Sakala County
| Sakala | |||||
| county of Ancient Estonia | |||||
| |||||
 | |||||
| Capital | Viljandi | ||||
| Elder | |||||
| - | c.1200–1217 | Lembitu | |||
| History | |||||
| - | Established | Enter start date | |||
| - | Disestablished | 1224 | |||
| Today part of |  Estonia Latvia | ||||
Sakala County (Estonian: Sakala, Latin: Saccalia)[1] was an ancient Estonian county [2] first mentioned in print by Henry of Latvia in the beginning of the 13th Century.[3]
Geography
Sakala County 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.
History
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.
See also
- List of Estonian rulers
References
- ↑ Historical Dictionary of Estonia; p.63 ISBN 0-8108-4904-6
- ↑ p31, History of Estonia, 2nd Ed., Tõnu Tannberg, et al. AS Bit 2002, ISBN 9985-2-0606-1
- ↑ The Chronicle of Henry of Livonia; ISBN 0-231-12889-4