Fanjunkars

Fanjunkars is a former military croft and a museum in Siuntio, Finland. The croft is known as a former residence of the national writer of Finland, Aleksis Kivi. Kivi lived in Fanjunkars, which was owned by Charlotta Lönnqvist, between 1864 and 1871 and wrote some of his most famous work there, such as The Seven Brothers.[1][2]

Fanjunkars
Fanjunkars in 2023.
General information
LocationSiuntio, Uusimaa
CountryFinland
Year(s) built2006
Opened10 October 2006
OwnerPro Fanjunkars

The name Fanjunkars comes from Fanjunkare, an old Swedish military rank. This is due to the fact that Charlotta Lönnqvist's father was a Fanjunkare in the Swedish army and the area of Finland was a part of the Kingdom of Sweden until 1809. Lönnqvist's father was a war veteran and had served during the Finnish War in 1808. He owned the croft until 1850.[1][3]

History

The Old Fanjunkars

Originally Fanjunkars croft was located a few kilometers away from Sjundby Manor in what is nowadays known as Siuntio station area.[1]

Aleksis Kivi lived in Fanjunkars from 1865 to 1871 and completed some of his most important works there.[1]

After the death of Charlotta Lönnqvist in 1891 the lands of the croft were merged with two other crofts, Granbacka and Bruses. In 1900 a small school was opened in Fanjunkars. The first teacher of the school was called Sigrid Liljefors. She was followed by Anna Liljeström in 1904. The school operated in Fanjunkars until 1930 when it was moved to Henriksberget.[1]

The New Fanjunkars

The Soviet Union leased parts of Finland in 1944 after the Second World War in accordance to Moscow Armistice between Finland, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom. Vast areas, approximately 30%, of the municipality of Siuntio fell to the leased area of Porkkala Naval Base and even Fanjunkars croft was left behind the newly created border between Finland and Soviet Union. Fanjunkars croft was completely destroyed during the lease of the area.[1]

A reconstruction of the croft, following the 19th century style, was erected in Siuntio between 2003 and 2006. Foundation Pro Fanjunkars was founded by Siuntio Municipality, Siuntio Savings Bank Foundation (Sjundeå Sparbanksstiftelse), Siuntio Local Heritage Association (Hembygdens Vänner i Sjundeå) and the Finnish and Swedish speaking Lutheran parishes of Siuntio (Sjundeå svenska församling and Siuntion suomalainen seurakunta) to safeguard and take care of the new Fanjunkars. The Prime Minister of Finland, Matti Vanhanen, officially opened the new Fanjunkars on Aleksis Kivi Day on the 10th of October 2006. The new croft has a museum room which has objects from the old Fanjunkars and objects that belonged to Kivi on display.[4]

References
  1. "Fanjunkars – Historia". fanjunkars.fi. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  2. "See and Explore". The Municipality of Siuntio. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  3. Titthål, bilder och berättelser från det gamla Sjundeå (in Finnish). Siuntio: Hembygdens Vänner i Sjundeå rf. 2014. p. 108. ISBN 9789519678320.
  4. "Fanjunkars – Nya Fanjunkars". fanjunkars.fi. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
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