 Coat of arms of the historical province of Tavastia | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Pirkanmaa,Kanta-Häme,Päijät-Häme,Central Finland andKymenlaakso | |
| Languages | |
| Finnish (Tavastian dialects) | |
| Religion | |
| Lutheranism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Otherregional subgroups |
TheTavastians (Finnish:hämäläiset;Swedish:Tavaster) were an ancientFinnish tribe that inhabited the historical province ofTavastia (Finnish:Häme). In Russian sources, they are calledYem (Емь) orYam (Ямь), but the term later disappeared from the Russian language after Finland was incorporated into the Swedish realm.[1] The Tavastians are often noted fortheir conflicts with Novgorod.
The Tavastians are also a modern subgroup of theFinnish people, distinguished by their use ofTavastian dialects.
Tavastia (Finnish:Häme) has been inhabited since the earlyStone Age. The core area of ancient Tavastia was formed aroundLake Vanajavesi. Example of organized cooperation of iron age Tavastians are thehillforts that form a clear line in south-north direction aroundHämeenlinna. Most remarkable from these hillforts is theRapola Castle which is the biggest hillfort found inFinland, but also Tenhola hillfort inHattula andHakoinen Castle were important fortresses.[2] Villages were often developed around the fortresses and for exampleHattula and Vanaja-Janakkala had their beginning in this way.[3] In historical sources Tavastians are first time mentioned in 1042.[4]
Possibly the oldest known road of Finland,Hämeen härkätie ('Oxen Road of Tavastia') connected Tavastia with the western coast of Finland. First signs of Christianity can be dated to the 11th century.[2]
TheNovgorod First Chronicle describes Tavastians in frequent conflicts withNovgorod andKarelians as well as otherBaltic Finns from the 11th to 14th centuries.[4][non-primary source needed]
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