Scania (Skåne) is the southernmost historical Province (landskap) of Sweden. It borders Hallandia, Smalandia and Blechingia. To the east, west and south it also borders the Baltic Sea and the Öresund/Øresund strait, also known as The Sound.

County

For current affairs see: Skåne County

Skåne County has virtually the same boundaries as the province of Scania.

Politics

For politics see Skåne Regional Council

History

Main article: History of Scania

Historically the province of Scania was a part of Terra Scania, which together with Jutland and "the islands" constituted Denmark. Following the Treaty of Roskilde, Terra Scania became a possession of the Swedish Crown, retaining its old laws and Diet, but was soon to be split. Bornholm rebelled and was returned to Denmark, and the other provinces were successively incorporated into Sweden. In 1719, Skåne was the last to become a province of Sweden.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Scania

• Highest mountain: Söderåsen, 212 meters
• Lowest spot: Kristianstad, -2.7 meters
• Largest lake: Ivösjön
• National parks: Dalby Söderskog, Söderåsen, Stenshuvud

Scania was historically divided into 14 chartered towns and 23 hundreds.

Towns

Main article: Towns of Scania

• Eslöv (1911)
• Falsterbo (approximately 1200)
• Helsingborg (1085)
• Hässleholm (1914)
• Höganäs (1936)
• Kristianstad (1622)
• Landskrona (1413)
• Lund (approximately 990)
• Malmö (approximately 1250)
• Simrishamn (approximately 1300)
• Skanör (approximately 1200)
• Trelleborg (approximately 1200)
• Ystad (approximately 1200)
• Ängelholm (1516)

Hundreds

Culture

Main article: Culture of Scania

Heraldry

Main article: Heraldry of Scania

Skåne was granted its arms at the funeral of Charles X Gustav of Sweden in 1660, based on the arms of the town of Malmö. The arms is represented with a dukal coronet. Blazon: "Or, a Griffin's head erased Gules, crowned Azure and armed Azure, when it should be armed".

Dukes of Scania

Since 1772, Swedish Princes have been created Dukes of various provinces. Although this is a solely nominal title, it may result in an emotional bond between the province and its royal duke.

• Crown Prince Carl (from his birth in 1826 until he became King in 1859)
• Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf (from his birth in 1882 until he became King in 1950)

From his marriage, in 1905, King Gustaf Adolf had his summer recidence at Sofiero castle, at Helsingborg. There he and his family spent their summers, there cabinet meetings were held during summer months, the ministers arriving by night train from Stockholm, and there he died, at Helsingborg Hospital in 1973.

External links

• Skåne - Tourist site
• Foundation for Scanian Future
• Scania - Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation

See also

• Scania (etymology)