The land is still a pagan corner of Europe during this 12th century, but the crusaders on board the fleet intend to change that. The pope of Rome craves to expand the influence of his church and therefore has urged the king of Sweden to invade Finland and, by whatever means, convert to Roman Catholicism the inhabitants of this northern territory that reaches beyond the Arctic Circle. The power of the pope is threatened by the Eastern Orthodox Church (Greek Catholicism), which, by means of Russia, has been pushing its control into this land of the midnight sun.

According to tradition, crusaders did not give the local people much of a choice​—either be baptized as a Catholic or be beheaded! Thus, with the exception of some eastern parts that remained under the Eastern Orthodox Church, after several crusades Finland became Roman Catholic. Catholicism ruled until the 16th century, when Gustav I Vasa, the king of Sweden, changed the religion of his realm to Lutheranism.

Major Religion: Evangelical Lutheran