Борьба За “Место Памяти” в Империи: История Памятника Основателю Выборга Торгильсу Кнутссону

SUMMARY:

The archival publication presents documents produced by the Finland Senate, the administrative offices of the Grand Duchy of Finland, P. A. Stolypin, as well as selections of articles from the newspapers Novoe Vremia and Finliandskaia gazeta. All these documents concern the local initiative of citizens of Vyborg to construct a monument to Tyrgils Knutsson, the Swedish noble and the founder of the city. The documents proposing the construction of the monument stressed Knutsson’s role as the Christener of Finland, while local Russian press opposed the monument on the grounds of Swedish-Russian historical conflicts in the area. The introduction to the archival publication by L. Kudriavtseva explores the history of the monument, debates surrounding its construction in 1908, as well as today’s situation around it. The introduction provides historical background on Knutsson, as well as places the monument itself in the contemporary stylistic and aesthetic context.