Laiuse

Laiuse (Lajs, Lais) is a small borough (alevik) in Estonia. It is located in Jõgeva County and is a part of Jõgeva Parish. As of the 2011 census, the settlement's population was 371.

Laiuse Middle School is one of the oldest in Estonia, being established in 1822.

History
During the Livonian War, in 1569, the Laiuse Castle was besieged twice by the Livonian Order under Gotthard Kettler. After the war, from 1582 Laiuse, in Polish known as Lajs, was part of Poland. It was the seat of northernmost starostwo in the history of Poland. King Stephen Báthory appointed Andrzej Orzechowski the starost of Lajs as a reward for his bravery in the Livonian War, and in 1589 King Sigismund III Vasa confirmed the appointment. Andrzej Orzechowski rebuilt the castle following the war, which then served as the seat of the starosts. The population of Lajs exceeded 200. At the start of the Polish–Swedish War of 1600–1611, in 1600, the castle was besieged and captured by Sweden, but was restored to Poland the following year. In 1622, the settlement passed to Sweden, although Poland still appointed starosts of Lajs until the loss of the area was confirmed in 1660. In 1700, the castle served as the main winter quarters of King Charles XII of Sweden. Later it passed to Russia, before it became part of independent Estonia in 1918.

Laiuse Church
Laiuse is the location of the medieval Laiuse Church. The church was first mentioned in 1319. In the church yard, there's an old lime tree, which was supposedly planted there by king Charles XII of Sweden during his visit in 1701.