Eugen Schauman

Eugen Schauman (May 10, 1875 in Kharkov, Russian Empire – June 16, 1904 in Helsinki, Finland, Russian Empire) was a Finnish nationalist who assassinated the Governor-General Nikolai Ivanovich Bobrikov.

Schauman's life

Eugen Schauman was born to Finland-Swedish parents Waldemar and Elin Maria Schauman in Kharkov. His brother Rafael was born in 1873 and his sister Sigrid in 1877.

Schauman's patriotism is rumored to have been wakened in his childhood when his mother used to read him "The Tales of Ensign Stål" by Johan Ludvig Runeberg. The tales were combined with his yearning for home since the family was forced to travel because of his father's work.

Before the assassination Schauman worked as a clerk in the Senate. Schauman also arranged a series of marksmanship courses for local students in Helsinki. These courses later became a part of the White Guards.

Assassination

Bobrikov.The assassination of Bobrikov was a topical question among the Finnish activists of the time. Also other activist groups are known to have planned an assassination but Schauman convinced them to give him two weeks before they would intervene.

Aftermath

Schauman left a letter in which he stated that he justified his actions as a punishment for Bobrikov's crimes against the people of Finland. He addressed the letter to the Tsar and wanted him to pay attention to the problems in the whole Russian empire, especially in Poland and the Baltic Sea region. He also claimed he had acted alone and emphasized that his family was not involved in the assassination.

Schauman's body was taken to a nameless grave in the cemetery of Malmi in Helsinki. After the political situation eased up he was reburied in the Schauman family grave in the Porvoo cemetery and a monument was built on the grave.

Schauman's legacy

Schauman became somewhat of an icon of the resistance to Imperial Russia and he is still today considered a hero in Finland. His fame can be characterized by his ranking as the 34th greatest Finn in the Suuret suomalaiset television poll. In the place of the assassination in the hallway of the Council of State there is a memorial plaque that states "Se Pro Patria Dedit" (given himself for his country).

It has been debated in Finland whether Schauman should be considered a hero or a terrorist. In 2004 the Finnish prime minister Matti Vanhanen called Schauman a terrorist and condemned the deed.

External links

* [http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/english/article/1076153076611 Centennial article] about the assassination in Helsingin Sanomat international edition June 15, 2004