A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Timeline of Estonian history
...
This is a timeline of Estonian history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Estonia and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Estonia. See also the list of rulers of Estonia.
BC (Before Common-era)
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000 BC | Finno-Ugric peoples (ancestors of Estonians) started to move from eastern Europe to northeastern coast of Baltic Sea.[1] |
1st century
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 98 | Roman historian Tacitus writes in the book Germania about aesti tribes. |
2nd century
 | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (March 2020) |
3rd century
| This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2012) |
4th century
| This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2012) |
5th century
| This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2012) |
6th century
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 600 | Vikings from Gotland sail to Hiiumaa (Dagö) island and build a fortification there. | |
| King Ingvar of Sweden invades Estonia, but is killed. His son Anund avenges his father and raids the country. |
7th century
| This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2012) |
8th century
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | Estonians participate in the Battle of Brávellir on the side of the Swedes and against the Danes. |
9th century
| This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2012) |
10th century
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 967 | Olav Tryggvason, the future King of Norway, is captured by Estonian vikings, and sold as a slave. | |
| 972 | A battle between Estonian and Icelandic Vikings in Saaremaa. |
11th century
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1008 | Olaf Haraldsson, the future King of Norway, wins a battle in Saaremaa. | |
| 1030 | Prince Yaroslav I the Wise of Kiev defeats Chuds and founds a fort named Yuryev (modern Tartu).[2] | |
| 1050 | Estonians started trading and raiding Viking expeditions over Baltic Sea to Sweden.[3] | |
| 1061 | Sosols (Estonian tribe) destroy the Yuryev castle and attack Pskov.[4] |
12th century
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1113 | Prince Mstislav of Kiev wins a battle against the Chuds (Estonians or people related to Estonians). | |
| 1116 | Prince Mstislav of Kiev, aided by Pskov and Novgorod, makes a raid against the Chuds and conquers the Otepää stronghold. | |
| 1132 | Prince Vsevolod of Novgorod is defeated by Estonians of Vaiga county. | |
| 1134 | Prince Vsevold of Novgorod fights against the Chuds and briefly captures the fortification of Tartu (Yuryev). | |
| 1154 | Arab geographer Al Idrisi mentions Estonian places, also marking the foundation of Tallinn. | |
| 1165 | The Benedictine bishop Fulco is named Bishop of the Estonians by the Archbishop of Lund.[3] | |
| 1170 | Valdemar I of Denmark fights with Curonian and Estonian pirates near Öland island. | |
| 1171 (or 1169–1170) | Bishop Fulco makes a missionary journey to Estonia.[3] | |
| 1177 | Fulco second missionary journey to Estonia.[3] | |
| 1177 | Estonians attack and burn Pskov during winter. | |
| 1187 | Estonians, Karelians or/and Karelians ravage the Mälaren area in Sweden, pillage town of Sigtuna, and kill the archbishop Johannes.[5] | |
| 1191 | Cistercian monk Theoderich, future Bishop of Estonia, makes an unsuccessful missionary journey to Estonia. | |
| 1192 | Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich of Novgorod makes two raids against Estonians, burning down the Tartu and Otepää strongholds. | |
| 1193 | Pope Celestine III calls for a crusade against pagans in Northern Europe. | |
| 1200 | Bishop Albert and his crusaders capture Riga in Latvia. |
13th century
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1202 | Pope Innocent III declares Crusade to Christianize Old Livonia. The crusader Livonian Brothers of the Sword are founded.[3] | |
