List of rulers of Estonia

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The Rulers of Estonia is a list of the rulers of Estonia throughout the history. Starting with the ancient Counties and Parishes each headed by Seniores and Meliores (Elders) as noted by Henry of Livonia. The highest political institutions in Estonia during ancient times were Councils of Elders. The administrative jurisdiction of the parish and county elders were limited, the counties themselves remained autonomous[1] until the German and Danish conquest in the 13th century. Ending with the states and the rulers of states (starting from the time of the first successful Danish conquest in 1219) who either ruled or laid claims of sovereignty over some parts of the territory of present-day Estonia, as well as the leaders of the independent Republic of Estonia since 1918.

Ancient counties

Counties of Ancient Estonia

Alempois

Title: Elder (-1224)

Harju

Title: Elder (-1224)

Järva

Title: Elder (-1224)

Jogentagana

Title: Elder (-1224)

Läänemaa

Title: Elder (-1224)

Mõhu

Title: Elder (-1224)

Nurmekund

Title: Elder (-1224)

Revala

Title: Elder (-1224)

Saaremaa

Title: Elder – It is probable that these men, whose names appear on a treaty with the Order of the Brethren of the Sword in 1251, were the chiefs of administrative units on Saaremaa, Muhu, and Sõrve. Their "signatures" were, in all likelihood, phonetically "Latinized" by the authors of the document.

Sakala

Title: Elder (-1223)

Ugandi

Title: Elder (-1224)

Vaiga

Title: Elder (-1224)

Virumaa

Title: Elder (-1224)

Bishoprics of Livonia (Bishopric of Riga) and Estonia (Bishopric of Leal)

In 1219, during the vacancy of the Bishopric of Estonia, Valdemar II of Denmark conquered the Northern part of Estonia.

Northern Estonia

Part of the Kingdom of Denmark

House of Estridsen

NamePortraitBirthMarriagesDeath
Canute I
(Knud Valdemarsen )
1220–1227 (deposed)
1205
illegitimate son of Valdemar II of Denmark and Helena Guttormsdotter
Hedwig of Pomerelia
before 1260
two children
1260
aged 55
Occupied by the Teutonic Order:1227-1238
Canute I
(Knud Valdemarsen )
1238–40 (restored)
1205
illegitimate son of Valdemar II of Denmark and Helena Guttormsdotter
Hedwig of Pomerelia
before 1260
two children
1260
aged 55
Valdemar I the Victorious
(Valdemar Sejr)
1240–41
9 May/28 June 1170
second son of Valdemar I and Sophia of Minsk
(1) Dagmar of Bohemia
c. 1205
Lübeck
one son
(2) Berengaria of Portugal
18/24 May 1214
four children
28 March 1241
Vordingborg Castle
aged 70
Eric I Ploughpenny
(Erik Plovpenning)
1241–50
c. 1216
eldest son of Valdemar I and Berengaria of Portugal
Jutta of Saxony
17 November 1239
six children
9 August 1250
on the Schlei
aged 33–34
Abel
1 November
1250–1252
c. 1218
second son of Valdemar I and Berengaria of Portugal
Matilda of Holstein
25 April 1237
Schleswig Cathedral
four children
29 June 1252
Eiderstedt
aged 33–34
Christopher I
(Christoffer 1.)
25 December
1252–1259
c. 1219
third son of Valdemar I and Berengaria of Portugal
Margaret Sambiria
c. 1248
five children
29 May 1259
Ribe
aged 39–40
Eric II Klipping
(Erik Klipping)
1259–66 (abdicated)
c. 1249
eldest son of Christopher I and Margaret Sambiria
Agnes of Brandenburg
11 November 1273
Schleswig Cathedral
seven children
22 November 1286
Finderup
aged 36–37
Margaret Sambiria
(Margrethe Sambiria)
1266-1282
c. 1230
daughter of Sambor II of Pomerelia and Matilda of Mecklenburg
Christopher I of Denmark
c.1248
five children
December 1282
Finderup
aged 51–52
Eric II Klipping
(Erik Klipping)
1282–86 (restored)
c. 1249
eldest son of Christopher I and Margaret Sambiria
Agnes of Brandenburg
11 November 1273
Schleswig Cathedral
seven children
22 November 1286
Finderup
aged 36–37
Eric III Menved
(Erik Menved)
1286–1319
c. 1274
eldest son of Eric II and Agnes of Brandenburg
Ingeborg of Sweden
June 1296
Kärnan Castle
fourteen children
13 November 1319
Roskilde
aged 44–45
Christopher II
(Christoffer 2.)
25 January
1320–26
(deposed)
29 September 1276
second son of Eric II and Agnes of Brandenburg
Euphemia of Pomerania
c. 1300
six children
2 August 1332
Nykøbing Castle
aged 55
Eric (IV)
(Erik Christoffersen)
1321-26
(deposed)
c. 1307
eldest son of Christopher II and Euphemia of Pomerania
Elizabeth of Holstein-Rendsburg
1330
no issue
early 1332
aged c. 25
Valdemar II
(Valdemar 3.)
1326–1329
(deposed)
c. 1314
only son of Eric II, Duke of Schleswig and Adelaide of Holstein
Richardis of Schwerin
two sons
c. 1364
aged 49–50
Canute II Porse
(Knud Pedersen Porse)
(House of Porse)

