The Tales of Ensign Stål

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Illustration for the poem "Sven Dufva"

The Tales of Ensign Stål (Swedish original title: Fänrik Ståls sägner, Finnish: Vänrikki Stoolin tarinat, or year 2007 translation Vänrikki Stålin tarinat) is an epic poem written in Swedish by the Finland-Swedish author Johan Ludvig Runeberg, the national poet of Finland. The poem describes the events of the Finnish War (1808-1809) and was published in two parts in 1848 and 1860. The first chapter of the poem also became the national anthem of Finland. "Stål" is Swedish for steel.

Written originally in revolutionary year 1848, the Ensign Stål shaped Finnish identity and later raised patriotic spirit. The book had such an impact, that during the "oppression years" in the turn of the century, and during the Winter War the book was given out for free to raise the spirits.

The Ensign Stål features several officers who fought in Swedish-Russian War of 1808, in which Sweden lost its easternmost provinces, which formed the Grand Duchy of Finland under the Emperor of Russia.

Some of the persons appearing in the Ensign Stål are the marshals Wilhelm Mauritz Klingspor and Johan August Sandels, generals Carl Nathanael af Klercker, Carl Johan Adlercreutz, and Georg Carl von Döbeln.

The Ensign Stål shaped the later image of some of the person, like admiral Carl Olof Cronstedt, who is mainly remembered due his traitorous surrender of fortress of Sveaborg. The Russian general Yakov Kulnev is described positively as his bravery and knighthood. The most famous character is still possibly the simple but heroic rotesoldat Sven Dufva. Also worth mentioning it that the organisations Lotta Svärd and Lottorna were named the character in poem of the same name.

The Ensign Stål was translated into Finnish language by group lead by fennoman professor Julius Krohn in 1867. Later translations were made by Paavo Cajander in 1889 and Otto Manninen 1909. Albert Edelfelt draw the illustrations 1894--1900. Due dated language new translation was issue in 2007. It raised some discussion due, ie. because the new wording of poem Maamme, the Finnish national hymn.

See also: Gustaf Adolf Montgomery