| 1203 | Saaremaa islanders ravage areas of Southern Sweden, then belonging to Denmark. The returning pirates skirmish with the German settlers of Riga near the town of Visby in Gotland. | |
| 1206 | Valdemar II of Denmark builds a fortress in Saaremaa, but burns it down after finding no volunteers to man it. | |
| 1207 | The Terra Mariana ("Land of St Mary) is established as the political unit of crusaders in Livonia. | |
| 1208 | Sword Brothers, Letts and Livs invade Sakala and Ugandi in Southern Estonia, starting the Estonian Ancient Fight for Freedom (1208-1227). | |
| 1209 | Sword Brothers and Letts attack Ugandi.[3] | |
| 1210 | Estonians besiege the Cēsis stronghold in Latvia. | |
| Estonians defeat the Sword Brothers and Livs in the Battle of Ümera in Latvia. | ||
| Pskov and Novgorod troops besiege the Otepää stronghold. | ||
| 1210-1211 | First recorded plague in Estonia.[3] | |
| 1211 | Pskov troops raid Western Estonia. | |
| Summer | Estonians are defeated by Sword Brothers in the Battle of Turaida in Latvia. | |
| Sword Brothers are defeated by Estonians in the Battle of Viljandi. | ||
| Estonians raid crusader areas in Latvia. | ||
| Three-year truce between Estonians and Germans is signed at Turaida.[3] | ||
| 1212 | Russian troops besiege the Varbola Stronghold. | |
| Troops from Sakala, led by Lembitu of Lehola, burn Pskov. | ||
| 1213 | Lithuanians raid the Sakala area. | |
| 1215 | Sword Brothers defeat Estonians in the Battle of Lehola. | |
| Troops from Saaremaa besiege Riga. | ||
| Troops from Sakala raid crusader areas in Latvia. | ||
| 1216 | Pskov troops capture the Otepää stronghold. | |
| 1217 | February | Sword Brothers are defeated by Estonians and Russians in the Battle of Otepää. |
| 21 September | Sword Brothers, Latgalians and Livs defeat Estonians in the Battle of St. Matthew's Day, where the Estonian leader Lembitu of Lehola is killed. | |
| 1219 | 15 June | Valdemar II of Denmark conquers Tallinn in the Battle of Lindanise and builds the Toompea Castle. |
| 1220 | 8 August | John I of Sweden invades Läänemaa, but is defeated by troops from Saaremaa in the Battle of Lihula. |
| 1221 | Estonians besiege Tallinn. | |
| 1222 | The invading Danish troops are defeated by Estonians in Saaremaa. | |
| 1223 | 29 January | Estonians defeat the Sword Brothers in the Battle of Viljandi and the entire Southern Estonia is liberated. |
| Estonians are defeated by Sword Brothers in Ümera, Latvia. | ||
| Pskov and Novgorod troops raid most of mainland Estonia. | ||
| 1224 | 15 August | Sword Brothers capture the Tartu stronghold from joint Estonian and Russian troops - mainland Estonia falls to the crusaders. |
| The Bishopric of Dorpat is established in Southeastern Estonia. | ||
| 1227 | January | Sword Brothers conquer stronghold of Muhu, and last pagan stronghold of Valjala surrenders. |
| 1227 | Sword Brothers conquer Northern Estonia from Denmark. | |
| 1228 | 1 October | The Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek is established in Western Estonia. |
| 1234 | Pskov and Novgorod troops invade the Bishopric of Dorpat, that is forced to pay tribute for four years. | |
| De Lode brothers in Kullamaa Parish refuse to recognize the new Bishop of Ösel-Wiek. | ||
| 1236 | 22 September | Sword Brothers are defeated by Samogitians in the Battle of Saule. Saaremaa islanders rebel against German rule. |
| 1237 | Livonian Brothers of the Sword merge into the Teutonic Order and become known as the Livonian Order, autonomous of the Teutonic Order State. | |
| 1238 | The Livonian Order helps restore the power of the Bishop of Ösel Wiek in Kullamaa Parish. | |
| 1239 | The Liber Census Daniae is compiled. The book also gives first recorded data on northern Estonia.[3] | |
| 1242 | 5 April | The Livonian Order and Estonians are defeated by Novgorod in the Battle of the Ice. |