1329–30 (elected)
c.1282
Son of Peter Knudsen Porse
Ingeborg of Norway
21 June 1327
three children
30 May 1330
Copenhagen
aged 47–48
Ingeborg of Norway
(Ingibjörg Hákonardóttir)
1329–32 (co-ruler)
1301
daughter of Haakon V of Norway and Euphemia of Rügen
Eric, Duke of Södermanland
1312
Oslo
two children

Canute II Porse
21 June 1327
three children
17 June 1361
aged 59–60
Otto
(Otto Christoffersen)
1332-38
c. 1310
second son of Christopher II and Euphemia of Pomerania
unmarried after 1341
aged c. 31/32
Valdemar II
(Valdemar 3.)
1338-40
(restored)
c. 1314
only son of Eric II, Duke of Schleswig and Adelaide of Holstein
Richardis of Schwerin
two sons
c. 1364
aged 49–50
Valdemar III Atterdag
(Valdemar Atterdag)
21 June
1340–46
c. 1320
third son of Christopher II and Euphemia of Pomerania
Helvig of Schleswig
c. 1340
Sønderborg Castle
six children
24 October 1375
Gurre Castle
aged 54–55

In 1346, Northern Estonia is sold to the Livonian Order. This Order was already ruling Southern Estonia since 1237.

Southern Estonia

Bishoprics of Livonia (Bishopric of Riga) and Estonia (Bishopric of Leal)

Livonian Order

Northern and Southern Estonia (reunited)

Livonian Order

Bishopric of Dorpat

In 1558, during the Livonian War, Dorpat ceased to exist.

Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek

In 1573, Ösel-Wiek was annexed by Denmark.

Duchy of Estonia

Part of the Swedish Empire (1561–1721)

House of Vasa

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Eric XIV (Erik XIV)
1561 29 September 1568
Tre Kronor (castle), 13 December 1533 son of Gustav I and Catherine of Saxe-LauenburgKarin MånsdotterDied (Poisoned) while imprisoned in Örbyhus Castle, 26 February 1577. Aged 43, buried at Västerås Cathedral
John III (Johan III)
30 September 1568 17 November 1592
Stegeborg Castle, Östergötland, 20 December 1537 son of Gustav I and Margaret LeijonhufvudCatherine Jagellonica (1562  1583),
Gunilla Bielke (1585–1597)
Tre Kronor (castle), 17 November 1592, aged 54, buried at Uppsala Cathedral
Sigmund (Sigismund)
17 November 1592 24 July 1599
Gripsholm Castle, 20 June 1566, son of John III and Catherine Jagellonica of Poland.Anna of Austria (1592–1598),
Constance of Austria (1605–1631)
Warsaw, Poland, 30 April 1632, aged 65, buried at Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, Poland
Charles IX (Karl IX)
22 March 1604 30 October 1611
also as regent Duke Charles, 1599–1604
Tre Kronor (castle), 4 October 1550 son of Gustav I and Margaret LeijonhufvudMaria of Palatinate-Simmern (1579–1589),
Christina of Holstein-Gottorp (1592–1611)
Nyköping Castle, 30 October 1611, aged 61, buried at Strängnäs Cathedral
Gustav II Adolph (Gustav II Adolf)
30 October 1611 6 November 1632
Tre Kronor (castle), 9 December 1594, son of Charles IX and Christina of Holstein-Gottorp.Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg6 November 1632, in the Battle of Lützen, Electorate of Saxony, aged 37, buried in Riddarholmen Church
Christina (Kristina)
6 November 1632 6 June 1654
Stockholm, 8 December[2] 1626, daughter of Gustavus Adolphus and Maria Eleonora of BrandenburgUnmarriedRome, 19 April 1689, aged 62, buried at St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, a branch of the House of Wittelsbach

