Duchy of Estonia (1561–1721)



The Duchy of Estonia (Hertigdömet Estland, Eestimaa hertsogkond, Herzogtum Estland), also known as Swedish Estonia, (Svenska Estland) 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 land was eventually ceded to Russia in the Treaty of Nystad, following its capitulation, during the plague, in the Great Northern War.

The dominion arose during the Livonian War, when the northern parts of present-day Estonia — Reval (Tallinn) and the counties of Harjumaa, Western Virumaa, Raplamaa and Järvamaa — submitted to the Swedish king in 1561, and Läänemaa in 1581. It is also colloquially known as the "good old Swedish times" (vana hea Rootsi aeg) by Estonians, but this expression was not used before the following Russian rule, in the beginning of which the situation of Estonian peasantry declined rapidly; to gain the support of the German Baltic nobility, Russia gave them more power over the peasantry.

Head of Dominion

 * Governors (1561–1674)


 * Lars Ivarsson Fleming, Friherre of Nynäs, from Sundholm (2 August 1561 – 27 February 1562)
 * Klas Horn of Åminne (acting) (August 1561)
 * Henrik Klasson Horn from Kankas (1st time) (27 February 1562 – June 1562)
 * Svante Stensson Sture (30 June 1562 – 27 July 1564)
 * Hermann Pedersson Fleming from Lechtis (1564–1565)
 * Henrik Klasson Horn from Kankas (2nd time) (30 January 1565 – 1568)
 * Gabriel Kristiernsson Oxenstierna from Mörby (November 1568 – 1570)
 * Hans Björnsson Lejon from Lepas (9 October 1570 – 1572)
 * Clas Åkesson Tott (6 November 1572 – 1574)
 * Pontus De la Gardie (4 June 1574 – December 1575)
 * Karl Henriksson Horn from Kankas (1st time) (January 1576 – May 1578)
 * Nilsson Hans Eriksson Finn from Brinkala (acting) (19 April 1576 – 1577)
 * Göran Boije af Gennäs (1st time) (1 August 1577 – 1580)
 * Svante Eriksson Stålarmfrom Kyala (1580–1581)
 * Göran Boije af Gennäs (2nd time) (25 April 1582 – 1583)
 * Pontus De la Gardie (1583 – 5 November 1585)
 * Gustaf Gabrielsson Oxenstierna (8 November 1585 – 1588)
 * Hans Wachtmeister (acting) (July 1588 – 13 October 1588)
 * Gustaf Axelsson Banér from Djurshom (13 October 1588 – 1590)
 * Erik Gabrielsson Oxenstierna af Lindö (1590 – July 1592)
 * Göran Boije af Gennäs (3rd time) (1592 – June 1600)
 * Karl Henriksson Horn from Kankas (2nd time) (acting) (1600 – 30 January 1601)
 * Moritz Stensson Leijonhufvud Count of Raseborg (1601 – October 1602)
 * ... (October 1602 – May 1605)
 * Nils Turesson Bielke (10 May 1605 – June 1605)
 * Axel Nilsson Ryning (1605–1608)
 * ... (1608–1611)
 * Gabriel Bengtsson Oxenstierna (1611–1617)
 * Anders Eriksson Hästehufvud (1617–1619)
 * Jakob De la Gardie (July 1619 – 1622)
 * Per Gustafsson Banér af Tussa (1622 – January 1626)
 * Johan De la Gardie Friherre of Eckholm (1626 – October 1628)
 * Philipp von Scheiding from Arnö (1628 – 17 July 1642)
 * Gustaf Gabrielsson Oxenstierna Friherre of Kimito (26 July 1642 – 1646)
 * Erik Axelsson Oxenstierna, Count of Södermöre (9 September 1646 – 1653)
 * Wilhelm Ulrich(1st time) (acting) (May 1653 – 16 August 1653)
 * Heinrich von Thurn-Valsassina, Count of Thurn (16 August 1653 – 1655)
 * Wilhelm Ulrich (2nd time) (acting) (1655 – August 1655)
 * Bengt Skytte (1655–1656)
 * Wilhelm Ulrich (3rd time) (acting) (1655– 2 August 1656)
 * Bengt Klasson Horn (2 August 1656 – November 1674)
 * Wilhelm Ulrich (4th time) (acting) (1656–1659)
 * Johan Christoph Scheiding (acting) (1674)


 * Governors-General (1674–1728)


 * Andreas Lennartson Torstensson (1674–1681)
 * Robert Johannson Lichton (April 1681 – 1687)
 * Nils Turesson Bielke (20 January 1687 – 19 April 1687)
 * Axel Julius De la Gardie from Läckö Castle, Lidköping (1687 – December 1704)
 * Wolmar Anton von Schlippenbach (December 1704 – 6 July 1706)
 * Niels Jonsson Stromberg af Clastorp (6 July 1706 – 23 October 1709)
 * Carl Nieroth (23 October 1709 – 10 October 1710)