Governorate of Estonia
Encyclopedia
The Governorate of Estonia ( or Estlyandskaya guberniya) or Estland, also known as the Government of Estonia or Province of Estonia, was a governorate
of the Russian Empire
in what is now northern Estonia
.
nobility through a feudal Regional Council .
The Governorate was also known as Duchy of Estonia that Russia inherited from Sweden in 1721. The Russian Tsars held the title Duke of Estonia
, during the Russian era in English sometimes also referred to as Prince of Estonia.
Initially named the Reval Governorate after the city of Reval, today known as Tallinn
, it was created in 1719 out of territories conquered from Sweden
in the Great Northern War
. The former dominion
of Swedish Estonia
was formally ceded to Russia in the Treaty of Nystad
in 1721. During subsequent administrative reordering, the governorate was renamed in 1796 into the Governorate of Estonia. While the rule of the Swedish kings had been fairly liberal with greater autonomy granted for the peasantry, the regime was tightened under the Russian tsars and serfdom
was not abolished until 1819.
The governorate consisted the northern part of the present-day Estonia
approximately corresponding to Harjumaa
including the city of Tallinn, Western Virumaa, Eastern Virumaa
, Raplamaa
, Järvamaa
, Läänemaa
and Hiiumaa. After the Russian February Revolution
on ) it was expanded to include northern Livonia, thereby forming the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia
. Tallinn remained under Soviet control until February 24, 1918, when German troops occupied Estonia and Estonian independence was declared.
Guberniya
A guberniya was a major administrative subdivision of the Russian Empire usually translated as government, governorate, or province. Such administrative division was preserved for sometime upon the collapse of the empire in 1917. A guberniya was ruled by a governor , a word borrowed from Latin ,...
of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
in what is now northern Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state 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 , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
.
Historical overview
Until the late 19th century the governorate was not ruled by Russia but was administered independently by the local Baltic GermanBaltic German
The Baltic Germans were mostly ethnically German inhabitants of the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, which today form the countries of Estonia and Latvia. The Baltic German population never made up more than 10% of the total. They formed the social, commercial, political and cultural élite in...
nobility through a feudal Regional Council .
The Governorate was also known as Duchy of Estonia that Russia inherited from Sweden in 1721. The Russian Tsars held the title Duke of Estonia
Duke of Estonia
The first duke of Estonia was appointed in 1220 by Valdemar II after Danish conquest of Estonia during Livonian crusade. The title was resumed by the kings of Denmark since 1269...
, during the Russian era in English sometimes also referred to as Prince of Estonia.
Initially named the Reval Governorate after the city of Reval, today known as Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, it was created in 1719 out of territories conquered from Sweden
Swedish Empire
The Swedish Empire refers to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721 . During this time, Sweden was one of the great European powers. In Swedish, the period is called Stormaktstiden, literally meaning "the Great Power Era"...
in the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
. The former dominion
Dominions of Sweden
The Dominions of Sweden or Svenska besittningar were territories that historically came under control of the Swedish Crown, but never became fully integrated with Sweden. This generally meant that they were ruled by Governors-General under the Swedish monarch, but within certain limits retained...
of Swedish Estonia
Swedish Estonia
The Duchy of Estonia , also known as Swedish Estonia, 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 in the Great Northern War. The dominion arose when the northern parts of present-day Estonia were united...
was formally ceded to Russia in the Treaty of Nystad
Treaty of Nystad
The Treaty of Nystad was the last peace treaty of the Great Northern War. It was concluded between the Tsardom of Russia and Swedish Empire on 30 August / 10 September 1721 in the then Swedish town of Nystad , after Sweden had settled with the other parties in Stockholm and Frederiksborg.During...
in 1721. During subsequent administrative reordering, the governorate was renamed in 1796 into the Governorate of Estonia. While the rule of the Swedish kings had been fairly liberal with greater autonomy granted for the peasantry, the regime was tightened under the Russian tsars and serfdom
Russian serfdom
The origins of serfdom in Russia are traced to Kievan Rus in the 11th century. Legal documents of the epoch, such as Russkaya Pravda, distinguished several degrees of feudal dependency of peasants, the term for an unfree peasant in the Russian Empire, krepostnoi krestyanin , is translated as serf.-...
was not abolished until 1819.
