Part 3/10:
Historical Context: Russian Domination of Finland
The history of Russian influence over Finland dates back to the early 19th century when the Russian Empire, amidst its alliance with Napoleonic France, invaded Finland in 1808 under the pretense of securing Saint Petersburg against British naval threats. This invasion culminated in the Treaty of Fredrikshamn, which ceded Finland to Russia for 108 years as an autonomous Grand Duchy, shaping Finnish identity and statehood.