in the Baltic region
of Northern Europe
. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland
, to the west by the Baltic Sea
, to the south by Latvia
(343 km), and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation
(338.6 km). Across the Baltic Sea
lies Sweden
in the west and Finland
in the north. The territory of Estonia covers 45227 km² (17,462.2 sq mi), and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate.
1582 Russia cedes Livonia and Estonia to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
1904 The Russian Baltic Fleet leaves Reval, Estonia for Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War.
1917 October Revolution: In Tallinn, Estonia, Communist leader Jaan Anvelt leads revolutionaries in overthrowing the Provisional Government (As Estonia and Russia are still using the Julian Calendar, subsequent period references show an October 23 date).
1918 Germany, Austria and Russia sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ending Russia's involvement in World War I, and leading to the independence of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
1919 Estonian Liberation War: the decisive defeat of German Freikorps (Baltische Landeswehr) forces in the Battle of Cesis (Võnnu lahing). This day is celebrated as Victory Day in Estonia.
1920 The Tartu Peace Treaty is signed between Estonia and Russia.
1934 Konstantin Päts and General Johan Laidoner stage a coup in Estonia, and ban all political parties.
1940 The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fall under the occupation of the Soviet Union.
1940 The United States' Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles issues a declaration on the U.S. non-recognition policy of the Soviet annexation and incorporation of three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
1941 June deportation, the first major wave of Soviet mass deportations and murder of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians, begins.