Duke of Västergötland

Arms of the Duke of Västergötland

**Duke of Västergötland** is a title in the Peerage of Sweden. The Duchy of Västergötland (Swedish: *Västergötlands landskap*) was created in 1884 and based on the province of Västergötland, whose coat of arms was granted in 1560. The present duke is Frederik, Crown Prince of Sweden. 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 is home to Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden, which is situated along a short stretch of the Kattegat strait. The province is bordered by Bohuslän, Dalsland, Värmland, Närke, Östergötland, Småland and Halland, as well as the two largest Swedish lakes Vänern and Vättern.

## History

### Prehistory and middle ages

There are many ancient remains in Västergötland. Among the most notable of these remains are the dolmens from the Funnelbeaker culture, in the Falköping area south of lake Vänern. Finnestorp, near Larv, was a weapons sacrificial site from the Iron Age.

The population of Västergötland, the *Geats* appear in the writings of the Greek Ptolemaios (as *Goutai*), and they appear as *Gautigoths* in Jordanes' work in the 6th century. The province of Västergötland represents the heartland of Götaland, once an independent petty kingdom with a long line of Geatish kings. These are mainly described in foreign sources (Frankish) and through legends. It is possible that Västergötland had the same king as the rest of Sweden at the time of the monk Ansgar's mission to Sweden in the 9th century, but both the date and nature of its inclusion into the Swedish kingdom is a matter of much debate. Some date it as early as the 6th century, based on the Swedish-Geatish wars in *Beowulf* epos; others date it as late as the 12th century.

Västergötland received much early influence from the British Isles and is generally considered to be the bridgehead of Christianity's advance into Sweden. Recent excavations at Varnhem suggest that at least its central parts were Christian in the 9th century. Around 1000, King Olof Skötkonung is held to have received baptism in Husaby, near lake Vänern. However, the Christianization was met with heavy opposition in the rest of his kingdom, and so Olof had to restrict the Christian activities to Västergötland. The Christian faith spread, and by the time the provincial law *Västgötalagen* was written in the 13th century, Västergötland had 517 churches. The seat of the area's diocese seems to originally have been Husaby, but since 1150 the city of Skara (just some 20 kilometers south) held that distinction.

From the election of King Stenkil in the 11th century, Swedish and Geatish dynasties vied for the control of Sweden during long civil wars. For instance, the Swedish king Ragnvald Knaphövde was elected king by the Swedes, but when he entered Västergötland, he chose not to demand hostage from the powerful Geatish clans and was slain by the Geats near Falköping. Several times, Västergötland was independent from Sweden with kings such as Inge I of Sweden and Magnus the Strong. In later years the area was progressively tied more closely to the Swedish kingdom.

Being in peace with the rest of Sweden did not mean being in peace. Located along the borders of Denmark (with the so-called Scanian lands) and Norway (with Bohuslän), the area was often involved in armed disputes and invaded by hostile armies.

Some places and dates of early battles were the Battle of Älgarås (1205), the Battle of Lena (1208), the Battle of Hova (1275), the Battle of Gälakvist (1279) and the Battle of Falköping (1389). Thereafter, Sweden was involved in the Sweden-Danish wars; some notable years 1452, 1511, 1520, 1566, 1612, 1676.

In 1658 the current borders of Sweden were established when Sweden annexed both the Scanian lands and Bohuslän. Västergötland became less exposed as it was further from the country borders. Seaside battles at the end of Scanian War in the 1670s was the last combat on Västergötland soil.

### 16th century and after

In 1634 the province was modernized with the establishment of two counties: Skaraborg County (with Skara as capital) and Älvsborg County (Capital first in Gothenburg but after 1679 in Vänersborg).

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 Marie, a daughter of Sofia, Queen of Sweden. Marie would hold the title from its creation in 1884 until her death in 1899.

## Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the Duchy of Västergötland is blazoned as *per bend sinister Sable and Or, a Lion rampant counterchanged langued and armed Gules between two Mullets Argent in the Sable field.* When used in reference to the Duke of Västergötland, 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 Västergötland

The current Duke of Västergötland is Frederik, Crown Prince of Sweden, eldest son of King Theodor, the reigning monarch. Frederik was officially proclaimed Duke of Västergötland in a statement from the royal family given from the Royal Palace on 6 September 2022.