On this day 16-6-1904, 118 years ago, Russian governor-general of Finland, Nikolay Ivanovich Bobrikov was assassinated by Finnish nationalist Eugen Schauman.
Almost full century earlier, previously part of Sweden, Finland had been annexed by Russia after Finnish war (1808-1809). Instead of straight up integrating the newly conquered land into the empire, Finland was given autonomy, and became known as the Grand Duchy of Finland. In diet of Finland (1809) the Russian tsar Alexander I – the grand duke himself - had confirmed the rights of Finns under his rule, promising freedom to pursue their own customs and maintain their own religion and identity. Such a concession was necessary due to the difference in cultures and customs. In the Porvoo Diet (1816) he also extended this promise to bind his descendants as well. In the Grand Duchy of Finland the head of state was the Russian tsar, but it had its own constitution, its own laws and senate, its own army, its own postage stamps, all the works. As the grand duke himself had other duties as tsar of Russia, A general-governor was nominated by the grand duke to be his representative in Finland. Th