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Charles X Gustav (Karl X Gustav)
6 June 1654 13 February 1660
Nyköping Castle, 8 November 1622, son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catharina of Sweden (daughter of Charles IX)Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-GottorpGothenburg, 13 February 1660, aged 37, buried in Riddarholmen Church
Charles XI (Karl XI)
13 February 1660 5 April 1697
Tre Kronor (castle), 24 November 1655 son of Charles X and Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-GottorpUlrike Eleonora of DenmarkTre Kronor (castle), 5 April 1697, aged 41, buried in Riddarholmen Church
Charles XII (Karl XII)
5 April 1697 30 November 1718
Tre Kronor (castle), 17 June 1682 son of Charles XI and Ulrika Eleonora the ElderUnmarriedFredrikshald, Norway, 30 November 1718, aged 36, buried in Riddarholmen Church
Ulrica Eleanor (Ulrika Eleonora)
5 December 1718 29 February 1720
Tre Kronor (castle), 23 January 1688 daughter of Charles XI and Ulrika Eleonora the ElderFrederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-KasselStockholm, 24 November 1741, aged 53, buried in Riddarholmen Church

House of Hesse

Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Frederick (Fredrik I av Hessen)
24 March 1720 10 September 1721
Kassel, (in today's Germany), 23 April 1676 son of Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Maria Amalia of CourlandLouise Dorothea of Prussia
Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden
Stockholm, 25 March 1751, aged 74, buried in Riddarholmen Church

On 10 September 1721, Sweden ceded Estonia to the Tsardom of Russia, in the Treaty of Nystad.

Governors during Swedish rule

Part of the Russian Empire (1721–1917)

House of Romanov

Monarch Coat of arms Portrait Birth Marriage Emperor from Emperor until Death
Peter I the Great 9 June 1672
Moscow, Tsardom of Russia
Eudoxia Feodorovna Lopukhina
1689
3 children

Marta Helena Skowrońska
1707
9 children
10 September 1721 8 February 1725 8 February 1725, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Catherine I 15 April 1684
Ringen (Rõngu), Duchy of Livonia, Sweden
Peter I of Russia
1707
9 children
8 February 1725 17 May 1727 17 May 1727, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Peter II 23 October 1715
St. Petersburg, Tsardom of Russia
unmarried 18 May 1727 30 January 1730 30 January 1730, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Anna 7 February 1693
Moscow, Tsardom of Russia
Frederick Wilhelm, Duke of Courland
November 1710
no children
13 February 1730 28 October 1740 28 October 1740, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Ivan VI (disputed) 23 August 1740
St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
unmarried 28 October 1740 6 December 1741 16 July 1764 (murdered)
Shlisselburg, Russian Empire
Elizabeth 29 December 1709
Kolomenskoye, Tsardom of Russia
Alexey Razumovsky
1742
no children
6 December 1741 5 January 1762 5 January 1762, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Peter III 21 February 1728
Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
Princess Sophie Friederike Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst
16 August 1745
one son
9 January 1762 17 July 1762 17 July 1762 (murdered), Ropsha, Russian Empire
Catherine II the Great 2 May 1729
Stettin, Kingdom of Prussia
Peter III of Russia
16 August 1745
one son
9 July 1762 6 November 1796 6 November 1796, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Paul I 1 October 1754
St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Princess Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt
29 September 1773
one stillborn son

