Sakala County

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Sakala
county of Ancient Estonia
? – 1224
Location of Sakala
Capital Viljandi
History
 - Established ?
 - Disestablished 1224

Sakala County (Latin: Saccalia, Estonian: Sakala) [1] was an ancient Estonian county [2], first mentioned in print by Henry of Livonia in the beginning of the 13th Century [3] .

It is situated in north-western Livonia, covering approximately the present territories of Viljandi, the southern half of Pärnu, and a western third of Valga maakond.

Kievan rule of Ugaunia may have lasted until 1061, when, according to Old East Slavic chronicles, the town of Tharbata/Yuryev (Tartu) was burned down by "Sosols", who were probably either Sackalians or the people of Soopoolitse.

After the Livonian Crusade the county became a part of the Livonian Confederation.

In Sackalian folklore, the neighbouring Ugaunians (ugalased) were enemy warriors and robbers. For instance, a folk song from Viljandi (the capital of Sackalia) calls for speeding up the harvest work because Ugaunians might attack.[citation needed]

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