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.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

1st century

Year	Date	Event
98		Roman historian Tacitus writes in the book Germania about aesti tribes.

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.

8th century

Year	Date	Event
800		Estonians participate in the Battle of Brávellir on the side of the Swedes and against the Danes.

10th century

Year	Date	Event
967		Olav Tryggvason, the future King of Norway, is captured by Estonian pirates, 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 conquers the Tarbatu stronghold and builds the Yuryev castle, marking the foundation of Tartu.
1032		A Novogorod fleet tries to reach Kolivan (modern Tallinn), but is defeated in a naval battle at the “iron gate” at Aegna island.
1061		Estonians destroy the Yuryev castle and carry out raids in the Pskov region.

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.
1170		Valdemar I of Denmark fights with Curonian and Estonian pirates near Öland island.
1171		Bishop Fulco makes a missionary journey to Estonia.
1177		Estonians attack and burn Pskov during winter.
1187		Estonians and Karelians ravage the Mälaren area in Sweden, burn down the town of Sigtuna, and kill the archbishop.
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		The crusader Livonian Brothers of the Sword are founded.
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).
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.
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.
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 Lyndanisse 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 the last pagan stronghold in Saaremaa.
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.
1242	5 April	The Livonian Order and Estonians are defeated by Novgorod in the Battle of the Ice.
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
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.
1347		The Teutonic Order gives Northern Estonia to Livonian Order.

15th century

Year	Date	Event
1419		The Livonian Diet is formed to solve internal disputes in Livonia.
1435		The Livonian Confederation is established to solve internal disputes in Livonia.
1440		The Livonian Order becomes self-governing from the Teutonic Order.
1459		The Livonian Order takes its territories in Estonia under its self-government.

16th century

Year	Date	Event
1525		The Teutonic Order is secularized and the Livonian Order becomes de facto independent.
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.
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.

17th century

Year	Date	Event
1625		Swedish commander Jacob De la Gardie took Dorpat (Tartu) and Southern Estonia from Poland
1632		Foundation of the University of Tartu under Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus.
1645	13 August	Saaremaa (Ösel) island was ceded from Denmark to Sweden by the Treaty of Brömsebro.
1700	20 November	Battle at Narva, where the Swedish army under King Charles XII defeats the Russian army.

18th century

Year	Date	Event
1704		Russian troops under czar Peter the Great captured Dorpat (Tartu) in the Great Northern War.
1708		Fearful of Swedish attack, Russians burned down the city of Tartu.
1710		Whole Estonia was included in Russian empire.
1721	30 August	Estonia was formally ceded by Sweden to Russia by the Treaty of Nystad.

19th century

Year	Date	Event
1819		Serfdom abolished.
1861		"Kalevipoeg", Estonia's national epic, was published in both Estonian and German.
1869		Estonian Song Festivals established.
1889		Policy of Russification introduced where Baltic German legal and educational institutions are abolished or transformed into Russian

