This is a timeline of Estonian history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Estonia and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Estonia. See also the list of rulers of Estonia.
BC (Before Common-era) Year Date Event 3,000 BC Finno-Ugric peoples (ancestors of Estonians) started to move from eastern Europe to northeastern coast of Baltic Sea.
1st century Year Date Event 98 Roman historian Tacitus writes in the book Germania about aesti tribes.
6th century Year Date Event 600 Vikings from Gotland sail to Hiiumaa (Dagö) island and build a fortification there. King Ingvar of Sweden invades Estonia, but is killed. His son Anund avenges his father and raids the country.
8th century Year Date Event 800 Estonians participate in the Battle of Brávellir on the side of the Swedes and against the Danes.
10th century Year Date Event 967 Olaf Tryggvason, the future King of Norway, is captured by Estonian vikings, and sold as a slave. 972 A battle between Estonian and Icelandic Vikings in Saaremaa.
11th century Year Date Event 1008 Olaf Haraldsson, the future King of Norway, wins a battle in Saaremaa. 1030 Prince Yaroslav the Wise of Kiev defeats Chuds and founds a fort named Yuryev (modern Tartu). 1050 Estonians started trading and raiding Viking expeditions over Baltic Sea to Sweden. 1061 Sosols (Estonian tribe) destroy the Yuryev castle and attack Pskov.
12th century Year Date Event 1113 Prince Mstislav I of Kiev wins a battle against the Chuds (Estonians or people related to Estonians). 1116 Prince Mstislav of Kiev, aided by Pskov and Novgorod, makes a raid against the Chuds and conquers the Otepää stronghold. 1132 Prince Vsevolod of Novgorod is defeated by Estonians of Vaiga county. 1134 Prince Vsevold of Novgorod fights against the Chuds and briefly captures the fortification of Tartu (Yuryev). 1154 Arab geographer Al Idrisi mentions Estonian places, also marking the foundation of Tallinn. 1165 The Benedictine bishop Fulco is named Bishop of the Estonians by the Archbishop of Lund. 1170 Valdemar I of Denmark fights with Curonian and Estonian pirates near Öland island. 1171 (or 1169–1170) Bishop Fulco makes a missionary journey to Estonia. 1177 Fulco second missionary journey to Estonia. 1177 Estonians attack and burn Pskov during winter. 1187 Estonians, Karelians or/and Karelians ravage the Mälaren area in Sweden, pillage town of Sigtuna, and kill the archbishop Johannes.Enn Tarvel (2007). Sigtuna hukkumine. Haridus, 2007 (7-8), p 38–41 1191 Cistercian monk Theoderich, future Bishop of Estonia, makes an unsuccessful missionary journey to Estonia. 1192 Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich of Novgorod makes two raids against Estonians, burning down the Tartu and Otepää strongholds. 1193 Pope Celestine III calls for a crusade against pagans in Northern Europe. 1200 Bishop Albert and his crusaders capture Riga in Latvia.
