BACKGROUND: Difference between reality and legend pondered at school
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By Anna Pakarinen
Did the peasant Lalli really kill Bishop Henry? What truth is there behind the legends? New history books used in Finnish comprehensive schools teach pupils to take a critical view of the legends.
Nevertheless, the fatal confrontation between the Bishop and Lalli on the ice of Lake Köylio can still be read in schoolbooks of the elementary level of Finnish comprehensive school.
"Although little is known about the crusade itself, we do know that King Erik [of Sweden] and Henry existed, and that they visited Finland. We also know that there had been a farm in Köyliö called Lalloila, and a person by the name of Lalli, who killed Bishop Henry, also existed", writes one textbook, Aikamatka Suomen historiaan ("Time Travel into Finnish History"), published by WSOY.
Najat Ouakrim-Soivio, head teacher of the Lycee Franco-Finlandais d'Helsinki, is one of the authors of the textbook Historian tuulet II ("The Winds of History II"), published by Otava.
According to Ouakrim-Soivio, it is fairly common to discuss the legendary nature of the story of Henry and Lalli in class.
"At least in our school, in these kinds of cases we explain what legends mean, and what a story of a saint is. We also tell the pupils about the possibility that the story might never have taken place", Ouakrim-Soivio says.
The books contain many illustrations. In the Otava book there is a comic strip depicting the killing of the Bishop, and the WSOY book has, among other things, a photograph of the scene of the killing.
"The characters of the story are certainly historical figures, but there is little evidence that the men actually saw each other. Bishop Henry made his first crusade to Finland in the 1150s. He died in Finland, but the manner of his death remains uncertain. In the Middle Ages martyrdom - dying for the faith - was held in high esteem. Therefore, the idea that Bishop Henry was killed by a peasant fitted well with the concept of martyrdom of the Catholic Church" reads "The Winds of History II".
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 22.4.2005
More on this subject:
 Historian says Bishop Henry and Lalli may have been fictional characters
Köyliö residents grind axe over claim that Henry and Lalli never existed
Helsingin Sanomat
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