Gotland Province, Sweden Genealogy

History
Gotland was a province before becoming Gotland County. The name of the province dates back to Medieval times.

The island was formed after the Ice Age due to post-glacial rebound. Skeletal remains found there turned out to be about 8000 years old. DNA analysis revealed relationship to both modern-day Finns and Mediterraneans. According to Gutasaga, the inhabitants called Gutes voluntarily gave government into the hands of the Swedish king.

Very early in time, Gotland became a commercial center of that area, with with the town of Visby the most important Hanseatic city in the Baltic Sea. The presence of German merchants in Visby caused independent government of Visby and the rest of the island for many years.

Main events in Gotland history are: