Continued. Estonian History. the Nation

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Continued. Estonian History. the Nation 50reviews continued. Estonian history. The nation as bridge and battlefield mit that the decision to ignore Estonia’s Seppo Zetterberg EPPO ZetteRBERG, professor of history at Jy- up until about 1230. Over the follow- Russian-speakers is consistent with the Viron historia väskylä University, has written a voluminous ing centuries, Estonia was invaded by economic-political orientation of the work on Estonia’s history. The work, which is Denmark, Poland, Sweden and Russia. concept of the state that Bötker’s study [The History of Estonia] Sover 800 pages long, is dedicated to the Esto- Estonia became a leading center for adopts. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuu- nian people, which have ”borne up under its history”. northern Europe’s trade network. The den Seuran toimituksia No further hints are needed of the author’s sympathies towns Tallinn (Reval), Tartu (Dorpat), 1118 [Publication of for Finland’s neighbor nation. Estonia’s history is, as Viljandi and Pärnu were members of Finnish Literary Society]. Zetterberg describes it, one long story of the will to the Hanseatic League. Hämeenlinna, 2007, survive repression and fight for freedom. Zetterberg III. 810 pages is an experienced historian and was an Estophile as ZetteRBERG WRIteS extensively about DESPIte THE CRITICISM I have leveled early as the 1970s; his previous research has revolved the Swedish era (1561–1721), which in against Bötker’s treatment of his subject around Finnish-Estonian relations and Estonia’s re- Estonian history writing is called ”the matter, the key merits of his thesis still cent history. During the 1990s, Zetterberg also worked good old Swedish era”. The Swedish re- stand. The study constitutes an against- as Director of Finland’s Institute of Culture in Tallinn. gents initiated an extensive program of the-tide, even provocative attempt to According to Zetterberg, Estonia’s history can be reforms. They introduced Swedish law, focus on ”hard” economic and political understood through two metaphors. The country is and in 1630 a Court of Appeal was estab- power struggles and competition over simultaneously a bridge and a battlefield. This princi- lished in Tartu. Two years later, a univer- resources when analyzing the new pal idea permeates the work’s eleven central chapters. sity was founded in the same town. As a Estonia. More precisely, his topic — the The narrative progresses in a conventional, chrono- result of investment in popular educa- relationship between Estonia’s politi- LAURA KOLBE Professor logical manner: from prehistory to the present, but tion, most young Estonians were liter- cal leadership and administration in of European History at with a primary focus on the Middle Ages (”A part of the ate by the end of the 1600s. Trade and a ”new democracy” — is both topical, the University of Helsinki. old Livonia”) and the Swedish and Russian eras. The industry bloomed and a civil service and and underexplored. The choice dem- She has published seve- national awakening and first period of independence state administration was developed. onstrates the author’s determination ral works on academic are given thorough coverage, as are the decennia fol- At the Peace Treaty of Nystad in 1721, to use his dissertation to examine a history and city history, lowing World War II (”The lost independence”, ”In the Sweden conceded Estonia to Russia. socially and politically central macro- is- including Brändö. Dröm- grasp of the hammer and sickle”). The last ten pages of Zetterberg’s characterization of the Rus- sue. The subject is thorny and difficult men om en bättre framtid the book discuss the era of newly-won independence sian era is relatively neutral. Serfdom was to work on, something which accounts [Brändö: The Dream of following 1991. Zetterberg also pays great attention to abolished (1820), the peasants’ situation for a number of the problems he en- a Better Future] (1990), economic as well as cultural history. improved and a modernization process countered in his study. Helsingfors. Östersjöns was initiated. The national awakening An interesting point is Bötker’s own dotter [Helsinki: The ZetteRBERG’S BOOK IS A monumental scientific received impulses from Europe; the position, situated between Estonia and Daughter of the Baltic] work and is an exceptional work in its genre. It fills a Russification of the late 1800s hastened Sweden. As someone who spent his (with Matti Klinge) (1999), large gap: there are few existing synthetic histories its development. The ”singing” national childhood in Estonia and then moved and Helsingfors stads of Estonia, and the best ones date back to the 1930s. movement increased in strength, and to Sweden in early adulthood, Bötker is historia efter 1945: kom- Zetterberg has been able to take advantage of recent symbolized a popular will to be free. neither an insider nor an outsider in re- munalförvaltning och historical research, which has hitherto been available So-called Young-Estonian elite groups lation to Estonia. His position