13th century Year Date Event 1202 Pope Innocent III declares Crusade to Christianize Old Livonia. The crusader Livonian Brothers of the Sword are founded. 1203 Saaremaa islanders ravage areas of Southern Sweden, then belonging to Denmark. The returning pirates skirmish with the German settlers of Riga near the town of Visby in Gotland. 1206 Valdemar II of Denmark builds a fortress in Saaremaa, but burns it down after finding no volunteers to man it. 1207 The Terra Mariana ("Land of St Mary) is established as the political unit of crusaders in Livonia. 1208 Sword Brothers, Letts and Livs invade Sakala and Ugandi in Southern Estonia, starting the Estonian Ancient Fight for Freedom (1208-1227). 1209 Sword Brothers and Letts attack Ugandi. 1210 Estonians besiege the Cēsis stronghold in Latvia. Estonians defeat the Sword Brothers and Livs in the Battle of Ümera in Latvia. Pskov and Novgorod troops besiege the Otepää stronghold. 1210-1211 First recorded plague in Estonia. 1211 Pskov troops raid Western Estonia. Summer Estonians are defeated by Sword Brothers in the Battle of Turaida in Latvia. Sword Brothers are defeated by Estonians in the Battle of Viljandi. Estonians raid crusader areas in Latvia. Three-year truce between Estonians and Germans is signed at Turaida. 1212 Russian troops besiege the Varbola Stronghold. Troops from Sakala, led by Lembitu of Lehola, burn Pskov. 1213 Lithuanians raid the Sakala area. 1215 Sword Brothers defeat Estonians in the Battle of Lehola. Troops from Saaremaa besiege Riga. Troops from Sakala raid crusader areas in Latvia. 1216 Pskov troops capture the Otepää stronghold. 1217 February Sword Brothers are defeated by Estonians and Russians in the Battle of Otepää. 21 September Sword Brothers, Latgalians and Livs defeat Estonians in the Battle of St. Matthew's Day, where the Estonian leader Lembitu of Lehola is killed. 1219 15 June Valdemar II of Denmark conquers Tallinn in the Battle of Lindanise and builds the Toompea Castle. 1220 8 August John I of Sweden invades Läänemaa, but is defeated by troops from Saaremaa in the Battle of Lihula. 1221 Estonians besiege Tallinn. 1222 The invading Danish troops are defeated by Estonians in Saaremaa. 1223 29 January Estonians defeat the Sword Brothers in the Battle of Viljandi and the entire Southern Estonia is liberated. Estonians are defeated by Sword Brothers in Ümera, Latvia. Pskov and Novgorod troops raid most of mainland Estonia. 1224 15 August Sword Brothers capture the Tartu stronghold from joint Estonian and Russian troops - mainland Estonia falls to the crusaders. The Bishopric of Dorpat is established in Southeastern Estonia. 1227 January Sword Brothers conquer stronghold of Muhu, and last pagan stronghold of Valjala surrenders. 1227 Sword Brothers conquer Northern Estonia from Denmark. 1228 1 October The Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek is established in Western Estonia. 1234 Pskov and Novgorod troops invade the Bishopric of Dorpat, that is forced to pay tribute for four years. De Lode brothers in Kullamaa Parish refuse to recognize the new Bishop of Ösel-Wiek. 1236 22 September Sword Brothers are defeated by Samogitians in the Battle of Saule. Saaremaa islanders rebel against German rule. 1237 Livonian Brothers of the Sword merge into the Teutonic Order and become known as the Livonian Order, autonomous of the Teutonic Order State. 1238 The Livonian Order helps restore the power of the Bishop of Ösel Wiek in Kullamaa Parish. 1239 The Liber Census Daniae is compiled. The book also gives first recorded data on northern Estonia. 1242 5 April The Livonian Order and Estonians are defeated by Novgorod in the Battle of the Ice. 1249 St. Michael's Convent is founded in Tallinn. 1251 first mentioning of a school in Estonia (the cathedral school in Pärnu). 1268 18 February Pskov and Novgorod defeat the Livonian Order in the Battle of Rakvere, ending the Order's attempts to invade Russia. 1270 16 February Lithuanians defeat the Livonian Order in the Battle of Karuse. 1285 Tallinn becomes a member of the Hanseatic League. 1298 A border war between the Livonian Order and the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek.
14th century Year Date Event 1305 Padise Abbey is founded. 1343 St.George's Night Uprising (1343–1345) in Northwestern Estonia and Saaremaa. 1346 King Valdemar IV of Denmark sells Northern Estonia to the Teutonic Order. 1347 The Teutonic Order gives Northern Estonia to Livonian Order.
15th century Year Date Event 1407 Pirita convent is built. 1419 The Livonian Diet is formed to solve internal disputes in Livonia. 1433 First recorded great fire in Tallinn. 1435 The Livonian Confederation is established to solve internal disputes in Livonia. 1440 The Livonian Order becomes self-governing from the Teutonic Order. 1464 Plague kills 2/3 of population of Tallinn. 1480-1481 First war between Old Livonia and Muscovite Russia. 1500 Estonian population exceeds 250,000.
