Page 57 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

THE HIST OR Y OF EST ONIA 55

as well as curbing use of the Estonian
language. The resulting discontent among
the intelligent sia found expression in the
rebellion led by the students of Tartu
University in the late 19th century.
In 1905, as in many other places in Russia,
Estonia witnessed widespread unrest. In the
towns, factory
workers lent support
to the nascent
Tartu University, Estonia’s prestigious seat of learning Bolshevik movement,
while several German
The Swedish Rule manors were burned
The 16th century saw Estonia as the major down in the coun try-
battleground between Russia and Sweden in side. During World
the Livonian Wars (see p37). By 1629, the War I (1914–18), the
whole country was in Swedish hands. The prospects for Estonian
Swedes achieved much over the next inde pendence
50 years, including the establishment of Tartu seemed bleak.
University, the introduction of schools all However, the 1917 Estonian Army recruiting
around the country, print ing of books in Revolution that poster, 1918
Estonian and the construction of several ended the Tsarist regime in Russia and the
buildings, especially in Narva and Tartu. Narva chaos that followed in Moscow, encouraged
was built as the second Swedish capital. The Estonia to declare independence in February
social system created by the Germans was left 1918, in Pärnu. The Treaty of Tartu, signed
undisturbed, however. Later Swedish kings with Russia in February 1920, formally
inter fered by seizing German-owned estates, confirmed Estonian independence.
incurring the wrath of the Germans who
turned to Russia’s Peter the Great for help.

Struggle Against the Russians
The Swedish troops were initially able to
resist the Russians, but in 1709, the final
battle between the Swedish king, Charles XII,
and Peter the Great sealed Estonia’s fate for the
next 200 years, during which time there would
be little threat to Tsarist rule. The Russians
as well as the Baltic Germans actively kept
Estonians out of any positions of responsibility, Declaration of independence in February 1918, Pärnu

1885 Russification of
1710 Treaty of Nystadt brings 1872 The first the Baltics begins
Estonia into the Tsarist Empire strike organized
1632 Opening of 1918 Declaration of
Tartu University by by the women Estonian indep-
Swedish Lutherans of Narva endence signed
1600 1700 1800 1900
1629 Estonia passes into 1920 Treaty of Tartu
Swedish hands 1869 First Estonian Song confirms Estonia’s
Festival held in Tartu independence
1886 First Estonian newspaper,
Postimees, launched 1905 Uprisings in Tallinn
Diamond order of Peter the Great