seems to -politik [The history of only in the form of unpublished research and con- took the lead in culture and politics. differ from that of the Estonian scholars the City of Helsinki after ference papers. The author sees himself as a Nordic who see the situation from within, in 1945: Municipal Admi- popular educator. The primary objective of the work DURING THE 1900S, Estonia was posi- that he appears to be at a point that of- nistration and Politics] is the elucidation of the great historical differences be- tioned in the shadow of two great pow- fers him an exceptionally independent (2002). In 2007, fellow at tween the countries around the Baltic Sea. The great- ers: Germany and Russia (the Soviet and profoundly critical look at recent the Swedish Collegium est difference between the Nordic nations and Estonia Union). The country balanced between developments. But he also differs from for Advanced Study has to do with conditions in the countryside. Sweden two world wars, several occupations those with a more distant relationship (SCAS) in Uppsala. Since and Finland had an independent peasant population and peace treaties. After World War I, to Estonia, e.g., second-generation 2006, member of the which enjoyed political rights. In Estonia, the rural no- Estonia got a taste of independence, emigrants trained in the United States. Helsinki City Council (as bility and feudalism dominated, or as Zetterberg puts but in 1940 it was united with the Soviet Bötker’s particular position is reflected, a member of the Center it: ”Estonian collective memory still harbors strong Union. Zetterberg offers a thorough and in an interesting and intriguing manner, Party). traces of the German proprietors’ lash.” balanced description of these events, in his unconventional, sometimes even Zetterberg admits that concepts such as Estonian and uncovers national and historical myths iconoclastic, thinking. Bötker’s reason- Estonia’s history are problematic. The first Estonians and analyzes the development of Esto- ing is sometimes controversial, but it (around 3000 BC) were assimilated with the predeces- nia’s history in a broader European con- reflects the author’s intellectual inde- sors of the Baltic, North-Germanic and West-Slavic peo- text. This is also meant to give us a better pendence and his ability to bring fresh ples. They established permanent settlements, protected understanding of August 20, 1991, when perspectives to the analysis of Estonian by fortifications, and applied themselves to agriculture. the 1918 Declaration of Independence politics. ¯ The border situation varied greatly over time. The term was restored. For Estonia, this became ”Estonian” was first used in the nineteenth century dur- an important historical and symbolic ing the national awakening. The purpose was to make date. The nation’s constitution was rein- risto alapuro the ”un-German” Estonians visible as a modern Europe- stituted. Estonia got its own currency, a The author of the article was the faculty an people, with a cultural will and identity of their own. Parliament and a head of state. Estonia examiner at Bötker’s thesis defense. During the Middle Ages, Estonia becomes part of became a part of Europe. Again. ¯ European history. The Estonians were converted to Christianity by German crusaders — this process lasted laura kolbe.
Recommended publications
  • Minorities and Majorities in Estonia: Problems of Integration at the Threshold of the Eu
    MINORITIES AND MAJORITIES IN ESTONIA: PROBLEMS OF INTEGRATION AT THE THRESHOLD OF THE EU FLENSBURG, GERMANY AND AABENRAA DENMARK 22 to 25 MAY 1998 ECMI Report #2 March 1999 Contents Preface 3 The Map of Estonia 4 Ethnic Composition of the Estonian Population as of 1 January 1998 4 Note on Terminology 5 Background 6 The Introduction of the Seminar 10 The Estonian government's integration strategy 11 The role of the educational system 16 The role of the media 19 Politics of integration 22 International standards and decision-making on the EU 28 Final Remarks by the General Rapporteur 32 Appendix 36 List of Participants 37 The Integration of Non-Estonians into Estonian Society 39 Table 1. Ethnic Composition of the Estonian Population 43 Table 2. Estonian Population by Ethnic Origin and Ethnic Language as Mother Tongue and Second Language (according to 1989 census) 44 Table 3. The Education of Teachers of Estonian Language Working in Russian Language Schools of Estonia 47 Table 4 (A;B). Teaching in the Estonian Language of Other Subjects at Russian Language Schools in 1996/97 48 Table 5. Language Used at Home of the First Grade Pupils of the Estonian Language Schools (school year of 1996/97) 51 Table 6. Number of Persons Passing the Language Proficiency Examination Required for Employment, as of 01 August 1997 52 Table 7. Number of Persons Taking the Estonian Language Examination for Citizenship Applicants under the New Citizenship Law (enacted 01 April 1995) as of 01 April 1997 53 2 Preface In 1997, ECMI initiated several series of regional seminars dealing with areas where inter-ethnic tension was a matter of international concern or where ethnopolitical conflicts had broken out.
