Kaarina Multiala

Kaarina Multiala from the 16th century Viipuri (Viborg) is the earliest female merchant mentioned in Finnish documents.

Married to Esko Mutiala, Kaarina was the rare example of a successful businesswomen who continued their husband’s business after they became widows. She was among the Viipuri citizens who traded and owned a ship that reached places as Tallinn (Reval). Following the already established pattern, Kaarina exported tar, butter, leather, fish and flax, and imported salt, broadcloth, silk, fine linen, grain and copper. After a ban was declared on sailing from Viipuri to Tallinn (Reval) or Narva on the south coast of the Gulf of Finland, she was among those entrepreneurs who ignored this prohibition. In the late 1550s Kaarina emerged as the eighth wealthiest taxpayer in the town. Twenty years later, in the 1570s, she disappears from the records.

Although very successful entrepreneur, Kaarina could not write and usually confirmed the receipt of payments with her mark and a seal.