16th century Year Date Event 1500-1502 Second Livonian-Russian war. 1504-1505 Plague ravages Estonia. 1507 Old Livonian peasants are not allowed to own weapons. 1523 The Reformation comes to Estonia. 1524 14 September Catholic churches are pillaged in Tallinn. 1525 The Teutonic Order is secularized and the Livonian Order becomes de facto independent. 1552 First library is founded in Tallinn. 1558 Russian forces invade Eastern Estonia, starting the Livonian War. The Bishopric of Dorpat and several bailiwicks of the Livonian Order in Eastern Estonia surrender to Russian forces. Tartu surrendered to Russian troops in the Livonian War 1559 The Bishop of Ösel-Wiek sells his bishopric to King Frederick II of Denmark, who gives the land to his brother Duke Magnus of Holstein. Lutheranism prevails in Western Estonia. 1560 Duke Magnus of Holstein takes power in the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek. Russian troops defeat the Livonian Order in the Battle of Härgmäe. Russian troops capture Central Estonia from the Livonian Order. Ivan the Terrible decimated the Livonian Order in the Battle of Ergeme.Uprising of Wiek's peasants. (:et) 1561 The Commandery of Tallinn and the nobility of other North Estonian bailiwicks of the Livonian Order swear allegiance to Sweden. The Treaty of Vilnius gives lands of the Livonian Order in Southern Estonia and Northern Latvia to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as the Duchy of Livonia. 6 June The city council of Reval surrendered to Sweden. 1562 The Livonian Order is dissolved. The Bailiwick of Maasilinna of the former Livonian Order in Saaremaa and Hiiumaa refuses to recognize Lithuanian power. 1564 The Bailiwick of Maasilinna gives itself under Danish rule. 1573 1 January The Russians occupied Pärnu (Pernau) in Western Estonia and the fortress of Weissenstein (Paide). 1578 Balthasar Russow publishes his cronicles about the Livonian War. 1581 6 September A mercenary army of Sweden under Pontus de la Gardie captured Narva from Russia. 1582 By the armistice of Jam Zapolski, Dorpat together with Southern Estonia was incorporated into the state of Poland-Lithuania. 1595 Treaty of Teusina: Sweden's right to Narva and Estonia was signed.
17th century Year Date Event 1625 Swedish commander Jacob De la Gardie took Dorpat (Tartu) and Southern Estonia from Poland 1628 First glass manufacturer is established in Estonia on Hiiumaa (operates until 1664). 1629 Truce of Altmark: Sweden acquired the territory of Livonia. 1630 First gymnasium is established in Estonia in Tartu. 1630 Gustav Adolf Gymnasium is established in Tallinn (being the oldest continuously operating secondary school in Estonia). 1630 First printer is established in Estonia in Tallinn. 1632 Foundation of the University of Tartu under Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus. 1645 13 August Saaremaa (Ösel) island was ceded from Denmark to Sweden by the Treaty of Brömsebro. 1684 Forselius Seminar for schoolmasters is opened near Tartu (operated until 1688). 1687 Over the Estonia, widespread opening of village schools for peasants, starts. 1690 Tartu University is re-opened, but 1699–1710 operates in Pärnu. 1695-1697 Great Famine of Estonia. 1700 20 November Battle at Narva, where the Swedish army under King Charles XII defeats the Russian army.
18th century Year Date Event 1704 Russian troops under czar Peter the Great captured Dorpat (Tartu) in the Great Northern War. 1708 Fearful of Swedish attack, Russians burned down the city of Tartu. 1710 Whole Estonia was included in Russian empire. 1710-1713 Last great plague in Estonia. About 200,000 people dies (about half of population). 1718 Construction of Kadriorg Palace begins. 1721 30 August Estonia was formally ceded by Sweden to Russia by the Treaty of Nystad. 1730 Herrnhut sects arrives in Estonia. Amongst the other things, they propagate reading among peasants. 1782 The customs border between Russia and Baltic governorates is abolished. 1792 First mirrors producing factory is opened in Estonia.
19th century