European Kingdoms

Russian Governors of Estonia (Reval Governorate) (Baltic States)
AD 1710 - 1915

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The European region which today is known as the Baltic States sits at the junction in Eastern Europe with Northern Europe. While the southern two states of Lithuania and Latvia are counted as Eastern European, Estonia is more typically grouped with its Northern European cousins.

The Livonian Wars of 1558-1583 had allowed Sweden to take control of the Baltic states and the 'Duchy of Estonia', but the Great Northern War at the start of the eighteenth century ended that control. The Russian empire had been building its strength and territories over the intervening time and was now the dominant regional force. In 1710 Russia secured control of the territory which would form modern Estonia, all except Ösel which the Swedes retained. It was Rudolph Felix Bauer who besieged Riga, Pärnu, and Tallinn, successfully securing all three and becoming the first Russian governor-general of Estonia. The title of 'Duke of Estonia', abolished by the Swedes in 1618, was revived by the Romanovs. The last holder of the title was Czar Nicholas II in 1918.

The captured territories were divided by their new masters into three Baltic Provinces: Courland, Estonia (with its capital at Reval - today's Tallinn), and Livonia. In 1801-1809 and from 1819 onwards supreme authority was vested in a governor-general who was based in Riga, but at other times the provinces were governed individually, answering directly to St Petersburg. To gain support from the German landowners who still dominated the region culturally and linguistically, the Russian authorities greatly diminished the rights and freedoms of the Estonian peasants. On the plus side - if there could be one for the enslaved Estonians - this regime was not nearly so aggressively destructive for them as the later Soviet one would be.

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(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from The History of the Baltic Countries, Zigmantas Kiaupa, Ain Mäesalu, Ago Pajur, & Gvido Straube (Eds, Estonia 2008), from the 15th Yearbook of the Estonian Learned Society in Sweden, 2010-2014 (Eesti Teadusliku Seltsi Rootsis aastaraamat XV. 2010-2014), Ants Anderson (Ed, Stockholm, 2015), from Genealogisches Handbuch der baltischen Ritterschaften, Teil 2, 2: Estland, Görlitz (1930, in German), and from External Links: Life in Estonia (dead link), and Encyclopaedia Britannica, and History of Estonia (Country Studies).)

1710 - 1711

Russian general and first governor-general.

1711 - 1719

Also governor of Livonia.

1718

Construction begins on Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn, built on the orders of Peter the Great to serve as a summer residence near his naval port in the city. The work is initially handled by the Italian architect, Niccolo Michetti (see feature link).

This map shows the Nordic borders following the conclusion of the Great Northern War in 1721, after which large swathes of eastern territory changed hands (click or tap on map to view full sized)

1719 - 1728

Last of the governors-general in Estonia. Removed.

1721

The Great Northern War is ended with the Treaty of Nystad by which time Russia has already gained much influence in the duchy of Courland with the marriage of Princess Anna Ivanova (later empress in 1730) to the ruling duke. That duchy, plus Ingria, Estonia, and Livonia, are confirmed as Russian possessions. Large numbers of Ingrian Finns (not to be confused with Izhorian-speaking Ingrians) migrate back into Finland proper as Russia starts to impose its own rule on the region. Czar Peter is subsequently proclaimed 'Emperor of All Russia', although only Poland-Lithuania, Prussia, and Sweden recognise this claim.

1728 - 1736

Former deputy governor. Now (reduced) governor of Estonia.

1736 - 1738

Acting governor.

1738 - 1740

Swedish, but captured and 'became' Russian. Arrested.

1740 - 1743

Later a marshal of France.

1762 - 1783

A Swedish attempt to regain territory lost to Russia backfires in the Russo-Swedish War, which is part of the greater Austrian War of Succession. Also known as the Hats' Russian War, the Russian forces sweep the Swedes back to Helsinki where they surrender, and Finland is again occupied while peace negotiations rumble on. The Lesser Wrath, as this event is known, sees Sweden further diminished as a great power when it is forced to hand over the Finnish towns of Hamina and Lappeenranta, along with a strip of territory lying to the north-west of St Petersburg. The River Kymi is set as the new border.

1743 - 1753

Duke of Holstein-Beck. Returned to active service (1753).

1753 - 1758

Previously and later governor of Livonia (1751 & 1758).

1758 - 1775

Second term of office. Died 1775. Interim followed.

1762 - 1783

With an increase of direct Russian control of the Baltic states in mind, Catherine the Great orders Livonia to be administered directly by the governor-general of the Baltic Provinces, Count George Browne. Estonia is forced to follow suit in 1775. However, from 1783, Georg Friedrich von Grotenhielm begins to handle local matters.

The assassination of Czar Peter III and the seizure of the imperial throne by his widow, Catherine (pictured on the balcony at the time of her accession as czarina), resulted in a shift in Russian policy and in its administration of the Baltic Provinces

1783 - 1786

First regional governor since 1775. Retired due to illness.

1786 - 1797

Aged 60 in 1797. Retired? Died 1813.

1788 - 1790

Having secured the Swedish throne through force, Gustavus conducts two failed military campaigns in 1788-1790, first to capture Norway and then to recapture the Baltic Provinces from Russia.

