Gothic Association

Götiska Förbundet (the Gothic Association) is a Swedish order society founded on 25 June 1815 at Västra Tunhems church by Elias Hällström, the brothers Thure August and Otto von Sydow, and the brothers Gustaf and David Jochnick. In 1817 it was reorganised as an order society and received royal sanction. The Swedish monarch, King Carl XVI Gustaf, serves as its High Protector (Höge beskyddare). The society's motto is 'Forntid – Framtid – Nutidens ansvar' (Past – Future – Present Responsibility). The association is headquartered at Skansen Lejonet in Gothenburg, a fortress that serves as its 'Förbundsborg' (order castle). It operates through separate guilds for men and women: Riddaregillen (Knights' Guilds) for men in Gothenburg, Alingsås, Trollhättan, Skara, Uddevalla, Lidköping and Mariestad; and Victoriagillen (Victoria Guilds) for women in Skara, Uddevalla, Gothenburg and Varberg. The society maintains a close cooperation with Svea Orden, and through the Riksgrad (National Degree) instituted by Carl XVI Gustaf in 1993, both societies share a common highest dignity, which may be held by at most ten persons from each society. The order is structured into five degrees, excluding the Riksgrad. For men, the Riddaregille operates in degrees I–III and the Commendörsgille in degrees IV–V. The degrees are: Götiska graden (I), Nordmannagraden (II), Riddaregraden (III), Domaregraden (IV) and Stiftaregraden (V). For women, the Victoriagille, instituted in 2000, operates in degrees I–III and the Commendörsgille in degrees IV–V, with the degrees Götagraden (I), Sveagraden (II), Birgittagraden (III), Domaregraden (IV) and Stiftaregraden (V). The ritual-bound activities in the five degrees are separate for men and women. The association publishes an annual yearbook called Götiska Minnen. It also maintains Skansen Lejonet, which after 30 years of decay was renovated by the association together with AMS and supported by Fortifikationsförvaltningen; a long-term lease was signed and a ceremonial reopening took place on 4 September 1974 in the presence of King Carl XVI Gustaf, the association's protector. The association returned to Västra Tunhems church for its 200th anniversary in June 2015. Götiska Förbundet is a private, non-profit order society. It is not a commercial company but a trademarked organisational brand with a distinct identity, publications and properties. It should not be confused with the literary society of the same name active from 1811 to 1844.

Götiska Förbundet was founded on 25 June 1815 at Västra Tunhems church in Sweden. According to its charter, five young men happened upon the grave of Field Marshal Lennart Torstensson's father in the church; they had spent the Midsummer holiday visiting Halle- and Hunneberg, travelled across the Tunhem plain, and were struck by the beauty of the landscape and reminded of the region's historical monuments. The founders were Elias Hällström, the brothers Thure August and Otto von Sydow, and the brothers Gustaf and David Jochnick. In 1817, the society decided to become an order society and received royal sanction the same year. The Swedish monarch, Carl XVI Gustaf, is the association's High Protector. The association's motto is 'Forntid – Framtid – Nutidens ansvar' (Past – Future – Present Responsibility). It maintains Skansen Lejonet in Gothenburg as its order castle. The fortress, originally called Skansen Westgötha Leijon, is located on Gullberget by Gullbergsvass in Gothenburg; construction began in May 1687 and was completed in 1694. After 30 years of decay, the association, together with AMS and supported by Fortifikationsförvaltningen, undertook a major renovation of the interior. A long-term lease was signed, and a ceremonial reopening took place on 4 September 1974 in the presence of King Carl XVI Gustaf, the association's protector. The association has Riddaregillen (Knights' Guilds) for men in Gothenburg, Alingsås, Trollhättan, Skara, Uddevalla, Lidköping and Mariestad. Victoriagillen (Victoria Guilds) for women exist in Skara, Uddevalla, Gothenburg and Varberg. The society cooperates closely with Svea Orden, and through the Riksgrad (National Degree) instituted by Carl XVI Gustaf in 1993, both societies share a common highest dignity, which may be held by at most ten persons from each society. The order is divided into five degrees, excluding the Riksgrad. For men, the Riddaregille operates in degrees I–III and the Commendörsgille in degrees IV–V. The degrees are: Götiska graden (I), Nordmannagraden (II), Riddaregraden (III), Domaregraden (IV) and Stiftaregraden (V). For women, the Victoriagille, instituted in 2000, operates in degrees I–III and the Commendörsgille in degrees IV–V, with the degrees Götagraden (I), Sveagraden (II), Birgittagraden (III), Domaregraden (IV) and Stiftaregraden (V). The ritual-bound activities in the five degrees are separate for men and women. The association publishes an annual yearbook called Götiska Minnen. It returned to Västra Tunhems church for certain ceremonies, most recently for its 200th anniversary in June 2015. The association should not be confused with the literary society of the same name active from 1811 to 1844.

• 2015

  200th anniversary celebrated in June at Västra Tunhems church.

• 2000

  Victoriagille for women instituted.

• 1993

  Riksgrad (National Degree) instituted by Carl XVI Gustaf, shared with Svea Orden.

• 1974

  Ceremonial reopening of Skansen Lejonet on 4 September in the presence of King Carl XVI Gustaf after renovation.

• 1817

  Decided to become an order society and received royal sanction.

• 1815

  Founded on 25 June at Västra Tunhems church by Elias Hällström, the von Sydow brothers and the Jochnick brothers.

• 1694

  Skansen Westgötha Leijon completed.

• 1687

  Construction of Skansen Westgötha Leijon (now Skansen Lejonet) began in May.

A royal-sanctioned Swedish order society promoting Gothic values, history, nature and culture, with separate male and female guilds and a hierarchical degree system.

• Götiska Minnen (annual yearbook)

• Order degrees and ceremonies

• Membership in Riddaregillen and Victoriagillen

1. 1Götiska förbundet official websitegotiskaforbundet.se
2. 2Götiska Förbundet (ordenssällskap) - Wikipediasv.wikipedia.org
3. 3Gothic Association - Wikidatawikidata.org