When someone lay claim to dominate an area it is usually done by markings. Theses actions could, be seen as symbolic,but also as social actions establishing relations of power. This article focus on these strategies used by early modern governor generals, representing the Swedish government, to legitimize the Swedish sovereignty over the provinces in the Baltic area, that is, how the Swedish control was represented. Governor generals had both the military and the civil control over the provinces. One important side of their government was to establish a relation to the subjects, a relation of power. In the Government Act 1634 it is stated their duty to proclaim the honor and needs of Sweden. Ritualized ceremonies and solemnities were thus one important aspect of their official function. More and more activities as their own arrivals, consecrations, inspections of military units, were ritualized and made something special. To establish a power relation, it was important that the subjects, or at least the local elite, participated in one way or another. At first it was not obvious for the local elite or other subjects to participate in these activities, and then the strategy failed. From the middle of the 17(th) century, however, at least the higher ranks were present. The strategy of the General Governors was to give the ceremonies and solemnities weight by alluding to well known rituals as royal coronations and processions. Through theses ritualized actions the greatness of the great power was visualized. The governor general had put a mark on his territory.