Svealand is a historical region of Sweden. Geographically it is located in central Sweden, bounded to the north by Norrland and to the south by Götaland. Deep forests, Tiveden, Tylöskog, Kolmården, separated Svealand from Götaland. The inhabitants were called Svear.

Svealand was the original Sweden, to which it gave its name. This is supported by linguistics and is based on early medieval sources, such as the sagas. In Old Norse and in Old English, Svealand and Sweden are synonymous, and described as a separate country from Götaland/Gautland/Geatland. In Sögubrot af Nokkrum[1] for instance, Kolmården between Svealand and Ostrogothia is described as the border between Sweden and Ostrogotia (...Kolmerkr, er skilr Svíþjóð ok Eystra-Gautland...).

The lord Bo Jonsson Grip was probably the one who was best acquainted with the geography of the Swedish kingdom since he owned more than half of it. In 1384, he stated in his testament that the kingdom consisted of Swerige (Sweden, i.e. Svealand), Österland (i.e. Finland) and Göthaland (i.e. Götaland).

Provinces

Svealand is made up of the following six provinces:

History

A crusade to the east started by the kings of Svealand during the 12th century eventually conquered the provinces of Österland, an older name for Finland.

For a time in the early 19th century, the province of Wermelandia belonged to the Court of Appeal for Svealand. Even though Värmland historically belonged to Götaland, it has by custom long been considered part of Svealand.

Roslagen and Bergslagen are names of two informal regions in Svealand.

The name of Sweden in Swedish, Svea rike (current spelling: Sverige) or the Realm of the Svear is analogous to Svealand. Other forms are Sweoðeod (Old Norse Svíþjóð), and Sweorice.

See also: Svealand theory, Rike