    [Show full text]
  • History Education: the Case of Estonia
    Mare Oja History Education: The Case of Estonia https://doi.org/10.22364/bahp-pes.1990-2004.09 History Education: The Case of Estonia Mare Oja Abstract. This paper presents an overview of changes in history teaching/learning in the general education system during the transition period from Soviet dictatorship to democracy in the renewed state of Estonia. The main dimensions revealed in this study are conception and content of Estonian history education, curriculum and syllabi development, new understanding of teaching and learning processes, and methods and assessment. Research is based on review of documents and media, content analysis of textbooks and other teaching aids as well as interviews with teachers and experts. The change in the curriculum and methodology of history education had some critical points due to a gap in the content of Soviet era textbooks and new programmes as well as due to a gap between teacher attitudes and levels of knowledge between Russian and Estonian schools. The central task of history education was to formulate the focus and objectives of teaching the subject and balance the historical knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes in the learning process. New values and methodical requirements were included in the general curriculum as well as in the syllabus of history education and in teacher professional development. Keywords: history education, history curriculum, methodology Introduction Changes in history teaching began with the Teachers’ Congress in 1987 when Estonia was still under Soviet rule. The movement towards democratic education emphasised national culture and Estonian ethnicity and increased freedom of choice for schools. In history studies, curriculum with alternative content and a special course of Estonian history was developed.
    [Show full text]
  • A Short History of Poland and Lithuania
    A Short History of Poland and Lithuania Chapter 1. The Origin of the Polish Nation.................................3 Chapter 2. The Piast Dynasty...................................................4 Chapter 3. Lithuania until the Union with Poland.........................7 Chapter 4. The Personal Union of Poland and Lithuania under the Jagiellon Dynasty. ..................................................8 Chapter 5. The Full Union of Poland and Lithuania. ................... 11 Chapter 6. The Decline of Poland-Lithuania.............................. 13 Chapter 7. The Partitions of Poland-Lithuania : The Napoleonic Interlude............................................................. 16 Chapter 8. Divided Poland-Lithuania in the 19th Century. .......... 18 Chapter 9. The Early 20th Century : The First World War and The Revival of Poland and Lithuania. ............................. 21 Chapter 10. Independent Poland and Lithuania between the bTwo World Wars.......................................................... 25 Chapter 11. The Second World War. ......................................... 28 Appendix. Some Population Statistics..................................... 33 Map 1: Early Times ......................................................... 35 Map 2: Poland Lithuania in the 15th Century........................ 36 Map 3: The Partitions of Poland-Lithuania ........................... 38 Map 4: Modern North-east Europe ..................................... 40 1 Foreword. Poland and Lithuania have been linked together in this history because
    [Show full text]
  • The Chronicle Henry of Livonia
    THE CHRONICLE of HENRY OF LIVONIA HENRICUS LETTUS TRANSLATED WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY James A. Brundage � COLUMBIA UNIVERSI'IY PRESS NEW YORK Columbia University Press RECORDS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION is a series published under the aus­ Publishers Since 1893 pices of the InterdepartmentalCommittee on Medieval and Renaissance New York Chichester,West Sussex Studies of the Columbia University Graduate School. The Western Records are, in fact, a new incarnation of a venerable series, the Co­ Copyright© University ofWisconsin Press, 1961 lumbia Records of Civilization, which, for more than half a century, New introduction,notes, and bibliography© 2003 Columbia University Press published sources and studies concerning great literary and historical All rights reserved landmarks. Many of the volumes of that series retain value, especially for their translations into English of primary sources, and the Medieval and Renaissance Studies Committee is pleased to cooperate with Co­ Library of Congress Cataloging-in-PublicationData lumbia University Press in reissuing a selection of those works in pa­ Henricus, de Lettis, ca. II 87-ca. 12 59. perback editions, especially suited for classroom use, and in limited [Origines Livoniae sacrae et civilis. English] clothbound editions. The chronicle of Henry of Livonia / Henricus Lettus ; translatedwith a new introduction and notes by James A. Brundage. Committee for the Records of Western Civilization p. cm. - (Records of Western civilization) Originally published: Madison : University of Wisconsin Press, 1961. Caroline Walker Bynum With new introd. Joan M. Ferrante Includes bibliographical references and index. CarmelaVircillo Franklin Robert Hanning ISBN 978-0-231-12888-9 (cloth: alk. paper)---ISBN 978-0-231-12889-6 (pbk.: alk.
