series = Fossils and Strata | number=5 }}</ref> It was deposited in a shallow, hot and salty sea, on the edge of an equatorial continent.<ref>Creer 1973</ref> The water depth never exceeded 175–200&nbsp;m,<ref>Gray, Laufield & Boucot, 1974</ref> and shallowed over time as [[bioherm]] detritus, and terrestrial sediments, filled the basin. Reef growth started in the [[Llandovery]], when the sea was 50–100&nbsp;m deep, and reefs continued to dominate the sedimentary record.<ref name=Laufeld1974/> Some sandstones are present in the youngest rocks towards the south of the island, which represent sand bars deposited very close to the shore line.<ref name=Long1993>{{cite journal | author = Long, D.G.F. | year = 1993 | journal = Geologiska Föreningens i Stockholms Förhandlingar (GFF) | title = The Burgsvik beds, an Upper Silurian storm generated sand ridge complex in southern Gotland | volume = 115 | number=4 | pages = 299–309 | issn = 0016-786X }}</ref> The lime rocks have been weathered into characteristic [[karst]]ic [[rock formation]]s known as [[rauk]]s. Fossils, mainly of [[rugosa|rugose]] [[coral]]s and [[brachiopod]]s, are abundant throughout the island; palæo-[[sea stack|sea-stack]]s are preserved in places.<ref>{{cite journal |author = Laufeld, Sven | coauthors = Martinsson, Anders | title= Reefs and ultrashallow environments. Guidebook to the field excursions in the Silurian of Gotland | journal = Project Ecostratigraphy Plenary Meeting | date = 22–28 August, 1981 }}</ref> ==History== [[Image:U 614, Torsätra.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This is the Torsätra runestone (U 614) which was raised in memory of one of the Swedish king's tribute collectors who fell ill and died during a trip to Gotland. It is in the [[Swedish Museum of National Antiquities]] in [[Stockholm]].]] The island is the home of the [[Gutar]] (the ''Gotlanders'') and sites such as [[Ajvide]] show that it has been occupied since [[prehistory]]. Early on Gotland became a commercial center and the town of [[Visby]] was the most important [[Hanseatic league|Hanseatic]] city in the Baltic Sea. In late medieval time, the island had twenty district courts ([[thing (assembly)|ting]]s), each represented at the island-ting, called ''landsting'', by its elected judge. New laws were decided at the landsting, which also took other decisions regarding the island as a whole. The ''[[Gutasaga]]'' contains legends of how the island was settled by [[Þjálfi|Þieluar]] and populated by his descendants. It also tells that a third of the population had to emigrate and settle in southern Europe, a tradition associated with the migration of the [[Goths]], whose name has the same origin as ''[[Gutar]]'', the native name of the people of the island. It later tells that the Gotlanders voluntarily submitted to the king of Sweden and asserts that it is based on mutual agreements, and notes the duties and obligations of the Swedish King and Bishop in relationship to Gotland. It is therefore not only an effort to write down the history of Gotland, but also an effort to assert Gotland's independence from Sweden. It gives [[Awair Strabain]] as the man who arranged the mutually beneficial agreement with the king of Sweden, and the event would have taken place before the end of the [[9th century]], when [[Wulfstan of Hedeby]] reported that the island was subject to the Swedes: <blockquote>Then, after the [[Bornholm|land of the Burgundians]], we had on our left the lands that have been called from the earliest times [[Blekinge]]y, and [[Möre|Meore]], and [[Öland|Eowland]], and Gotland, all which territory is subject to the [[Suiones|Sweons]]; and [[Wendland|Weonodland]] was all the way on our right, as far as [[Vistula|Weissel]]-mouth. [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/4076]</blockquote> The region is considered by some historians to be the original homeland of the [[Goths]].<ref>See [[Goths]] and [[Scandza]] for more information on this matter.</ref> [[Image:Visby Wall.jpg|thumb|300px|The Visby city wall, near the North gate.]] The city of Visby and rest of the island were governed separately and a civil war caused by conflicts between the German merchants in Visby and the trading peasants on the countryside had to be put down by King [[Magnus III of Sweden]] in 1288. In 1361, [[Valdemar Atterdag of Denmark]] invaded the island. The [[Victual Brothers]] occupied the island in 1394 to set up a stronghold headquarters on their own in Visby. At last Gotland came as a [[fiefdom]] of the [[Teutonic Knights]], awarded to them on the condition that they expel the piratical Victual Brothers from their fortified sanctuary. An invasion army of [[Teutonic Knights]] conquered the island in 1398, destroying Visby and driving the Victual Brothers from Gotland. In 1409 guaranteed Grand Master [[Ulrich von Jungingen]] of the Teutonic Knights peace with the [[Kalmar Union]] of [[Scandinavia]] by selling the island of Gotland to Queen [[Margaret of Sweden]]. The number of [[Arab]] dirhams discovered on the island of Gotland alone is astoundingly high. In the various [[hoard]]s located around the island, there are more of these silver coins than any other site in Western [[Eurasia]]. The total sum is almost as great as the number that has been unearthed in the entire [[Muslim]] world. These coins moved North through trade between [[Rus' (people)|Rus]] merchants and the [[Abbasid Caliphate]], along the [[Silver-Fur Road]], and the money made by Scandinavian merchants would help Northern Europe, especially Viking Scandinavia and the [[Carolingian Empire]], as major commercial centers for the next