Duchy of Estonia
Estonia, 1561–1721. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Duchy of Estonia, also known as Swedish Estonia, was a dominion of the Swedish Empire from 1561 until 1721 during the time that most or all of Estonia was under Swedish rule. The territory was eventually ceded to Russia in the Treaty of Nystad, following its capitulation during a plague outbreak in the Great Northern War. Erik XIV incorporated Reval (now Tallinn) and northern Estonia into the realm in 1561 to lay the foundations of the Swedish Baltic Empire.
Seat of power: Tallinn
Rulers
Eric XIV of Sweden
Monarch of Sweden, 1560–1568
During his reign, Erik sought to centralize royal authority and expand Swedish influence in the Baltic region. He was formally deposed by the Riksdag on 26 January 1569.
Portrait of Eric XIV of Sweden: Attributed to Domenicus Verwilt, Public domain, file
John III of Sweden
Monarch of Sweden, 1568–1592
He is mainly remembered for his attempts to close the gap between the newly established Lutheran Church of Sweden and the Catholic Church, as well as his conflict with and possible murder of his brother. He ended the Northern Seven Years' War, but instead, Sweden was drawn into the 25 Years' War with Russia, where minor gains were eventually made.
Portrait of John III of Sweden: After Johan Baptista van Uther, Public domain, file
Sigismund III Vasa
Monarch of Sweden, 1592–1599
Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1587 to 1632 and, as Sigismund, King of Sweden from 1592 to 1599. Opposition in Protestant Sweden caused a war against Sigismund headed by Sigismund's uncle Charles IX of Sweden, who deposed him in 1599.
Portrait of Sigismund III Vasa: Pieter Soutman, Public domain, file
Charles IX of Sweden
Monarch of Sweden, 1604–1611
He came into the throne by championing the Protestant cause during the increasingly tense times of religious strife between competing sects of Christianity. Charles IX reigned as King of Sweden from 1604 until 1611.
Portrait of Charles IX of Sweden: Unidentified painter, Public domain, file
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Monarch of Sweden, 1611–1632
During his reign, Sweden rose from the status of a Baltic Sea basin regional power to one of the great powers of Europe. He was assisted by Count Axel Oxenstierna, the Lord High Chancellor of Sweden.
Portrait of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden: Presumably Jacob Hoefnagel, Public domain, file
Christina of Sweden
Monarch of Sweden, 1632–1654
She succeeded her father Gustavus Adolphus at the age of five, but only began ruling the Swedish Empire when she reached the age of eighteen. Her lavish spending habits pushed the state towards bankruptcy, sparking public unrest.
Portrait of Christina of Sweden: Sébastien Bourdon, Public domain, file
Charles X Gustav of Sweden
Monarch of Sweden, 1654–1660
He led Sweden during the Second Northern War, enlarging the Swedish Empire.
Portrait of Charles X Gustav of Sweden: Sébastien Bourdon, Public domain, file
Charles XI of Sweden
Monarch of Sweden, 1660–1697
He worked to correct the country's neglected political, financial and economic situation, and sustained peace during the remaining 20 years of his reign.
Portrait of Charles XI of Sweden: Attributed to David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl, Public domain, file
Carl XII of Sweden
Monarch of Sweden, 1697–1718
He assumed power at the age of fifteen, and won multiple victories despite being significantly outnumbered. The campaign ended in heavy losses at Poltava, and Charles spent the following years in exile in the Ottoman Empire.
Portrait of Carl XII of Sweden: Workshop of Hyacinthe Rigaud, Public domain, file
Ulrika Eleonora I of Sweden
Monarch of Sweden, 1718–1720
After agreeing to renounce the powers of absolute monarchy established by her father, she was recognized as successor by the Riksdag. She abdicated on 29 February 1720 in favour of Frederick, her husband.
Portrait of Ulrika Eleonora I of Sweden: Attributed to Georg Desmarées, Public domain, file
Frederick I of Sweden
Monarch of Sweden, 1720–1751
His reign was powerless, and the parliamentary government dominated by Hat Party politicians ventured into a war with Russia, which ended in defeat.
Portrait of Frederick I of Sweden: Martin van Meytens, Public domain, file
Culture
- The weather vane "Old Thomas" on the top of the town hall's spire, that has been there since 1530, is one of the symbols of Tallinn.
- It is also colloquially known as the "good old Swedish times" by Estonians.
Picture
The Tallinn Town Hall is the oldest town hall in the whole Baltic Sea region and Scandinavia.
Image: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.