Baltic Noble Corporations - Estonian Knighthood

Estonian Knighthood

The earliest written reference of the Estonian Knighthood (Estländische Ritterschaft) dates from 1252. Its origins date back to the time of Danish rule, when two northern Estonian provinces of Harjumaa (German: Harrien) and Virumaa (German: Wierland) where allied together. The process of the development of the corporation into a political entity was completed by the end of the Rule of the Teutonic Order in 1561, resulting in the control of the region and its peasant population, although excluding the cities.