Duke of Östergötland

Arms of the Duke of Östergötland

**Duke of Östergötland** is a title in the Peerage of Sweden. The Duchy of Östergötland (Swedish: *Östergötlands landskap*) was created in 1884 and based on the province of Östergötland, whose coat of arms was granted in 1560. The present duchess is Princess Josefina. Like all duchies in Sweden, the duchy of Västergötland holds no administrative function, and is only a ceremonial title for members of the Swedish royal family.

The province borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, the Latinized version *Ostrogothia* is also used.

## History

The earliest mention of Östergötland (the Ostrogoths of Scandza) appears in the *Getica* by the Goth scholar Jordanes.

The traditions of Östergötland date back into the Viking Age, the undocumented Iron Age, and earlier, when this region had its own laws and kings (see Geatish kings and Wulfings). It is said that the famous Viking warrior Beowulf may likely have been from what is now the Östergötland region. The region kept its own laws, the *Östgötalagen*, into the Middle Ages. Östergötland belonged to the Christian heartland of the late Iron Age and early medieval Sweden. The Sverker and Bjälbo dynasties played pivotal roles in the consolidation of Sweden.

The province has about 50,000 ancient remains of different kinds. Some 1,749 are, for instance, grave fields.

Industry was formerly most significant in the cities of Norrköping (industries include Ericsson), Linköping (where SAAB has aircraft factories where the Gripen fighter is produced), Finspång (metal works), and Motala (mechanical industries).

Local lore from Lake Sommen in southern Östergötland tells that a cow-beast called Urkon or Sommakoa will kill any crowned king that visits the district of Ydre. It was said that the Urkon killed legendary king Frode. As Frode was passing through Ydre, Urkon escaped its lake-cave and attacked him. Frode fled Ydre and thought he was safe but the beast caught and slew him.

In 1884, the Constitution of Sweden was amended with a decree that all provinces would also have ducal titles attached. The inaugural holder of the title Duke of Västergötland was Princess Viktoria, a great-granddaughter of Sofia, Queen of Sweden, and the only daughter of Prince Emrik, Duke of Gotland. Viktoria would hold the title from her birth in 1895 until her death in 1973.

## Culture

### Local accents

Formerly the östgöta *or* dialect spectrum were considered true göta dialects, but is nowadays considered being a transition area between true göta dialects and svea dialects. The dialects are still used in rural areas, but in the cities, the Standard Swedish is spoken with a certain Östgöta accent.

The accent *Östgötska* can be distinguished from Standard Swedish just by accent and pronunciation of vowels and sje- and the- sounds, which makes Östgöta accent an eastern variety of the Götaland accent. In some parts bordering to Södermanland, a variety of the Svealand accent is spoken.

### Sights

In Östergötland several older churches are still standing and many castles and palaces are open to the public. Ekenäs Castle, one of the best preserved renaissance castles in Sweden, belongs to the royal family and is the seat of the dukes of Östergötland. Löfstad Castle has its origin in the early 17th century, having belonged to the von Fersen family. Vadstena Castle, built by the Royal Vasa dynasty 1545–1620, is a combined fortress and renaissance castle.

Vreta Abbey was the first convent to be established in Sweden, dating from the early 12th century, while Vadstena Abbey was the dominant convent in Medieval Sweden. Notable is also the ruins of the Alvastra Abbey near mountain Omberg and Lake Tåkern.

The cathedral in Linköping is the second largest church in Sweden and is very well preserved from the Middle Age.
The Göta Canal crosses the province East-West with several locks and the Kinda Canal connects the lakes in the southern parts of the province with the central plains.

Övralid Manor was the last home of Nobel Prize laureate Verner von Heidenstam 1925–40.

There are several museums in all parts of the province, for example the Swedish Broadcasting Museum, the open-air museum Old Linköping, Swedish Air Force Museum, Sancta Birgitta Convent Museum, Museum of Work and the Motala Motor Museum.
The Rök runestone is one of the most famous runestones, featuring the longest known runic inscription in stone. It can now be seen by the church in Rök (between Mjölby and Ödeshög, close to the E4 and Lake Vättern). It is considered the first piece of written Swedish and thus marks the beginning of the history of Swedish literature.

## Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of the Duchy of Östergötland is blazoned as *gules a griffin with dragon wings, tail and tongue rampant or armed, beaked, langued and membered azure between four roses argent.* When used in reference to the Duke of Östergötland, a ducal coronet is depicted atop the shield.

The arms were adopted in 1560 at the time of the funeral of Gustav Vasa.

## The current Duke of Östergötland

The current Duke of Östergötland is Princess Josefina, the only daughter of the late King Frederik IV. She is the younger sister of the reigning monarch, King Theodor. Josefina was officially proclaimed Duchess of Östergötland upon her christening on 25 October 1992, though she has held the title since she was born on 28 September 1992.