several centuries. The authority of the landsting was successively eroded after the island was occupied by the Teutonic Order, then sold to [[Eric of Pomerania]] and after 1449 ruled by [[Denmark|Danish]] governors. In late medieval times, the ting consisted of twelve representatives for the farmers, free-holders or tenants. Since the [[Treaty of Brömsebro]] in 1645, the island has remained under Swedish rule. ==Culture== [[Image:Axe of iron from Swedish Iron Age, found at Gotland, Sweden.jpg|thumb|Iron age axe from Gotland.]] The [[medieval]] town of [[Visby]] has been entered as a site of the [[UNESCO]] [[World heritage]] program. An impressive feature of Visby is the fortress wall that surrounds the old city, dating from the time of the Hanseatic League. The inhabitants of Gotland traditionally spoke their own language, known as [[Gutnish]]. Today however, they have adapted a dialect of Swedish that is known as "Gotländska". In the 13th century, a work containing the laws of the island, called "The Gotlandic law" (Guta lagen), was published in the ancient Gutnish language. Gotland is famous for its 94 medieval<ref>[http://www.stavar.i.se/churches/mapindexeng.html Gotland is famous for its 94 medieval churches]</ref> churches, most of which are restored and in active use. These churches exhibit two major styles of architecture: [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] and [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]]. The older churches were constructed in the Romanesque style from 1150–1250 A.D. The newer churches were constructed in the Gothic architectural style that prevailed from about 1250 to 1400 A.D. The oldest painting inside one of the churches on Gotland stretches as far back in time as the 12th Century. [[Image:Valknut-Symbol-borromean.svg|150px|left|thumb|The [[valknut]] symbol has its most discovered examples on Gotland.]] Traditional games of skill like [[Kubb]], [[Pärk]], and [[Varpa]] are played on Gotland. They are part of what has become called "Gutniska Lekar", and are performed preferably on the Midsummer’s Eve celebration on the island, but also throughout the summer months. The games have widespread renown; some of them are played by people as far away as in the United States. The knotwork design subsequently named the "[[Valknut]]" has the most attested historic instances on [[runestone]]s in Gotland, which include being on both the [[Stora Hammar stone]] and the [[Tängelgårda stone]]. Gotland also has a rich heritage of folklore, including myths about the [[bysen]], [[Di sma undar jordi]], Hoburgsgubben and the [[Martebo lights]]. Gotland competes in the bi-annual [[International Island Games Association|Island Games]], which it hosted in 1999. ==Notable Gotlanders== *[[Christopher Polhem]] (1661–1751), the father of Swedish mechanical physics was born in Visby. He was also called the "[[Archimedes]] of the North". *Swedish film director [[Ingmar Bergman]] lived on [[Fårö]], the small island directly north of Gotland Island. *Former ice hockey player in the [[NHL]] [[Håkan Loob]]. *[[Lennart Eriksson]], also known as '''''Fjodor''''', the old punk star from ''[[Ebba Grön]]'' moved to Gotland soon after he left the band in 1982. *Singer [[Susanne Alfvengren]], famous in Sweden during the 1980s. *Death metal band [[Grave (band)|Grave]] hails from Visby. ==Dukes of Gotland== Since 1772, Swedish Princes have been created Dukes of various provinces. This is solely a nominal title. * [[Prince Oscar, Duke of Gotland|Prince Oscar]] (from his birth in 1859 until his loss of succession rights in 1888) ==References in popular culture== ''[[The Long Ships]]'', or ''Red Orm'' (original title: ''Röde Orm''), a best-selling [[Swedish language|Swedish]] novel written by [[Frans Gunnar Bengtsson]], contains a vivid description of Gotland in the Viking period. A section of the book is devoted to a Viking ship setting out to [[Russia]], stopping on its way at Gotland and engaging a pilot from the island who plays an important part in their voyage. Gotlanders of the Viking Era are depicted as city people, more sophisticated and cosmopolitan than other Scandinavians of their time, and proud of their knowledge and skills. The [[crime novel]]s of [[Mari Jungstedt]], featuring Detective Superintendent Anders Knutas, are set on Gotland. In the [[Battlefield Vietnam]] modification [[Invasion Gotland]] the [[Soviet army]] invades Gotland in 1977. ==References== {{reflist}} == External links == {{wiktionary}} *[http://www.gotland.travel/ Official Gotland Tourist Association] *[http://ostergarnslandet.se/ Picture pages about life in eastern Gotland — Oestergarnslandet] {{sv icon}} *[http://www.gotland.net/ Gotland] {{sv icon}} *[http://www.alltomgotland.se/ Gotland] {{sv icon}} *[http://home.swipnet.se/gutniska/interlingua.htm Gotland] {{ia icon}} *[http://gotlandskarta.se/ Interactive map of Gotland] {{sv icon}} {{Provinces of Sweden}} {{coor title dm|57|30|N|18|33|E|region:SE_type:isle}} [[Category:Gotland| ]] [[Category:Provinces of Sweden]] [[af:Gotland]] [[ang:Gotland]] [[br:Gotland]] [[bg:Готланд]] [[ca:Gotland]] [[cs:Gotland]] [[da:Gotland]] [[de:Gotland]] [[et:Ojamaa]] [[es:Gotland]] [[eo:Gotlando]] [[fr:Gotland]] [[gl:Condado de Gotland]] [[hy:Գոթլանդ]] [[hr:Gotland]] [[id:Pulau Gotland]] [[is:Gotland]] [[it:Gotland]] [[la:Gothlandia]] [[lv:Gotlande]] [[lt:Gotlandas]] [[hu:Gotland tartomány]] [[nl:Gotland]] [[ja:ゴットランド島]] [[no:Gotland]] [[nn:Gotland]] [[pl:Gotlandia]] [[pt:Gotland]] [[ro:Gotland]] [[ru:Готланд]] [[sl:Gotland]] [[fi:Gotlanti]] [[sv:Gotland]] [[tr:Gotland]] [[uk:Ґотланд]] [[vo:Gotläniän (länatopäd)]] [[zh:哥得蘭島]]