Duchy of Estonia (1561–1721)

Duchy of Estonia
Hertigdömet Estland
Dominion of Swedish Empire

1561–1721
Flag of Sweden Coat of arms
Baltic provinces of Swedish Empire in the 17th century.
Capital Reval
Languages German, Estonian, Swedish
Religion Lutheranism
Government Dominion
Governor-General
 - 1674–1681 Anders Torstenson
 - 1687–1704 Axel Julius De la Gardie
History
 -  Established June 4, 1561
 -  Treaty of Nystad September 10, 1721
Part of a series on the
History of Estonia
Chronology
Estonia portal
The Swedish Empire

The Duchy of Estonia (Swedish: Hertigdömet Estland, Estonian: Eestimaa hertsogkond, German: Herzogtum Estland), also known as Swedish Estonia,[1] (Swedish: Svenska Estland) was a dominion of the Swedish Empire from 1561 until 1721, when it was ceded to Russia in the Treaty of Nystad, following its capitulation, during the plague, in the Great Northern War.

The dominion arose during the Livonian War, when the northern parts of present-day Estonia (Reval (Tallinn) and the counties of Harjumaa, Western Virumaa, Raplamaa and Järvamaa) submitted to the Swedish king in 1561, and Läänemaa in 1581. It is also colloquially known as the "good old Swedish times"[2] (Estonian: vana hea Rootsi aeg) by Estonians, but this expression was not used before the following Russian rule, in the beginning of which the situation of Estonian peasantry declined rapidly (to gain support of German nobility, Russia gave them more power over peasantry).

Head of Dominion

Governors (1561–1674)
Governors-General (1674–1728)
Terra Mariana Duchy of Estonia (1561–1721) Danish Estonia Danish Estonia Estonia Ancient Estonia History of Estonia

See also

Additional information

References

Sources

Coordinates: 59°26′N 24°45′E / 59.433°N 24.750°E