The history of the Finnish Turku is connected even by name with Russia. For all the seeming similarities, Turku has nothing to do with Turkey, since the root of this toponym originally refers to the word "bargaining". The territory of this city was conquered by the Swedes; there is also evidence that the Novgorodians conquered it. However, so far these data are not particularly reliable.
Foundation of the city
The founding of the city of Turku dates back to the Middle Ages, when this settlement was reported in a letter to Pope Gregory XI, written in 1229. Since then, the sea has become shallow and urban settlements had to be moved closer to the coast, since ships were the main trade transport.
The city then had the name Korois or Koroinen. From those years old churches have remained on the site of an old settlement. Also, the city bore the name Abo, given to him by the Swedes. Initially, this was the name of the island fortress, erected by the Swedes. But when the land rose from the water, the island joined the mainland coast, and then it was already a question of the general settlement of Abo-Turku. The real prosperity of the city was ensured by peace with the Novgorod principality, which pestered its neighbors with its raids. One of them ended with the complete burning of Abo Turku.
Finland did not have independence at that time and belonged to Sweden. However, Turku minted their own coins, which was not uncommon for the Middle Ages. The coins are dated to 1409.
Turku was also conquered by the Danes. However, in 1523 Abos Castle was freed from them.
The church reform is also memorable, when ties with the Catholic Church were severed to please the new Lutheran teaching. At this time, Finnish literature began to develop, and church books were translated into Finnish.
Non-capital capital
Turku was then considered the main city in Finland, but could not be called the capital, since Finland was not yet an independent state. But this did not prevent the palace intrigues from happening here, sometimes having a bloody denouement.
Russia also claimed these lands at that time. The first campaign of conquest in the Northern War was started here by Peter I. For almost eight years, Russian troops stood here - from 1713 to 1721. In another war - Russian-Swedish - the Swedes again occupied Turku. But already at the beginning of the new century, the city passed into the possession of Russia. And when the era of the Grand Duchy of Finland came, which had ceded to Russia, the city began to develop calmly. Alexander I promised not to change local laws and allowed the population to live in their usual way.
After a while, the capital was transferred from Turku to Helsingfors (Helsinki). Further, we know that Finland gained its independence during the Civil War. But the capital never returned to Turku.
