Editing Christianization (section)

=== Finland ===
[[File:Seal of bishop bero of finland.gif|thumb|120px|Seal of Bishop Bero of Finland from 1253.]]
[[File:Joseph Alanen - Conquest of Häme.jpg|thumb|right|Imagery collage of [[Birger Jarl]] conquering [[Häme]] and the construction of [[Häme Castle]]]]
According to the archaeological finds, [[Christianity]] gained a foothold in Finland during the 11th century. According to the very few written documents that have survived, the church in Finland was still in its early development in the 12th century. Later medieval legends from late 13th century describe Swedish attempts to [[First Swedish Crusade|conquer and Christianize Finland]] sometime in the mid-1150s.{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=25}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bagge |first1=Sverre |title=Cross and Scepter: The Rise of the Scandinavian Kingdoms from the Vikings to the Reformation |date=9 February 2016 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-16908-8 |page=46 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7W2YDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref> Danish troops raided the Finnish coastline several times between 1191 and 1202.{{sfn|Kirby|2006|p=8}} The [[Finnish tribes]] were able to wage war and engage in trade, but over time, were increasingly drawn into [[Latin Christendom]].{{sfn|Kirby|2006|p=4}} The Catholic church was strengthened with growing Swedish influence in the 12th century and the Finnish "crusade" of [[Birger Jarl]] in the 13th century.

In the early 13th century, [[Thomas (bishop of Finland)|Bishop Thomas]] became the first known [[bishop of Finland]]. There were several secular powers who aimed to bring the Finnish tribes under their rule. These were Sweden, Denmark, the [[Republic of Novgorod]] in northwestern Russia, and probably the German crusading orders as well. Finns had their own chiefs, but most probably no central authority. At the time there can be seen three cultural areas or tribes in Finland: [[Finns proper|Finns]], [[Tavastians]] and [[Karelia (historical province of Finland)|Karelians]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=339}}</ref> Russian chronicles indicate there were several [[Finnish-Novgorodian Wars|conflicts between Novgorod and the Finnic tribes]] from the 11th or 12th century to the early 13th century. The influence of [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodoxy]] was extended to the area around [[Lake Onega]] and [[Lake Ladoga]] and the ''Häme'' ([[Tavastians]]) there were converted.{{sfn|Kirby|2006|p=8|loc=The work of conversion was not, however, a monopoly of the Catholic church. Russian Orthodoxy, having extended its influence into the region around lakes Ladoga and Onega was also active amongst the Häme}}