The governorate consisted the northern part of the present-day Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state 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 , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
approximately corresponding to Harjumaa
Harju County
Harju County , or Harjumaa , nowadays one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in northern Estonia, on the south coast of the Gulf of Finland, and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Järva County to the south-east, Rapla County to the south, and Lääne County to the south-west.528,468 people...
including the city of Tallinn, Western Virumaa, Eastern Virumaa
Ida-Viru County
Ida-Viru County , or Ida-Virumaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is the most north-eastern part of the country. The county contains large deposits of oil shale - the main mineral mined in Estonia. As oil shale is used in thermal power plants, the earth in Ida-Viru literally holds the largest...
, Raplamaa
Rapla County
Rapla County , or Raplamaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in western part of the country and borders Järva County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, Lääne County to the west, and Harju County to the north...
, Järvamaa
Järva County
Järva County , or Järvamaa , is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in central part of the country and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Jõgeva County to the south-east, Viljandi County to the south, Pärnu County to the south-west, Rapla County to the west, and Harju County to the...
, Läänemaa
Lääne County
Lääne County , or Läänemaa , is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is located in western Estonia and borders Baltic Sea to the north, Harju County to the north-east, Rapla County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, and the island counties of Saare and Hiiu to the west...
and Hiiumaa. After the Russian February Revolution
February Revolution
The February Revolution of 1917 was the first of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. Centered around the then capital Petrograd in March . Its immediate result was the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the end of the Romanov dynasty, and the end of the Russian Empire...
on ) it was expanded to include northern Livonia, thereby forming the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia
Autonomous Governorate of Estonia
The local autonomy in Estonia was established as a result of the Russian Revolution of 1917. For the duration of control by Imperial Russia, Estonia was divided between two governorates . The Governorate of Estonia in the north corresponded roughly to the area of Danish Estonia and the northern...
. Tallinn remained under Soviet control until February 24, 1918, when German troops occupied Estonia and Estonian independence was declared.
Subdivisions
- Kreis Wierland – WesenbergRakvereRakvere is a town in northern Estonia and the county seat of Lääne-Viru County, 20 km south of the Gulf of Finland.-History:The earliest signs of human settlement dating back to the 3rd-5th centuries AD have been found on the present theatre hill. Probably to protect that settlement, a wooden...
- Kreis Jerwen – WeissensteinPaidePaide is the capital of Järva County, Estonia.A castle built by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword is located here. The town was formally founded 30 September 1291 by Halt, master of the Livonian Order....
(was also known as White rock) - Kreis Harrien – RevalTallinnTallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
(Kolywan) (capital) - Kreis Wieck – HapsalHaapsaluHaapsalu is a seaside resort town located on the west coast of Estonia. It's the administrative centre of Lääne County and has a population of 11,618 ....
(including Dago (Dagen) islandHiiumaaHiiumaa is the second largest island belonging to Estonia. It is located in the Baltic Sea, north of the island of Saaremaa, a part of the West Estonian archipelago. Its largest town is Kärdla.-Name:...
) - Oesel islandSaaremaaSaaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
– ArensburgKuressaareKuressaare is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706 Kuressaare is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706...
Leaders of Governorate
- 1710–1711 Rudolph Felix Bauer – General-Governor
- 1711–1719 Prince Aleksandr Danilovich MenshikovAleksandr Danilovich MenshikovAleksandr Danilovich Menshikov was a Russian statesman, whose official titles included Generalissimus, Prince of the Russian Empire and Duke of Izhora , Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Cosel. A highly appreciated associate and friend of Tsar Peter the Great, he was the de facto ruler of...
– General-Governor - 1719–1728 Count Fyodor Matveyevich ApraksinFyodor Matveyevich ApraksinCount Fyodor Matveyevich Apraksin was one of the first Russian admirals who governed Estonia and Karelia from 1712 to 1723, general admiral , presided over the Russian Admiralty since 1718 and commanded the Baltic Fleet since 1723.-Early shipbuilding activities:The Apraksin brothers were...
