A part of Sweden until 1809, Finland then became a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire until it declared its independence on December 6, 1917. From these humble beginnings, Finland has emerged as an important player in the European Union (Finland holds the presidency of the EU in the latter half of 2006) and as a useful contact with the newly independent Baltic States, as well as Russia. The second edition of the Historical Dictionary of Finland not only updates the previous edition but expands its coverage. Through a chronology, a list of acronyms and abbreviations, an introductory essay, appendixes, a bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries covering the more important persons, places, events, institutions, geographic locations, and significant aspects of politics, economy, society, and culture, an accurate historical picture of this country is revealed.