Tallinn University, Insitute of Political Science and Governance
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TTaalllllliiinnnn Name*: Katri-Liis Lepik, Ass.prof. Email* [email protected] Affiliation*: Tallinn University, Insitute of Political Science and Governance *This information will remain strictly confidential, only needed for auditing purposes. Nominated City*: ____ Tallinn _____ (Country:______Estonia____________) City Category*: Knowledge City-Region ü Knowledge Metropolis c *Please use one MAKCi Nomination form for each nominated city. You can nominate as many cities as you like. Please make sure you nominate each city for one category only. 17 MAKCi Questions (They are grouped together according Supporting reasons and relevant information, documents and links (to to MAKCi Framework capital be provided/posted by expert) on the MAKCi Forum categories) AA... IIDIDEEENNTTTIITITTYYY aanndd IININTTTEEELLLLLLIIGIGEEENNCCEEE • 1. How distinctive and well positioned is the city’s identity (how CAPPIITTALLSS CAPITALS valuable is the city’s brand and reputation)? (1. Identity) Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is located in Northern Europe in the north-eastern part of the Baltic Sea region. Population is 429 899 (01.01.2014). Population within 400 km radius ca 11 million Population within 860 km radius ca 80 million Religions*: The largest denomination is Lutheran (30%), Orthodox (28%), Catholics (3%). Nevertheless, only about 20% of Estonians practice any religion. Literacy*: 99% of total population (Human Development Report) Nationality: Estonians 53%, Russians 38.2%, Ukrainians 3.5%, Belarussians 1.9%, Finns 0.6% and other nationalities 2.8% (Lativans Lithuanians, Jews, Germans, Tatars, Poles). Languages: Estonia's official language is Estonian. Russian, Finnish, English and German are also understood and spoken. * in Estonia Etymology The origin of the name "Tallinn(a)" is certain to be Estonian, although the original meaning of the name is debated. It is usually thought to be derived from "Taani-linn(a)" (meaning "Danish-castle/town"; Latin: MAKCi Nomination Form © 2007 The World Capital Institute &Teleos 1 Castrum Danorum). However, it could also have come from "tali-linna" ("winter-castle/town"), or "talu-linna" ("house/farmstead-castle/town"). The element -linna, like German -burg and Slavic -grad originally meant "castle" but is used as a suffix in the formation of town names. Tallinna replaced the previously used official German name Reval (help·info) (Russian: Ревель) in 1918, when Estonia became independent. In the early 1920s the official spelling of the city name was changed from Tallinna to Tallinn, making the new name notable since Estonian-language place names generally end with a vowel (denoting genitive case). The German and Swedish name Reval (Latin: Revalia, earlier Swedish language: Raffle) originated from the 13th century Estonian name of the adjacent Estonian county of Ravala. Other known ancient historical names of Tallinn include variations of Estonian Lindanise (see Battle of Lyndanisse), such as Lyndanisse in Danish, Lindanas in Swedish, and Ledenets in Old East Slavic. Kesoniemi in Finnish and Kolyvan (Колывань) in Old East Slavic are also other historical names. History The southern coast of the Gulf of Finland is thought to have been settled by Finnic-speaking tribes already in the 2nd millennium BC. In 1154 Tallinn was marked on the world map of the Arab cartographer al-Idrisi. As an important port for trade between Russia and Scandinavia, it became a target for the expansion of the Teutonic Knights and Kingdom of Denmark during the period of Northern Crusades in the beginning of the 13th century when Christianity was forcibly imposed on the local population. Danish rule of Tallinn and Northern Estonia started in 1219. In 1285 the city became the northernmost member of the Hanseatic League - a mercantile and military alliance of German-dominated cities in Northern Europe. The Danes sold Tallinn along with their other land possessions in northern Estonia to the Teutonic Order in 1345. medieval Tallinn enjoyed a strategic position at the crossroads of trade between Western and Northern Europe and Russia. The city, with a population of 8,000, was very well fortified with city walls and 66 defence towers. With the start of the Protestant Reformation the German influence became even stronger. In 1561 Tallinn politically became a dominion of Sweden. During the Great Northern War the Swedish troops based in Tallinn capitulated to Imperial Russia in 1710, but the local Baltic German rulers retained their cultural and economical autonomy within Tsarist Russia. The 19th century brought industrialization of the city and the port kept its importance. During the last decades of the century Russification pressure became stronger. MAKCi Nomination Form © 2007 The World Capital Institute &Teleos 2 On 24 February 1918 the Independence manifesto was