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Finland Latvia
First posted in April 2002, last revised on February 8th 2010







Estonia gained independence in 1918/1920, and at this time its modern borders were established. Before, only the northern stretches of modern Estonia were refered to as Estland (Estonia), while the south was regarded part of Livland (Livonia). From 1561 to 1721, the island of Ezel (Ösel) formed a separate administrative unit.
For much of its history, Estonia has been controlled by foreign ethnicities, from 1218 to 1346 by a Danish elite, from 1346 to 1880/1918 by an ethnic German elite. This pattern was repeated during the years of Soviet occupation (1940-1941) 1944-1991, when ethnic Russians took the role traditionally held by German nobles. The bulk of the population, the Estonians, for centuries had been treated as serfs, and even after their liberation in 1816, they remained socially underprivileged, a status only ended by the Land Reform of 1919.

This page attempts to deal with the history of Estonia (within its modern borders).

Estonia since 1991

Estonia 1939-1945 . 1945-1949 . 1949-1991 . . . see also USSR

Estonia 1918-1920 . 1920-1934 . 1934-1939

Estonia 1914-1918 . . . Livonia 1914-1918 . . . see also Russian Empire
Estonia 1880-1914 . . . Livonia 1880-1914 . . . see also Russian Empire
Estonia 1848-1880 . . . Livonia 1848-1880 . . . see also Russian Empire
Estonia 1795-1848 . . . Livonia 1795-1848 . . . see also Russian Empire
Estonia 1721-1795 . . . Livonia 1721-1795 . . . see also Russian Empire
Estonia 1660-1721 . . . Livonia 1621-1721 . . . see also Sweden
Estonia 1561-1660 . . . Livonia 1561-1621 . . . see also Sweden (Estonia), Kingdom of Poland (Livonia)

Livonia 1525-1561
Livonia 1346-1525

Estonia 1218-1346 . . . Livonia 1199-1346 . . . Denmark
The Eastern Baltic before the Crusades (-1199)

Historical Atlas : Estonia Page







E x t e r n a l . F i l e s
Country Profiles Links, Portals Organizations Accounts of History Politics Military History Economic History
Social History Ethnography History of Religion Regional History Local History Institutions Culture
Biography Others
D o c u m e n t s
Historical Data Documents Institutions National Symbols
P r i n t e d . R e f e r e n c e
Bibliographies Online Libraries Online Journals General Accounts Specific Topics Historical Dictionaries Others