– General-Governor - 1728–1736 Friedrich Baron von Löwen
- 1736–1738 Sebastian Ernst von Manstein
- 1738–1740 Gustaf Otto DouglasGustaf Otto DouglasCount Gustaf Otto Douglas was a Swedish mercenary, grandson of Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge. He was captured by Russians during the Battle of Poltava. He was eventually employed by the Russian army during the Great Northern War, and in 1717 was placed in charge of the occupation of Finland...
- 1740–1743 Woldemar von Löwendahl
- 1743–1753 Peter August Friedrich von Holstein-BeckPeter August, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-BeckPeter Augustus of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck was the eighth Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck...
(1696–1775) - 1753–1758 Prince Vladimir Petrovich Dolgorukiy
- 1758–1775 Peter August Friedrich von Holstein-BeckPeter August, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-BeckPeter Augustus of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck was the eighth Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck...
– General-Governor - 1775–1792 Count George BrowneGeorge Browne (soldier)George Browne, Count von Browne in the nobility of the Holy Roman empire was an Irish soldier of fortune who became field-marshal in the Russian service....
– General-Governor - 1783–1786 Georg Friedrich von Grotenhielm
- 1786–1797 Heinrich Johann Baron von Wrangell
- 1797–1808 Andreas von Langell
- 1808–1809 Peter Friedrich Georg von OldenburgDuke George of OldenburgDuke George of Oldenburg was a younger son of Peter I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and his wife Duchess Frederica of Württemberg. He was a son-in-law of Paul I of Russia through marriage to his daughter Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia...
(1784–1812) - 1809–1811 Vacant
- 1811–1816 Grand Duke Paul Friedrich August von Oldenburg (1783–1853)
- 1816–1819 Berend Baron Üxküll
- 1819–1832 Gotthard Wilhelm Baron Budberg von Bönninghausen
- 1832–1833 Otto Wilhelm von Essen
- 1833–1841 Paul Friedrich von Benckendorff
- 1842–1859 Johann Christoph Engelbrecht von Grünewaldt
- 1859–1868 Wilhelm Otto Cornelius Alexander Ulrich
- 1868–1870 Mikhail Nikolaiyevich Galkin-Vraskoy
- 1870–1875 Prince Mikhail Valentinovich Shakhovskoiy-Glebov-Strezhnev
- 1875–1885 Viktor Petrovich Polivanov
- 1885–1894 Prince Sergey Vladimirovich Shakhovskoy
- 1894–1902 Yefstafiy Nikolaiyevich Skalon
- 1902–1905 Aleksey Valerianovich Bellegarde
- 16 Mar 1905 - Oct 1905 Aleksey Aleksandrovich Lopukhin
- 1905–1906 Nikolay Georgiyevich von Bünting
- 1906–1907 Pyotr Petrovich Bashilov
- 1907–1915 Izmail Vladimirovich Korostovets
- 1915–1917 Pyotr Vladimirovich Veryovkin
Language
- According to the Imperial census of 1897. In bold are languages spoken by more people than the state language.
| Language | number | percentage (%) | males | females |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estonian Estonian language Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities... |
365,959 | 88.67 | 176,972 | 188,987 |
| Russian Russian language Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics... |
20,439 | 4.95 | 12,441 | 7,998 |
| German German language German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union.... |
16,037 | 3.88 | 6,991 | 9,046 |
| Swedish Swedish language Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish... |
5,768 | 1.39 | 2,725 | 3,043 |
| Yiddish Yiddish language Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages... |
1,269 | 0.3 | 852 | 417 |
| Polish Polish language Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries... |
1,237 | 0.29 | 921 | 316 |
| Did not name their native language |
15 | >0.01 | 8 | 7 |
| Other | 1,992 | 0.48 | 1,499 | 493 |
| Total | 412,716 | 100 | 202,409 | 210,307 |
See also
- Baltic governorates
- Governorate of Livonia
- Saint Petersburg GovernorateSaint Petersburg GovernorateSaint Petersburg Governorate , or Government of Saint Petersburg, was an administrative division of the Russian Empire, which existed in 1708–1927....
- Administrative divisions of Russia in 1719-1725Administrative divisions of Russia in 1719-1725-Major events:The second administrative reform of 1719 was carried out by Peter the Great in order to fix the deficiencies of the original system. On June 9 , 1719 Peter issued an ukase that abolished the division of the governorates into lots...
- History of Estonia – Part of Imperial Russia