proclaimed in Tallinn, followed by German occupation and a war of independence with Russia. On 2 February 1920 the Tartu Peace Treaty was signed with Soviet Russia, wherein Russia acknowledged the independence of the Estonian Republic. Tallinn became the capital of the independent Estonia. After World War II started Estonia was annexed by the USSR as a result of coup with help of the Red Army in 1940-41, and later invaded by Nazi Germany in 1941-44. After Nazi retreat in 1944, it was occupied by the USSR again. After the annexion into the Soviet Union, Tallinn became the capital of the Estonian SSR. During the 1980 Summer Olympics a regatta was held at Pirita, north- east of central Tallinn. many buildings, like the hotel "Olumpia", the new main Post Office building, and the Regatta Center, were built for the Olympics. In August 1991 an independent democratic Estonian state was re- established and a period of quick development to a modern European capital ensued. Tallinn became de-facto capital of a independent country once again on August 20, 1991. Historically, the city has been attacked, sacked, razed and pillaged on numerous occasions. Although extensively bombed by Soviet air forces during the latter stages of World War II, much of the medieval Old Town still retains its charm. The Tallinn Old Town (including Toompea) became a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1997. http://tallinn24.info/tallinn_history.html Symbols The War of Independence Victory Column - (Estonian: Vabadussõja võidusammas) is located in Freedom Square, Tallinn, Estonia. It was opened on 23 June 2009 as a memorial for those who fell during the Estonian War of Independence, through which the people of Estonia will be able to commemorate all those who had fought for freedom and independence. The idea of creating a monument was conceived in 1919, before the end of the war. During the War of Independence in 1918–1920, 4,000 people were killed, and 14,000 wounded on the Estonian side. After Estonia regained independence in 1991, the question of establishing a national monument for the commemoration of the War of Independence was raised again. In the spring of 2005, the Riigikogu decided that a column of victory in memory of the War would be erected at the Freedom Square in Tallinn. It`s importance lies mostly on symbolic reasons as it represents the gratefulness of all the Estonians for their freedom on the one hand, as it holds the memory of loss, affliction and misery on the other. Old Thomas- (Estonian: Vana Toomas) is one of the symbols and guardian of the city Tallinn, the capital of Estonia and that`s the main reason for mentioning it as one of the factors of identity capital. A weather vane, the figure of an old warrior called Old Thomas was put on top of the spire of Tallinn Town Hall in 1530. According to the MAKCi Nomination Form © 2007 The World Capital Institute &Teleos 3 legend, the model for the weather vane was a peasant boy who excelled at the springtime contests involving firing crossbow bolts at a painted wooden parrot on top of a pole, organized by Tallinn's Baltic German elite of the time. Unable to receive a prize because his low- born status, Toomas was rewarded with the job of town guard for life. Old Toomas gave candy to the children in the Town Square, according to local legend. When he died, the children constantly asked, "Where is Old Toomas?", which led to uncomfortable answers about the nature of death. Once the weather vane was erected over the town square, parents would tell the children that Old Toomas was watching how they behave and would leave candy under their pillow for good behavior. Tall Hermann- (German: Langer Hermann, Estonian: Pikk Hermann) is a tower of the Toompea Castle, on Toompea hill in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The first part was built 1360-70. It was rebuilt (height brought to 45.6 m) in the 16th century. A staircase with 215 steps leads to the top of the tower. Tall Hermann tower is situated next to the Estonian Parliament building and the flag on the top of the tower at 95 metres above sea level is one of the symbols of the government in force.The national flag is raised and the national anthem is played at the time of sunrise and lowered at the time of sunset. While it is lowered, the song "Mu isamaa on minu arm" (my Fatherland is my Love) is heard. Tall Hermann is one of the traditional places where Estonians gather to sing an anthem at the time of sunrise on the Independence Day, as it is the symbol of freedom and independence of the state. Tallinn Old Town –(Estonian: Tallinna vanalinn) Built up from the 13th to 16th centuries, when Tallinn – or Reval as it was known then – was a thriving member of the Hanseatic trade league, this enclosed neighbourhood of colourful, gabled houses, half-hidden courtyards and grandiose churches is the city's biggest tourist draw. Tallinn Old Town is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.