WEB-BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . EXTERNAL FILES
Country Profiles from BBC Country Profiles; from World Desk Reference ; from Nations Encyclopedia; from Wikipedia; from CIA World Factbook, countries - Estonia
Library of Congress, Country Studies : Estonia
Links, General from Library of Congress, Portals to the World; from BUBL; from SSEES; from Internet Archive
Links, on History from Virtual Library History
Organizations Öpetatud Eesti Selts (Learned Estonian Society)
Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes against Humanity
Estonian Museum Association
Eesti Genealoogia Selts (Estonian Genealogical Society); Association of the Four Baltic Noble Corporations, Livonia, Estonia, Courland, and Oesel (Baltische Ritterschaften); The Estonian Noble Corporation (Estländische Ritterschaft)
Institut für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen in Nordosteuropa at Universität Hamburg
Historical Dictionary Estonica
Timelines from timelines.ws, from BBC News
Accounts of History Article History of Estonia, from Wikipedia
History, from Estonica
E. Seraphim, Geschichte Liv-, Est- und Kurlands von der "Aufsegelung" des Landes bis zur Einverleibung in das russische Reich, vol.1, 1895, in German, posted on Internet Archive
Specific Periods F.G. von Bunsen, Das Herzogthum Estland unter den Koönigen von Daänemark, (1877) Reprint 1973, in German, posted on Internet Archive
F.G. Bienemann, Die Statthalterschaftszeit in Liv- und Estland (1783-1796), 1886, in German, posted on Internet Archive
H.K.H. Almquist, Sverge och Ryssland, 1595-1611 : Tvisten om Estland, förbundet mot Polen .., 1907, in Swedish, posted on Internet Archive
M. Martna, L'Esthonie; les Esthoniens et la question esthonienne, 1920, in French, posted on Internet Archive
Historiography
Politics Political Resources on the Web : Estonia; Governments on the WWW : Estonia; For the Record 2000 : Estonia, from UN Human Rights System
Article : Politics of Estonia, from Wikipedia
Category : Politics of Estonia, from Wikipedia
Concentration Camps Today : (Soviet) Estonia, from ATTAC
Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bilateral Relations, detailed files on the history of relations with other countries
Military Wars of Estonia, from ACED
Article : Military History of Estonia, from Wikipedia
Category : Military of Estonia, from Wikipedia
Estonian Military History, from Visit Estonia
Economy & Finances A Global History of Currencies : Estonia
Article Economy of Estonia, from Wikipedia
History of the Nordic Exchange
Raimo Pullat and Lauri Suurmaa, Probate Inventories as Sources for the Study of the History of Luxury in Estonian Towns in the Early Modern Period (18th Century), IEHC 2006
Estonia, from European Textile Network (historical sites)
Ethnography Languages of Estonia, from Ethnologue
Ethnic Minorities in Estonia, from Estonia Page (1998)
Integration through Education ? The Russian-Speaking Minority and Estonian Society, by Karen Brown
Estonia, from European Centre for Minority Issues
World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples : Estonia
Religion Chronology of Catholic Dioceses - Estonia, from Kirken i Norge
Jewish Virtual History Tour : Estonia, from Jewish Virtual Library; Estonia, from International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies - Cemetery Project
Category Religion in Estonia, from Wikipedia
Religion, Eastern Orthodoxy in Estonia, from Estonica
Estonia, from Roman Catholic Hierarchy
Patron Saint Index : Estonia
Andres Andresen, The Reconfiguration of Lutheran Church Organization in the Baltic Region from the 1520s to 1917
History of Regions History of Saaremaa (Ösel, Øsel), Hiiumaa : History (Dagö, Dagø), Harjumaa (Harrien), Virjumaa (Vironia, Wierland), Järvamaa (Jervia), Revelia, Läänemaa (Wiek), Sakala, Ugandi (Ugaunia), from Wikipedia
Counties of Estonia, Municipalities of Estonia, from www.statoids.com
Peter Wilhelm Baron von Buxhövenden, Beiträge zur Geschichte der Provinz Oesell, 1838, posted by Google Books
Local History History of Tallinn (Reval), from Wikipedia
History of Tartu (Dorpat), from Wikipedia
Article Narva, from Wikipedia
F.G. von Bunge, Die Revaler Rathslinie nebst Geschichte der Rathsverfassung und einem Anhange über Riga und Dorpat 1874, in German, posted on Internet Archive
Institutions History of the University of Tartu, from Wikipedia
History of Tallin Stock Exchange, from The Nordic Exchange
Estonia, from Airline History
Structurae : Estonia; Search Lighthouse Explorer for Estonia
History (of Narrow-Gauge Railways in Estonia, since 1896), from Estonian Museum Railway; scroll down for English language text; Estonian Railways : History, from Railroad Development Corporation
Culture Estonian Philately and Postal History, from Estonian Philatelic Society
A Short History of Estonian Literature, from Estonian Literature Information Centre
A Brief History of the Estonian Book, by Lott / Moeldre
Article : Music of Estonia : History, from Wikipedia
Film, from Estonica
Architecture, from Estonica
Russian Culture in Estonia
Biographies Baltische Biographische Lexika (Baltic Biographical Lexica), in German
List of Estonians, from Wikipedia
J.F. von Recke, Allgemeines Schriftsteller- und Gelehrten-Lexikon der Provinzen Livland, Esthland und Kurland, vol.II : G-K, 1829, vol.III : L-R, 1831, Supplements vol.I : A-K, 1859, in German, posted on Internet Archive
Others Alcohol and Drugs History Society : Estonia
Category Disasters in Estonia, from Wikipedia
Articles Estonia at the Olympics, Football in Estonia, Estonia National Ice Hockey Team, from Wikipedia
Palearctic Ecoregion, from WWF
F.G. von Bunge, Einleitung in die Liv-, Esth- und curländische Rechtsgeschichte und Geschichte der Rechtsquellen, 1849, in German, posted on Internet Archive
F.G. von Bunge, Geschichte des Gerichtswesens und Gerichtsverfahrens in Liv-, est- und Curland, 1874, posted on Internet Archive
Ernest Fromme, The republic of Esthonia and private property, 1922, posted on Internet Archive
A. Baron von Heyking, The main issues confronting the minorities of Latvia and Eesti, 1922, posted on Internet Archive