1797 - 1808

Previously deputy governor (1786-1797).

1799

The Second Coalition is formed by Austria and Russia against France. It ends in Austrian defeat at the Battle of Marengo, which eventually secures the French client republics in the Netherlands and Italy.

1805

The Third Coalition is formed against France so, in a swift campaign, Napoleon marches east, occupies the Austrian capital of Vienna, and defeats large armies of Austrians and Russians at Austerlitz. The coalition lies in ruins.

1808 - 1809

Grandson of Frederick II Eugene of Württemberg. Died 1812.

1809 - 1811

On 3 August 1809, Peter von Oldenburg, a younger son of the grand duke of Oldenburg, marries Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna of Russia in order to keep her out of the hands of the now-divorced Napoleon Bonaparte of France. On the same day, Duke Peter is appointed governor-general of Russia's three central provinces of Novgorod, Tver, and Yaroslavl. The post of governor of Estonia is vacant for two years and later occupants are increasingly drawn from the local nobility.

1811 - 1816

Elder brother. Later grand duke of Oldenburg.

1812 - 1813

Incensed by Russia's refusal to join his blockade of Britain, Napoleon invades with one of the largest armies Europe has ever seen. Courland is captured, and Lithuania is occupied, and the French advance to Moscow. However, frustrated by the Russian policy of using the vast space of the country to defeat him, and perhaps unnerved by being ignored after his capture of Moscow, he is forced to retreat to Germany. In early 1813, Europe's armies mobilise against him, and a victory at Leipzig pushes the French back within their own borders.

French grenadiers of the line defend against an attack by Prussian infantry in the three-day Battle of Leipzig in October 1813, dubbed the 'Battle of the Nations' due to the number of states involved, in this 1914 painting by Richard Knötel

1816 - 1819

Head of the Estonian Knighthood (1806-1809).

1816 - 1819

The first real reforms in terms of serfdom, ones which give peasants some rights, has already taken place in 1804. Now, in 1816 and 1819, serfs are formally emancipated in Estland and Livland respectively, meaning that all Livonian and northern Estonian peasants are now, in effect, free men and women.

1819 - 1832

A Baltic-German.

1832 - 1833

A Baltic-German.

1833 - 1841

A Baltic-German.

1842 - 1859

A Baltic-Russian.

1859 - 1868

A Baltic-Russian. Married into the Essen family.

1861

The 'Emancipation Reform of 1861' - more literally known as the Peasants' Reform' - abolishes serfdom in the Russian empire. The act frees up to twenty-three million people. (Serfs living on state-owned lands are freed in 1866.)

The oldest sections of Tallinn's city wall - still largely extant - were built by the Danes in the thirteenth century (click or tap on image to view full sized)

1863

The period between 22 January 1863 to April 1865 witnesses the 'Second (January) Insurrection', or January Uprising in Poland. The uprising takes place across much of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, including Poland, Lithuania, the Baltic Provinces, Latgallia, and Livonia. Following this, Congress Poland is administered as an integral part of Russia.

1868 - 1870

Russian. Later governor of Saratov.

1870 - 1875

Russian. Later governor of Tambov.

1875 - 1885

Russian. Former deputy-governor.

1885 - 1894

Russian. Beginnings of Russification policy.

1894 - 1902

Russian. Oversaw completion of the Nevsky Cathedral.

1902 - 1905

Russian. Former deputy governor of Livonia.

1905

Estonia suffers bloody reprisals for its important role in a major revolt. In the same year the position of governor-general of Courland and Livonia, but not Estonia, is revived in the Baltic Provinces. (It is now five years since the newly-completed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn had been consecrated - see feature link.)

Situated opposite the Tallinn's modern parliament building, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was erected between 1894-1900 on a grass square which had previously held a memorial to Protestant reformist Martin Luther (click or tap on image to read more on a separate page).

1905

Accused of being too lenient with protestors. Dismissed.

1905 - 1906

Of Prusso-Courlandic descent.

1906 - 1907

Russian. Died 1919.

1907 - 1915

Former deputy governor of Courland.

1914

The position of special plenipotentiary for the civil administration of the Baltic Provinces of Livonia, Estonia and Courland is created. The first incumbent is given responsibility for Estonia and Livonia, but excluding the district of Riga in 1914, then Reval (Tallinn), Baltischport (Paldiski), and Dünamünde (Daugavgriva).

1915 - 1917

Last civil governor of Estonia. Independence followed.

1915 - 1918

Thanks to Russian First World War defeats of 1916 and 1917, the Baltic Provinces are conquered by Germany between 1915 (Courland) and 1918 (Estonia), much to the relief of the German-descended land-owning aristocracy.

In 1917, following the Russian Revolution, a new puppet Communist regime is appointed in Tallinn, but its authority fails to extend beyond the city. Instead, a semi-independent pro-German regime is established in the country.

The Baltic provinces are formally transferred to German authority by Russia in 1918 following the Treaties of Brest-Litovsk and of Berlin. However, Germany is in no position to enforce its power and Estonians quickly push for independence, creating the start of modern Estonia.