Lion of Parola

The Lion of Parola in Parola, Hattula, Finland.

Grand Duke of Finland, Alexander II, met Senator Johan Vilhelm Snellman at Parolannummi in 1863.

The Lion of Parola is a bronze lion statue located in Parola, an urban area in the municipality of Hattula in Finland. It was erected in 1868 to commemorate the 1863 visit of Russian Emperor Alexander II. This meeting between Alexander II and Senator Johan Vilhelm Snellman at Parolannummi was historically significant because it led to a decree that elevated the Finnish language to equal status with Swedish in the Grand Duchy of Finland. The statue was created by the Swedish sculptor Andreas Fornander. The Lion of Parola is the oldest monument linked to Emperor Alexander II of Russia. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

The Lion of Parola symbolizes this important moment in Finnish history and is also featured on the flag of the Finnish Army's Armour School. Parola itself has a rich military heritage, with Parolannummi being a military training ground since 1777, and the town hosts the Finnish Defence Forces' Armour Brigade and the Parola Armour Museum.

Gallery

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  Lion of Parola.
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  Lion of Parola.
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  The flag of the Finnish Army's Armour School.

References

1. "Parolan leijona - Hattula.fi" (in Finnish). Retrieved 2025-08-13.
2. "Tämä leijona ei pure, vaikka sitä rapsutetaan". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 2011-08-25. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
3. "6. Parolan leijona". www.parliament.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
4. SuomenEduskunta (2013-09-05). Demokratian polku 6: Parolan leijona . Retrieved 2025-08-13– via YouTube.
5. "Parolan leijona trimmataan kuntoon". ts.fi (in Finnish). 2011-08-25. Retrieved 2025-08-13.