| 1249 | St. Michael's Convent is founded in Tallinn.[3] | |
| 1251 | first mentioning of a school in Estonia (the cathedral school in Pärnu).[3] | |
| 1268 | 18 February | Pskov and Novgorod defeat the Livonian Order in the Battle of Rakvere, ending the Order's attempts to invade Russia. |
| 1270 | 16 February | Lithuanians defeat the Livonian Order in the Battle of Karuse. |
| 1285 | Tallinn becomes a member of the Hanseatic League. | |
| 1298 | A border war between the Livonian Order and the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek. |
14th century
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1305 | Padise Abbey is founded.[3] | |
| 1343 | St.George's Night Uprising (1343–1345) in Northwestern Estonia and Saaremaa. | |
| 1346 | King Valdemar IV of Denmark sells Northern Estonia to the Teutonic Order.[6] | |
| 1347 | The Teutonic Order gives Northern Estonia to Livonian Order. |
15th century
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1407 | Pirita convent is built.[3] | |
| 1419 | The Livonian Diet is formed to solve internal disputes in Livonia. | |
| 1433 | First recorded great fire in Tallinn.[3] | |
| 1435 | The Livonian Confederation is established to solve internal disputes in Livonia. | |
| 1440 | The Livonian Order becomes self-governing from the Teutonic Order. | |
| 1464 | Plague kills 2/3 of population of Tallinn.[3] | |
| 1480-1481 | First war between Old Livonia and Muscovite Russia.[3] | |
| 1500 | Estonian population exceeds 250,000.[3] |
16th century
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1500-1502 | Second Livonian-Russian war.[3] | |
| 1504-1505 | Plague ravages Estonia.[3] | |
| 1507 | Old Livonian peasants are not allowed to own weapons.[3] | |
| 1523 | The Reformation comes to Estonia.[3] | |
| 1524 | 14 September | Catholic churches are pillaged in Tallinn.[3] |
| 1525 | The Teutonic Order is secularized and the Livonian Order becomes de facto independent. | |
| 1552 | First library is founded in Tallinn.[3] | |
| 1558 | Russian forces invade Eastern Estonia, starting the Livonian War. | |
| The Bishopric of Dorpat and several bailiwicks of the Livonian Order in Eastern Estonia surrender to Russian forces. | ||
| Tartu surrendered to Russian troops in the Livonian War | ||
| 1559 | The Bishop of Ösel-Wiek sells his bishopric to King Frederick II of Denmark, who gives the land to his brother Duke Magnus of Holstein. Lutheranism prevails in Western Estonia. | |
| 1560 | Duke Magnus of Holstein takes power in the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek. | |
| Russian troops defeat the Livonian Order in the Battle of Härgmäe. | ||
| Russian troops capture Central Estonia from the Livonian Order. | ||
| Ivan the Terrible decimated the Livonian Order in the Battle of Ergeme. | ||
| Uprising of Wiek's peasants. (:et) | ||
| 1561 | The Commandery of Tallinn and the nobility of other North Estonian bailiwicks of the Livonian Order swear allegiance to Sweden. | |
| The Treaty of Vilnius gives lands of the Livonian Order in Southern Estonia and Northern Latvia to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as the Duchy of Livonia. | ||
| 6 June | The city council of Reval surrendered to Sweden. | |
| 1562 | The Livonian Order is dissolved. | |
| The Bailiwick of Maasilinna of the former Livonian Order in Saaremaa and Hiiumaa refuses to recognize Lithuanian power. | ||
| 1564 | The Bailiwick of Maasilinna gives itself under Danish rule. | |
| 1573 | 1 January | The Russians occupied Pärnu (Pernau) in Western Estonia and the fortress of Weissenstein (Paide). |
| 1578 | Balthasar Russow publishes his cronicles about the Livonian War. | |
| 1581 | 6 September | A mercenary army of Sweden under Pontus de la Gardie captured Narva from Russia. |
| 1582 | By the armistice of Jam Zapolski, Dorpat together with Southern Estonia was incorporated into the state of Poland-Lithuania. | |
| 1595 | Treaty of Teusina: Sweden's right to Narva and Estonia was signed.[1] |