Bahusia, or Bohuslän, is a historical Province or landskap on the western coast of Sweden. It borders to Dalia and Westrogothia. It is also borders to Skagerrak and to Norway. By the treaty of Roskilde, this formerly Norwegian province was ceded to Sweden. The largest city is Uddevalla in the middle of Bahusia.

County

For current affairs see: Västra Götaland County

For many years Bohuslän formed Gothenburg and Bohus County, together with the City of Gothenburg, but in 1999 it was merged into Västra Götaland County.

History

Main article: History of Bahusia

In the Viking Age, the area was part of Viken, and was called Ranrike. King Harald Fairhair made it part of the united Norway.

Bohuslän became a Swedish possession in 1658 following the Treaty of Roskilde. The fortress of Carlsten was built in Marstrand during the 17th century. It was for a period also a free port (porto franco), with a free religious practice and as such home to the only synagogue in Sweden, at the time.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Bahusia

Bahusia was historically divided into chartered cities and into hundreds.

Cities

• Kungälv (approximately 1100)
• Lysekil (1903)
• Marstrand (approximately 1200)
• Strömstad (1672)
• Uddevalla (1498)

Hundreds

Culture

Main article: Culture of Bahusia

In Bahusia a variety of the Götaland dialect of Swedish is spoken. The province was a part of Norway until the 17th century and traces of Norwegian remain in the dialect. "Bohuslän", literally means the "Fief of Bohus", referring to Bohus Fortress and Län.

The rock carvings at Tanum made 2,500 to 3,000 years ago have been entered as a site in the UNESCO World heritage program. Rock carvings can be found scattered throughout Bahusia. The carvings portay the life of an agricultural society with images of ships, circular objects, soles, animals, shallow bowls, and even human figures with a sexual motif.

Heraldry

Main article: Heraldry of Bahusia

Bahusia was granted its arms at the time of the funeral for Charles X Gustav of Sweden in 1660, it was identical to the arms of the Town of Kungälv. In 1962 the higher claim of the town was established and a variation for the arms of the county was introduced. The coat of arms is represented with a dukal coronet. Blazon: "Argent, a Castle embatteled Gules with one embatteled Tower of the same and two doors Or hinged Sable between a Sword point upwards and Lion rampant holding the Tower both Azure langued and armed Or."

External link

• Bohuslän - Official tourist site