    [Show full text]
  • A Look at Schillings of the Free Imperial City of Riga by Charles Calkins
    A Look at Schillings of the Free Imperial City of Riga by Charles Calkins The seaport of Riga is the capital of Latvia and the largest city of the Balkan states. It is located on the Gulf of Riga, a bay of the Baltic Sea, at the mouth of the Daugava river. The area was settled in ancient times by the Livs, a Finnic tribe, giving the area its name of Livonia. Riga began developing economically due to the Daugava being used as a Viking trade route to Byzantium. By the 12th century, German traders were visiting Riga, establishing an outpost near Riga in 1158. After a failed attempt at Christianization in the late 1100s, Bishop Albert landed with a force of crusaders in 1200, and transferred the Livonian bishopric to Riga in 1201, which became the Archbishopric of Riga in 1255. Albert established the Order of Livonian Brothers of the Sword in 1202 to defend territory and commerce, and Emperor Philip of Swabia caused Livonia to become a principality of the Holy Roman Empire. The Order of Livonian Brothers was given one-third of Livonia, and the Church the other two-thirds, which included Riga. In 1211, Riga minted its first coinage, and gradually gained more independence through the 1200s. In 1236, the Order of Livonian Brothers was defeated in battle with the Samogitians of Lithuania. The remaining Brothers were incorporated into the Teutonic Knights as a branch known as the Livonian Order. The Livonian Order subsequently gained control of Livonia. In 1282, Riga became a member of the Hanseatic League, a confederation of towns and merchant guilds which provided legal and military protection.
    [Show full text]
  • The Seto Language in Estonia
    Working Papers in European Language Diversity 8 Kadri Koreinik The Seto language in Estonia: An Overview of a Language in Context Mainz Helsinki Wien Tartu Mariehamn Oulu Maribor Working Papers in European Language Diversity is a peer-reviewed online publication series of the research project ELDIA, serving as an outlet for preliminary research findings, individual case studies, background and spin-off research. Editor-in-Chief Johanna Laakso (Wien) Editorial Board Kari Djerf (Helsinki), Riho Grünthal (Helsinki), Anna Kolláth (Maribor), Helle Metslang (Tartu), Karl Pajusalu (Tartu), Anneli Sarhimaa (Mainz), Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark (Mariehamn), Helena Sulkala (Oulu), Reetta Toivanen (Helsinki) Publisher Research consortium ELDIA c/o Prof. Dr. Anneli Sarhimaa Northern European and Baltic Languages and Cultures (SNEB) Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz Jakob-Welder-Weg 18 (Philosophicum) D-55099 Mainz, Germany Contact: [email protected] © European Language Diversity for All (ELDIA) ELDIA is an international research project funded by the European Commission. The views expressed in the Working Papers in European Language Diversity are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. All contents of the Working Papers in European Language Diversity are subject to the Austrian copyright law. The contents may be used exclusively for private, non-commercial purposes. Regarding any further uses of the Working Papers in European Language Diversity, please contact the publisher. ISSN 2192-2403 Working Papers in European Language Diversity 8 During the initial stage of the research project ELDIA (European Language Diversity for All) in 2010, "structured context analyses" of each speaker community at issue were prepared.
    [Show full text]
  • 17 Infidel Turks and Schismatic Russians in Late Medieval Livonia
    Madis Maasing 17 Infidel Turks and Schismatic Russians in Late Medieval Livonia 17.1 Introduction At the beginning of the sixteenth century, political rhetoric in Livonia was shaped by the threat posed by an alien power: Following a significant deterio- ration in the relations between the Catholic Livonian territories and their mighty Eastern Orthodox neighbour – the Grand Duchy of Moscow – war broke out, lasting from 1501 to 1503, with renewed armed conflict remaining an immi- nent threat until 1509. During this period of confrontation, and afterwards, the Livonians (i.e., the political elite of Livonia) fulminated in their political writ- ings about the gruesome, schismatic, and even infidel Russians, who posed a threat not only to Livonia, but to Western Christendom in general. In the Holy Roman Empire and at the Roman Curia, these allegations were quite favoura- bly received. Arguably, the Livonians’ greatest success took the form of a papal provision for two financially profitable anti-Russian indulgence campaigns (1503–1510). For various political reasons, the motif of a permanent and general ‘Russian threat’ had ongoing currency in Livonia up until the Livonian War (1558–1583). Even after the collapse of the Livonian territories, the Russian threat motif continued to be quite effectively used by other adversaries of Mos- cow – e.g., Poland-Lithuania and Sweden. I will focus here first and foremost on what was behind the initial success of the Russian threat motif in Livonia, but I will also address why it persisted for as long as it did. A large part of its success was the fact that it drew upon a similar phenomenon – the ‘Turkish threat’,1 which played a significant role in the political rhetoric of Early Modern Europe, especially in south-eastern 1 This research was supported by the Estonian Research Council’s PUT 107 programme, “Me- dieval Livonia: European Periphery and its Centres (Twelfth–Sixteenth Centuries)”, and by the European Social Fund’s Doctoral Studies and Internationalization Programme DoRa, which is carried out by Foundation Archimedes.
