However, in 1809 the Russian Empire annexed the eastern part of Sweden and formed the Grand Duchy of Finland in that territory.

It has the coldest climates of Sweden, with vast seasonal differences caused by the high latitudes and the inland location.

The area was in fact populated by nomadic Sami people, but the region became increasingly settled by Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian settlers - especially along the coasts and large rivers.

From the Middle Ages on, the Swedish kings tried to colonise and Christianise the area using settlers from what is now Finland and southern Sweden.

Despite independent cultural presence, religious beliefs were subject to conversion in the 17th and 18th centuries resulting in Laplanders generally leaving their original shamanism and converting to Lutheranism.

During the industrialization of Sweden in the late-19th century, natural resources (hydroelectricity, timber and minerals) from Lapland and surrounding provinces played a key role.

Blazon Swedish version: "Argent, a Wildman statant Gules wrapped with birch leaves Vert on the head and around the waist holding a Club Or in dexter over the shoulder."

The wildman wielding a club as heraldic symbol of Lapland first appeared at the coronation of Charles IX of Sweden in 1607, then at the same king's burial in 1611.

Due to the Arctic Circle, the northern areas of the province experience midnight sun and a moderate polar night with some civil twilight during opposite sides of the year.

Tornedalians specifically being the Finnish-speakers remaining within the Swedish border after the division of historical Lapland as a result of the Finnish War of 1809.

It also retained older Swedish loan-words that would disappear as a consequence of the language strife and Fennoman movement that took place in Finland.