20th century

Year	Date	Event
1918	24 February	Estonian Declaration of Independence
	3 March	Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Bolshevist Russia cedes sovereignty over Estonia to Germany.
	11 November	Germans began withdrawal and turn over power to the provisional government of Estonia (headed by Konstantin Päts).
	22 November	Estonia was invaded by Bolshevist Russian forces. Beginning of Estonian War of Independence.
1919		Bolsheviks were driven out of Estonia.
	10 October	Agrarian Law passed redistributing many of the estates owned by Baltic Germans and Estonian landowners.
1920	2 February	Treaty of Tartu which gave Estonia recognition by Soviet Russia.
	15 June	Adoption of Constitution.
1922	22 September	Estonia joined the League of Nations.
1933	14 October	Plebiscite in favour of constitutional reform giving wide powers to a new office of the president. (to 16 October)
1934	24 January	New constitution in effect.
	12 March	Konstantin Päts with the help of General Johan Laidoner set up a virtual dictatorship. Parliament was prorogued and political parties were banned. Many members of the Vaps Movement were arrested.
1937	29 July	A new constitution in force with civil liberties and democracy restored but with a very strong presidency.
1938		Kaarel Eenpalu became prime minister of Estonia.
	24 February	Election sees National Front winning 63 seats and all the opposition winning 17 seats.
	24 April	Konstantin Päts elected president.
1939		Jüri Uluots becomes prime minister of Estonia.
	23 August	The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed, promising mutual non-aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union and agreeing to a division of much of Europe between those two countries.
1940	17 June	The Red Army occupied Estonia and Latvia.
	6 August	Estonia was unlawfully declared the Estonian SSR and was, against the law, incorporated into the Soviet Union.
1941		German troops took with help of the Forest Brothers Estonia over from the Soviets.
	14 June	Mass deportations by Soviet Union authorities take place in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
	22 June	Germany attacked Soviet Union, Estonian partisans (Forest Brothers) started revolting in Southern Estonia.
	28 August	Sinking of an Soviet steamer with 3500 Soviet-mobilized Estonian men on board, 598 of them died.
	1 December	Self-government of Estonia, headed by Hjalmar Mäe, is appointed by German military administration.
1944		Otto Tief was captured by Soviet forces; Jüri Uluots and members of the Tief government escaped to Sweden.
	30 January	Battle of Narva: The first Soviet units crossed Estonian border.
	24 February	Battle of Narva: Estonian volunteers launched a counterattack at Narva river.
	6 March	World War II: Soviet Army planes attack Narva in Estonia, destroying almost the entire old town.
	9 March	World War II: Soviet Army planes attack Tallinn, Estonia.
	26 July	Battle of Narva: The Soviets captured Narva.
	29 July	Battle of Tannenberg Line: The Estonian and German counterattack stopped Soviet advance towards Tallinn.
	26 August	The Soviets captured most of Tartu, what became frontline city for almost a month.
	18 September	Jüri Uluots, prime minister in capacity of president of Estonia, asks Otto Tief to form a government on the eve of the withdrawal of German forces; official gazette published proclaiming the Tief government.
	20 September	Otto Tief attempts to organise the defence of Tallinn against the arrival of the Red Army two days later.
	22 September	The Soviets captured Tallinn.
	19 December	The entire territory of Estonia was captured by the Red Army.
1949	25 March	An extensive deportation campaign was conducted in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The Soviet authorities deported more than 92,000 people from the Baltics to remote areas of the Soviet Union.
1955	19 July	Estonian Television (ETV) began broadcasting.
1978	28 September	One of the last Forest Brother guerilla movement fighter August Sabbe was discovered and killed in Estonia.
1980		Youth riots in the capital of the Soviet Republic of Estonia were quickly forced down.
1988		In Estonia, 300,000 demonstrated for independence.
		Estonian became the official language of Estonia.
	16 November	The Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR declared that Estonia is "sovereign" but stopped short of declaring independence.
1989		After 44 years, the Estonian flag was raised on the Pikk Hermann castle tower.
		Two million indigenous people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, then still occupied by the Soviet Union, joined hands to demand freedom and independence, forming an uninterrupted 600 km human chain called the Baltic Way.
1991		Latvia and Estonia voted for independence from the Soviet Union.
		The United States recognized the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
	20 August	The Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR recognized Estonian independence from the Soviet Union.
	6 September	The Soviet Union recognized the independence of the Baltic States.
1992		Estonia held a referendum on its constitution.
		Heinrich Mark and the government in exile appointed by him cede their credentials to the newly elected Riigikogu.
		Lennart Meri was elected President of Estonia.
	20 June	The Soviet ruble was replaced with kroon.
1994		The Russian army left Estonia.
	28 September	The car ferry MS Estonia sank in the Baltic Sea, killing 852.

21st century

Year	Date	Event
2001		68 people died in Estonia after drinking bootleg alcohol that contained methanol.
2002		Estonia hosted the first Eurovision Song Contest in a former Soviet republic.
		North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit in Prague: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia were invited to join NATO.
2003		Estonia approved joining the European Union in a referendum with 66% agreed with joining and 34% were against it.
2004	29 March	The largest expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to date takes place, allowing Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia into the organization.
	1 May	The largest expansion to date of the European Union took place, extending the Union by 10 member-states: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Malta and Cyprus.
2005		The same storm which pounded the U.S. earlier in the month hit England, Scandinavia and the Baltic States, leaving 13 dead with widespread flooding and power cuts.
		A passenger helicopter en route to Helsinki, Finland crashed into the sea near Tallinn, Estonia, killing 14.
2006		Toomas Hendrik Ilves was elected President of Estonia.
2007	27 April	Russians riot in Tallinn, Estonia, about moving the Bronze Soldier. Two nights of rioting left one dead. Cyber attacks launched against Estonia.

See also

• Timeline of Tallinn history