WEB-BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . EXTERNALLY POSTED DOCUMENTS
Historical Data Lists of Statesmen from World Statesmen (B. Cahoon); from Rulers (B. Schemmel); from Regnal Chronologies; from World Rulers (E. Schulz, illustrated); Political Leaders, from ZPC, including party leaders
Lists of Ambassadors List of Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Estonia, from Wikipedia; Liste der deutschen Botschafter in Tallinn, from Wikipedia German edition
Article : U.S. Ambassador to Estonia, from Wikipedia
Heads of Canadian Legation / Embassy in Tallinn (since 1993), from MOFA Canada
Chinese Ambassadors to Estonia, from PRC MOFA
Population Figures Historical Population Statistics : Estonia, from Population Statistics (Jan Lahmeyer)
Historical Abortion Statistics - Estonia, from Johnston's Archive
P.A.F.K. Possart, Statistik und Geographie des Gouvernements Esthland , 1846, in German, posted on Internet Archive
Election Results from Psephos (since 1999); from IFES Election Guide (since 1998); from Electoral Geography 2.0 (since 1992)
Elections and Electoral Systems around the world : Estonia, from Area Studies, at Keele
Documents Historical Newspapers Kranten Historisch [historical newspapers], scroll down for Estland
Modern Newspapers links from Online Newspapers, from World Newspapers
Newsreels British Pathe
Wochenschau-Archiv (in German)
Archief Beeld en Geluid : Polygoon (in Dutch)
Image Databanks Europeana
Wikimedia Commons
License Plates, from Francoplaque, from License Plates of the World
Passport, from World Passports; scroll down
Airline Timetable Images : Estonia
P.E. Damier, Wappen-buch sämmtlicher zur ehstländischen Adelsmatrikel gehöriger Familien, 1837, posted on Internet Archive
Archival Deposits Online Digital Archive, from Estonial National Archive
Archival Deposits Catalogue Online Estonia Documents, at Central Archive for the History of the Jewish People, Jerusalem
P.K. Grimsted, Archives and manuscript repositories in the USSR, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Belorussia, 1981, posted on Internet Archive
Constitutions, Laws List of Ratifications of International Labour Conventions by Estonia, from ILO, 31 docs. since 1921
Internet Law Library : Estonia
Verfassungen der Republik Estland (Constitutions of the Republic of Estonia), from verfassungen.de, in German
Treaties Australian Treaty Series : Bilateral Treaties - Estonia
Document Collections F.G. von Bunge, Liv-, Est- und Kurländisches Urkundenbuch und Regesten vol.II : 1301-1367, 1855, vol.III : supplements, 1368-1393, 1857, vol.VI : supplements 1875, 2nd Series vol.1 : 1495-1500, 1900, 2nd Series vol.2 : 1501-1505, 1905, posted on Internet Archive
Monumenta Livoniae Antiqua. Sammlung von Chroniken, Berichten, Urkunden und andern schriftlichen Denkmälern und Aufsätzen, welche zur Erläterung der Geschichte Liv-, Ehst- und Kurland's dienen, vol.1 1835, vol.2 1839, vol.3 1840, vol.4 1844, vol.5 1847, posted on Internet Archive
Individual Documents
Historical Maps click here
City Panoramas 19th Century, from Historic Maps, Reval 1866
Alphabetism in the Baltic Provinces 1897, from Köztes Europa
Baltic Provinces Ethnic, 1987, from Köztes Europa
Old City Maps, from NLE Cartography Collection
Old geographical maps from the NLE Cartography Collection
K.R. Kupffer, Baltische Landeskunde : Atlas (1911) in German, posted on Internet Archive
Historical
Encyclopedia Entries
Articles Estonia, Narva, Oesel, Pernau, Reval (Tallinn, Revel), Yuriev (Tartu, Dorpat), from EB 1911
Article Esthonia, from Jewish Encyclopedia 1901-1906 edition
Articles Esthland, Dagö, Ösel, Arensburg, Dorpat, Narwa, Pernau, Reval, from Meyers Konversationslexikon 1885-1892, in German
J. Chr. Nelkenbrecher, Allgemeines Taschenbuch der Münz-, Maass- und Gewichtskunde für Banquiers und Kaufleute (General Manual on Coinage, Measurement and Weights, for Bankers and Merchants) Berlin 1832, in German, entries Narwa, Pernau, Reval, posted by DTBSWS
J. Chr. Nelckenbrecher, Taschenbuch eines Banquiers und Kaufmanns enthaltend eine Erklärung aller ein- und ausländischen Münzen ..., Berlin : Wever 1769, in German, entries Reval, posted by DTBSWS
Tour Guides K. Baedeker, La Russie: manuel du voyageur, 1897, 1902, in French, posted on Internet Archive
K. Baedeker, Russland : Handbuch für Reisende, 1888, in German, posted on Internet Archive
K. Baedeker, St. Petersburg und Umgebung: Handbuch für Reisende 1901, in German, posted on Internet Archive
Institutions Archives Repositories of Primary Sources : Europe : Latvia, from Univ. of Idaho. Mostly Archive Webpages, 6 entries
Historical Research in Europe, listing of archives; click Atlas Search, Estonia, 23 entries
Foreign Ministry Archives Services of the European Union Member States : Estonia, from Consilium Europa
Estonian Historical Archives, English language page
National Archives of Estonia, page in Estonian
Estonian Archives in the United States, at Immigration History Research Center, Univ. of Minnesota
Musea Category : Museums in Estonia, from Wikipedia
Estonian War Museum
Estonian Broadcasting Museum
Monuments Category : Monuments and Memorials in Estonia, from Wikipedia
Tentative List : Estonia, World Heritage List, scroll down for Estonia; from UNESCO World Heritage
Windmills in Estonia, from Windmill World
Libraries Libraries in Estonia, from LibDex, 19 entries
National Library of Estonia
History of the Estonian National Library, from The European Library
National Symbols Flags, Coats of Arms Flag, from FOTW; Coat of Arms, from International Civic Heraldry; National Anthem, from National Anthems Net
Coat of Arms of Estland (Reval) Gubernia, from Wikimedia Commons
Coins, Banknotes Banknotes of Estonia, from World Currency Museum, from Ron Wise's World Paper Money
Estonia Coins, from Don's World Coin Gallery
Stamps Estonia Stamps 1918, from Stamps Catalogue 1840-1920
Others

