Häme Castle

Häme Castle is a medieval castle in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The castle is located on the banks of lake Vanajavesi in the city center. The castle was originally located on an island.

The castle's age is disputed. Traditionally the construction of the castle has been connected to the legendary Second Swedish Crusade which would date the castle in the mid-13th century. However, there are no finds from the castle that can be firmly dated to a period earlier than 1320s. Also the contents of the crusade legend have been seriously contested. An earlier fortification from about 1300, some 20 kilometres (12 mi) away in Hakoinen also makes a 14th-century dating for Häme Castle more probable. Only one castle ("Tauestahus") is listed in Tavastia in a royal document from 1308. Also, the Russian Novgorod Chronicle only mentions one castle during their plundering of Tavastia in 1311, its description matching well with the castle in Hakoinen:

“The men of Novgorod went to war over sea to the country of the Germans (Swedes), against the Finnish (Yem) people – – And the Germans fell back into the citadel. For the place was very strong and firm, on a high rock, not having access from any side. And they sent with greeting, asking for peace, but the men of Novgorod did not grant peace, and they stood three days and three nights wasting the district”.

The construction of Häme castle probably started after the Novgorod invasion. The first castle was made of gray stone, and later bricks were used.The castle lost military importance by the end of the 16th century. Its defensive systems were upgraded in the 18th century with bastions around the castle. The castle became a prison in the 19th century and served as such until 1953, when massive restoration work started. The castle has been a museum since 1988.  

The Raseborg Castle

The Raseborg Castle, is a medieval castle in Raseborg, Finland. The castle was founded by Bo Jonsson Grip and it is thought that the castle's first phase was completed sometime between 1373 and 1378. The first written data about the castle is from 1378. Its main purpose was to protect Sweden's interests in southern Finland against the Hanseatic city of Tallinn. The castle was originally built on a small island in the north end of a sea bay. The historians think that the castle was built in 3 different stages over time from the 14th to the 16th century.

The ruins of the outer wall of the castle do still exist. According to the historians the outer wall was built to protect the foundations of the castle itself. When the use of the artillery got more common, it was vital to protect the basic walls of the castle. There was also one more protection outside the castle. That was a wooden barrier, which surrounded the castle and it prevented any foreign ships to approach the castle harbour. There still exists some small parts of that barrier. The barriers are today on the mainland, but in the 15th century they were located on a peninsula by the sea. The sea level became lower over time due to postglacial rebound, and it became increasingly difficult to approach the castle by boat. This is one of the main reasons why the castle lost its importance.

Battles were fought between Swedish and Danish forces and even pirates over control of the castle in the Middle Ages. The castle was abandoned in 1553, three years after Helsinki was founded in 1550 and Helsinki became strategically more important. Restoration work began in the 1890s and in these days the castle ruins are open to the public.

Thank you Ella.

Soumenlinna Sea Fortress

After my posts on my stamps and postcards blog, I received a few emails from the followers of these two blogs requesting me for a few more cards on Finnish Castles. It so happened that my friend Ella did send me some maxicards issued by the Finnish Postal Agency. So, the first one on the famous Soumenlinna Sea Fortress is here.
Situated on a group of islands off Helsinki, Suomenlinna was built during the Swedish era as a maritime fortress and a base for the Archipelago Fleet. Work on the fortress was begun in the mid-18th century. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Finland’s most popular tourist attractions. Suomenlinna is also a district of the city of Helsinki, with a permanent population of more than 800.

East Indiaman Atlas 1813

My friend Rachel sent me this nice card showing a portrait of the East Indiaman ‘Atlas’,  off South Foreland, near Dover, in broadside view. She sailed on her first voyage to India in 1813 and made at least nine more thereafter until 1830. As the picture is dated 1826, it was probably made at the end of her seventh voyage to Madras and China. Unusually for East Indiamen, the Honourable East India Company’s ship ATLAS was built not on the Thames but on the Humber, by Thomas Steemson of Hull. Her first voyage was to Madras, India, and Whampoa, China, in 1813. This was the year the Company lost its monopoly on trade to and from India, although it retained that of the lucrative China tea trade until 1834.