    [Show full text]
  • Études Finno-Ougriennes, 46 | 2014 the Khanty Mother of God and the Finnish Woman with Deep Blue Eyes 2
    Études finno-ougriennes 46 | 2014 Littératures & varia The Khanty Mother of God and the Finnish woman with deep blue eyes La mère de Dieu khantye et la Finnoise aux yeux bleus Handi Jumalaema ja tema süvameresilmadega soome õde: „Märgitud“ (1980) ja „Jumalaema verisel lumel“ (2002) Elle-Mari Talivee Electronic version URL: https://journals.openedition.org/efo/3298 DOI: 10.4000/efo.3298 ISSN: 2275-1947 Publisher INALCO Printed version Date of publication: 1 January 2014 ISBN: 978-2-343-05394-3 ISSN: 0071-2051 Electronic reference Elle-Mari Talivee, “The Khanty Mother of God and the Finnish woman with deep blue eyes”, Études finno-ougriennes [Online], 46 | 2014, Online since 09 October 2015, connection on 08 July 2021. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/efo/3298 ; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/efo.3298 This text was automatically generated on 8 July 2021. Études finno-ougriennes est mis à disposition selon les termes de la Licence Creative Commons Attribution - Pas d’Utilisation Commerciale 4.0 International. The Khanty Mother of God and the Finnish woman with deep blue eyes 1 The Khanty Mother of God and the Finnish woman with deep blue eyes La mère de Dieu khantye et la Finnoise aux yeux bleus Handi Jumalaema ja tema süvameresilmadega soome õde: „Märgitud“ (1980) ja „Jumalaema verisel lumel“ (2002) Elle-Mari Talivee 1 In the following article, similarities between two novels, one by an Estonian and the other by a Khanty writer, are discussed while comparing possible resemblances based on the Finno-Ugric way of thinking. Introduction 2 One of the writers is Eremei Aipin, a well-known Khanty writer (born in 1948 in Varyogan near the Agan River), whose works have been translated into several languages.
    [Show full text]
  • ABSTRACT Memory Wars and Metanarratives: the Historical
    ABSTRACT Memory Wars and Metanarratives: the Historical Context of Linguistic Discrimination in Estonia Chanse E. Sonsalla Director: Adrienne Harris, Ph.D. In the 20th century, the country of Estonia was decimated, terrorized, and subjugated by the USSR. Estonians continue to redefine their national identity, but the process is complicated by the continued presence of ethnic Russians in Estonia. When 30% of a country's population speaks differently, thinks differently, and was once an enemy that instigated an era of terror, how does it rebuild? Language has been a polarizing issue between the ethnic Estonian and ethnic Russian populations as long as both have been present in Estonia. By investigating trends in language policy, this thesis explores the roots of tension between the two groups. The ultimate goal of the thesis is to provide insight into the pitfalls of post-conflict reintegration and the potential of language policy as a discriminatory instrument. APPROVED BY DIRECTOR OF HONORS THESIS: ____________________________________________ Dr. Adrienne Harris, Department of Modern Languages and Cultures APPROVED BY THE HONORS PROGRAM: ____________________________________ Dr. Elizabeth Corey, Director DATE: _______________________ MEMORY WARS AND METANARRATIVES: THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF LINGUISTIC DISCRIMINATION IN ESTONIA A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Baylor University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Honors Program By Chanse E. Sonsalla Waco, Texas May 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • And Estonian Kalev
    Scandinavian Kalf and Estonian Kalev HILDEGARD MUST OLD ICELANDIC SAGAStell us about several prominent :men who bore the name Kalfr, Kalfr, etc.1 The Old Swedish form was written as Kalf or Kalv2 and was a fairly common name in Viking-age Scandinavia. An older form of the same name is probably kaulfR which is found on a runic stone (the Skarby stone). On the basis of this form it is believed that the name developed from an earlier *Kaoulfr which goes back to Proto-Norse *KapwulfaR. It is then a compound as are most of old Scandinavian anthroponyms. The second ele- ment of it is the native word for "wolf," ON"ulfr, OSw. ulv (cf. OE, OS wulf, OHG wolf, Goth. wulfs, from PGmc. *wulfaz). The first component, however, is most likely a name element borrowed from Celtic, cf. Old Irish cath "battle, fight." It is contained in the Old Irish name Cathal which occurred in Iceland also, viz. as Kaoall. The native Germ.anic equivalents of OIr. cath, which go back to PGmc. hapu-, also occurred in personal names (e.g., as a mono- thematic Old Norse divine name Hr;or), and the runic HapuwulfR, ON Hr;lfr and Halfr, OE Heaouwulf, OHG Haduwolf, Hadulf are exact Germanic correspondences of the hybrid Kalfr, Kalfr < *Kaoulfr. However, counterparts of the compound containing the Old Irish stem existed also in other Germanic languages: Oeadwulf in Old English, and Kathwulf in Old High German. 