PRINTED REFERENCE
Bibliographies general Datenbasis Internationale Beziehungen und Länderkunde (Data Base on International Relations and Country Studies) (site in German, most titles listed in English; numerous entries; publications mostly since 1970)
RHS Bibliography
UK National Archive Online Library
on Estonia Estonian National Bibliography, from Slavic and East European Library
Eesti Rahvus Bibliograafia (Estonian National Bibliography)
on Specific Issues
Concerning Estonia
Baltic Amber Bibliography Estonia
Estonia Bibliography, from European Centre of Minority Issues
Publikationen, from IKGN
Online Libraries general Internet Archives
Gutenberg Library Online
on Estonia National Library of Estonia : E-Library
Central and Eastern European Online Library
Virtual Library Eastern Europe, maintained in Germany, most sources in German
Online Journals full text online Digiteeritud eesti ajalehed (Digitised Estonian Periodicals, 1821-1944)
General Accounts on Eastern Europe Adrian Webb, The Longman Companion to Central and Eastern Europe since 1919, London etc.: Longman 2002 [G]
David G. Kirby, The Baltic World 1772-1993, London : Longman 1995
Kevin O'Connor, The History of the Baltic States, Westport CT : Greenwood 2003, KMLA Lib.Sign. 947.9 O18h
on Estonia Toivo U. Raun, Estonia and the Estonians, Stanford : Hoover Institution Press 2001 [G]
Specific Topics Rein Taagepera, Estonia and the Estonians, pp.75-93 in : Zev Katz et al. (ed.), Handbook of Major Soviet Nationalities, NY : The Free Press 1975 [G]
Estonia, pp.96-98, in : Derek H. Aldcroft, Europe's Third World. The European Periphery in the Interwar Years. Leicester : UP 2006, KMLA Lib. Call Sign 940.09724 A357e
Historical Dictionary Tojvo Miljan, Historical Dictionary of Estonia, Lanham Md. : Scarecrow 2004