Baltic nobility

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The Baltic nobility in Latvia and Estonia has existed continuously since the medieval days of Teutonic Knight state. Most of the nobles were of German origin. This nobility was a source of officers and other servants to Swedish kings in 16th and particularly 17th centuries, when Livonian lands belonged to them. Russian emperors used Baltic nobles in government.

They were organized in institution of nobility in Reval, and another for the duchy of Kurland, and yet one in Riga. Vyborg also had an institution to register rolls of nobles in accordance with Baltic models in 18th century. Most of the nobility went into exile in late 1939, a few months prior to the occupation of Estonia and Latvia by Soviet Union in June 1940 .