She made a further voyage to Madras, Penang and Whampoa before the end of the Napoleonic War in 1815, carrying an outward cargo of various goods as well as mail, letters of credit and bullion, all of which facilitated trade. On her homeward voyage she brought tea, porcelain, silk and saltpetre for gunpowder. After two transfers of ownership and nine voyages, Captain Charles Otway Mayne, who had commanded her since her commissioning, sold her for £4,100 in August 1830, by which time she was considered fit only to be broken up.

She sailed on her first voyage to India in 1813 and made at least nine more thereafter until 1830. As the picture is dated 1826, it was probably made at the end of her seventh voyage to Madras and China. The ‘ATLAS’ was built in 1812 by Thomas Steemson at Paul's Yard near Hull, her managing owner being James Staniforth. She was mounted with 26-guns and had a complement of 130 men at full strength.
Tonnage 1267 ton (bm), dimensions 134.0 x 42.2 x 17.0ft.

During her East India Company service she sailed to Madras, Bengal and China under the command of Captain Charles Otway Mayne, who was able to accumulate a fortune as a result of these voyages. This was not always without problems, since in 1817, the surgeon and second mate of the ‘ATLAS’ complained to the council at Canton that Mayne had taken all the extra 30 tons of private cargo normally allowed by the Company to ships officers. Their claim was upheld. 1820 Sold to Jasper Vaux, still under command of Captain Mayne.

After seven voyages Captain Mayne became the ship's owner when he bought the ship from the Executors of Jasper Vaux who died in 1823.and he placed the command of the vessel under Captain John Hine, after which the ATLAS undertook a further two regular sailings. She arrived at Gravesend at the end of her last voyage in August 1830 and was sold in May 1831 for £4100 to Charles Carter for breaking.

Thank you very much Rachel for this nice card.

Olavinlinna Castle

This card deoicting Olavalinna Castle was desinged by my friend Ella. Erik Axelsson Tott began the construction of this castle in 1475 to protect the Savo region. The history of Olavinlinna Castle is one of medieval sword fighting, roaring cannons and normal everyday chores of those days.

The stamp on this maxicard is part of a 5 stamp set issued on the 20th January this year on the theme of Ancient Castles of Finland.

Thank you Ella for this lovely card. 

Valentine's Day

This Valentine's Day maxi card was also issued on 20^th January, depicting teddy bears. The stamp on it with a lovely postmark illustrates the endearing teddy bear around the theme of friendship and remembrance. Henna Takkinen, a graphic artist from Kemi, who designed her first ever stamps, knows the theme thoroughly; after all, she describes herself as a teddy bear artist. Through the stamps, Takkinen wishes to convey the ideas of universal peace, love and caring.  

Teddy bears are a passion around the world. Not just of children but, of adults as well. A friend of mine in Finland is absolutely passionate about them, and has a huge collection of teddy bears. The teddy bear is a soft toy in the form of a bear. Developed apparently simultaneously by toymakers Morris Michtom in the US and Richard Steiff in Germany in the early years of the 20th century, and named after President Theodore "T.R." Roosevelt, Jr., the teddy bear became an iconic children's toy, celebrated in story, song and film. Since the creation of the first teddy bears which sought to imitate the form of real bear cubs, "teddies" have greatly varied in form, style and material. They have become collector's items, with older and rarer "teddies" appearing at public auctions. Teddy bears are among the most popular gifts for children and are often given to adults to signify love, congratulations or sympathy.

Thank you Ella for this lovely card.

Winter Greetings

Yes, Ella this maxicard is perfect for various winter greetings. Janne Harju, an award-winning illustrator, has designed this stamp which depicts two snowmen admiring a bright evening star in mild snowfall.

Thank you Ella.