Princess Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg
26 September 1776
ten children
17 November 1796 11 March 1801 11 March 1801 (assassinated), St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Alexander I the Blessed 23 December 1777
St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Princess Louise of Baden
28 September 1793
2 daughters
24 March 1801 1 December 1825 1 December 1825, Taganrog, Russian Empire
Constantine I (disputed) 27 April 1779
Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire
Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
26 February
no children
1 December 1825 26 December 1825 27 June 1831
Vitebsk, Russian Empire
Nicholas I 6 July 1796
Gatchina, Russian Empire
Princess Charlotte of Prussia
13 July 1817
7 children
26 December 1825 2 March 1855 2 March 1855, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Alexander II the Liberator 29 April 1818
Moscow, Russian Empire
Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine
16 April 1841
8 children
2 March 1855 13 March 1881 13 March 1881 (assassinated), St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Alexander III the Peace-Maker 10 March 1845
St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Princess Dagmar of Denmark
9 November 1866
6 children
13 March 1881 1 November 1894 1 November 1894
Livadiya, Russian Empire
Saint Nicholas II 6 May 1868
Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire
Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine
26 November 1894
5 children
1 November 1894 15 March 1917 17 July 1918 (executed)
Yekaterinburg, Russian SFSR
Michael II (disputed) 22 November 1878
Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire
Natalia Brassova
15 October 1911
one son (born before his parents' marriage)
15 March 1917 16 March 1917 12 June 1918 (murdered)
Perm, Russian SFSR

Governors during Russian rule

Russian Provisional Government, 1917

Title: Chairman (1917)

Title: Prime Minister (1917)

Part of the German Empire (1917–1918)

House of Hohenzollern

Image Name Date of birth Monarch From Monarch Until Date of death
Wilhelm II 27 January 1859 25 October 9/28 November 1918[3]
(abdicated)
4 June 1941

The October Revolution of 1917 era

(independent de facto)

Title: Chairman of the Soviet Executive Committee of Estonia (Eestimaa Nõukogude Täitevkomitee esimees) (1917–18)

(independent de jure)

Title: Gouvernement Commissioner (Kubermangukomissar) (1917–18)

Soviet Republic of Sailors and Builders of Nargen

Title: Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (Rahvakomissaride Nõukogu esimees) (1917–18)

Republic of Estonia

Title: Prime Minister of the Estonian Provisional Government (Peaminister) (1918–19)

Title: Prime Minister (Peaminister) (1919–1920)

Title: Head of State (Riigivanem) (1920–34)

Title: Prime Minister acting Head of State (Peaminister Riigivanema ülesannetes) (1934–37)

Title: President-Regent (Riigihoidja) (1937–1938)

Title: President of the Republic (1938–40)

Title: Prime Minister acting President (Peaminister Vabariigi Presidendi ülesandeis) (1940–92)

Title: Acting Prime Minister (Peaministri asetäitja) (since 1944)

Title: Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia (in the body of Soviet Union) (1990–91)

Title: Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia (Eesti Vabariigi Ülemnõukogu esimees) (1991–92)

Title: President (since 1992)

United Baltic Duchy

Title: Regent Councillor (1918)

Commune of the Working People of Estonia

Title: Chairman of the Council of The Commune of the Working People of Estonia (Eesti Töörahva Komuuna Nõukogu esimees) (1918–19)

Estonian SSR

Title: Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of Estonian SSR (Eesti NSV Ülemnõukogu Presiidiumi esimees) (1940–88)

Title: Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of Estonian SSR (independent) (1988–90)

Soviet Union

Title: Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (NLKP Keskkomitee peasekretär) (1940–91)

Reichskommissariat Ostland

Title: Führer und Reichskanzler (1941–44)

Title: Generalkomissar für Estland (1941–44)

Title: Eesti Omavalitsuse juht (1941–45)

See also

References

  1. Raun, Toivo (2001). Estonia and the Estonians. Stanford: Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University. p. 12. ISBN 0-8179-2852-9.
  2. Note that the birth date is December 8 in the Julian calendar, which was in effect in Sweden at the time, corresponding to December 18 in the Gregorian calendar.
  3. His abdication was announced by the Chancellor on 9 November, and the Emperor went into exile in the Netherlands. He did not formally abdicate until 28 November.
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