Hallandia (Halland) is a historical Province (landskap) on the western coast of Sweden. It borders Westrogothia, Smalandia, Scania and the sea of Kattegat. The population is 287,558, of which 272,142 lives in Halland County, 13,363 in Västra Götaland County and 2,053 in Skåne County.

County

For current affairs see: Halland County

The province of Hallandia is virtually fitted with in Halland County, though parts of the province belongs to Västra Götaland County and Skåne County.

History

Main article: History of Hallandia

Historically the province of Hallandia belonged to the Danish Crown, as a part of Terra Scania, together with provinces Scania and Blechingia, which made up the eastern part of the Danish kingdom. The Varberg Fortress was built in the 11th century and improved with higher walls in the 15th century. Halland became a Swedish possession in 1645 by the Treaty of Brömsebro. Initially for a period limited to 30 years, but the conquest was later made permanent by the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Hallandia

Hallandia was historically divided into five chartered cities and ten hundreds.

Cities

• Falkenberg (1558)
• Halmstad (approximately 1200)
• Kungsbacka (approximately 1400)
• Laholm (approximately 1200)
• Varberg (approximately 1100)

Hundreds

• Faurås Hundred
• Fjäre Hundred
• Halmstad Hundred
• Himle Hundred
• Höks Hundred
• Kind Hundred
• Tönnersjö Hundred
• Viske Hundred
• Årstad Hundred
• Åsbo Northern Hundred

The streams of Lagan, Ätran, Nissan and Viskan flows through the province and reaches the sea in Kattegat. Hallandia is well known for its good soil and as a agricultural district.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Hallandia

The dialectal variations spoken in Hallandia are togeather called Halländska, though they belong to two main dialectal groups. In northern Hallandia a variation of the Götaland dialect is spoken and in the south the spoken language is a variation of the Southern Swedish dialect, formerly East Danish. The dialectal variation of Småländska spoken in the east, on the border to Smalandia is not counted as Halländska.

Heraldry

Main article: Heraldry of Hallandia

Hallandia was granted its arms at the time for the funural of Charles X Gustav of Sweden in 1660. The province is a duchy and the arms is represented with a dukal coronet. Blazon: "Azure, a Lion rampant Argent langued, armed and dente Gules."

Dukes of Hallandia

Since 1772, Swedish Princes have been created Dukes of various provinces. This is solely a nominal title.

• Prince Bertil (1912-1997)

External link

• Halland - Tourist site