Claiming Space in the North: Swedish Arctic Policy in the Early 17th Century

Abstract

Swedish expansion into Sápmi intensified during the reign of Charles IX in the early 17th century. This article examines Swedish activity in the northern areas and especially Kemi Lappmark from the perspective of spatiality. Northern areas, locations, and geographical features were discussed in the correspondence of Charles IX and his officeholders, who were tasked with fulfilling the king’s myriad orders. Maps and itineraries reflect the needs of gathering information; Sápmi was seen as an unfamiliar territory that needed to be charted for Sweden. In the correspondence, the area largely emerges via references to its passages and obstacles, as river systems and other natural formations dictated the movement of the Crown’s officials. To lay claim over the North, Charles IX used symbolic indications of possession and physical markers in contested areas, and he conceived of spaces in which certain people were allowed or denied access. The study provides new insights into the conceptualization and use of the northern landscapes and the creation of spaces and places in the colonial expansion towards Sápmi.