3 1 For the variants see E. H. Lind, Nor8k-i8liind8ka dopnamn och fingerade namn fran medeltiden (Uppsala and Leipzig, 1905-15), e.
    [Show full text]
  • Part 2: the First Partition of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 1772 – Its Description and Depiction in Maps Andrew Kapochunas, Jersey City, New Jersey EN
    Historical research article / Lietuvos istorijos tematika The Maps and Mapmakers that Helped Define 20th-Century Lithuanian Boundaries - Part 2: The First Partition of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 1772 – Its Description and Depiction in Maps Andrew Kapochunas, Jersey City, New Jersey EN In the previous – and first – installment of this influence of Russia’s military on Empress Catherine II series, we established a geographical starting point for is primary: the dismemberment of the 11 provinces (vaivadijų) “…the military party was openly in favor of direct annexa- of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji tions. They believed that Russia’s interests could best be Kunigaikštystė) by the Empire of Russia. My inten- served by seizing the territory of her neighbors on every tion was to then focus on the Russian administrative possible occasion. Chernyshev, the Vice-President of the War boundary changes of the lands they acquired. But, as I College, expressed this view when, at the new [as of 1762] reviewed the literature and maps describing the First, Empress Catherine’s council called to discuss the [1763] death 1772, Partition, I was struck by the disparate descrip- of the King of Poland [Augustus III], he proposed an invasion tions and cartographic depictions of that seemingly of Polish Livonia and the palatinates of Polotsk, Witebsk, and straight-forward event. I decided to present a sum- Mscislaw.”2 mary of that event and its immediate aftermath in the annexed regions. The next two articles, then, will Nine years later, those were the areas annexed – and cover the Second (1793) and Third (1795) Partitions.
    [Show full text]
  • Read Transcript
    History of the Crusades. Episode 237. The Baltic Crusades. The Livonian Crusade Part XXX. The Southern Push Part 2. Hello again. Last week we started off by noting that the Teutonic Order wished to establish a land link between their territory in Livonia and their territory in Prussia, which pretty much entailed conquering the lands currently located between Prussia and Livonia, which were: Semigallia, Kurland and Samogitia. However we got sidetracked by other goings on in the surrounding regions. We saw King Valdemar II’s son, King Eric, struggle to make Denmark great again. We saw Pope Innocent IV appoint Albert Suerbeer to the position of Archbishop of Prussia. We saw William of Modena be rewarded for his years of service as the Church’s Mister Fix-it, as he rose to the position of Cardinal-Bishop of Sabina, and we saw Dietrich von Gruningen replace Hermann Balk as the Master of the Teutonic Order in Livonia. Right, so now we are all set to examine the push south by the Teutonic Order in Livonia through the lands of the pagans. The new Master of the Teutonic Order in Livonia, Dietrich von Gruningen, had done a pretty good job of both motivating the members of the Teutonic Order in Livonia, and of establishing ties between the Order and members of the local Church hierarchy. As a result the Bishops of Riga, Osel and Dorpat voiced their support for the push south by the Order, and provided both men and financial assistance. Due to this support by the local Church hierarchy, a fairly impressive force of Christians, including Letts and Livonians, mustered alongside Knights from the Teutonic Order in Riga.
    [Show full text]