Misplaced Pages

#113886

32-619: The County Government ( Estonian : Maavalitsus ) is led by a governor ( Estonian : maavanem ), who is appointed by the Government of Estonia for a term of five years. Since 15 December 2011, the governorship has been held by Innar Mäesalu. The county is subdivided into municipalities . There is one urban municipality, Haapsalu ( Estonian : linn – town) and 2 rural municipalities ( Estonian : vallad – parishes) in Lääne County. Religion in Lääne County (2021) [1] In

64-407: A choirboy and remained a secret for a long time, but when the bishop visited Haapsalu again, the young singer caught his attention and he ordered an investigation of the singer's sex . Upon finding the girl, the bishop summoned his council and it decided that the girl should be immured in the wall of the chapel and the canon was to be put in prison, where he was starved to death. The builders left

96-585: A few who succeeded in escaping to Tallinn , held by Denmark . The Jarl, the Bishop, and almost 500 other Swedes were killed, leaving no Swedish presence in Estonia at all. The short-lived Swedish attempt to gain foothold in Estonia was motivated by the quickly advancing Danish and Low German crusaders who had been able to conquer most of the area in the early 13th century. Defeat in the Battle of Lihula discouraged

128-691: Is a castle with cathedral in Haapsalu, Estonia , founded in the thirteenth century as the seat of the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek . According to legend, during full moons in August, an image of a maiden, The White Lady, appears on the inner wall of the chapel. In 1228, the Archbishop of Riga , Albert of Riga formed a new diocese consisting of Läänemaa , Saaremaa and Hiiumaa and designated Gottfried, an abbot of Dünamünde Cistercian monastery, as

160-471: Is said to appear on the inner wall of the chapel. During the reign of Ösel-Wiek Bishop, every canon was supposed to lead a chaste and virtuous life according to the rules of the monastery. Access of women to the Episcopal Castle was forbidden with threat of death. A legend tells that a canon fell in love with an Estonian girl and secretly brought the maiden into the castle. She hid by dressing as

192-534: The Great Northern War , ending circa 1721. In 1793 were formed Võru County in the south of Tartumaa, Viljandi County between Tartu and Pärnu counties, and Paldiski County in the west of Harjumaa. In 1796 Paldiski County was joined with Harjumaa again. Until 1888 Võrumaa and Viljandimaa were not wholly independent from Tartumaa and Pärnumaa, respectively. Several changes were made to the borders of counties after Estonia became independent, most notably

224-486: The Lihula stronghold and set up a small garrison . Swedish Jarl Karl Döve and Bishop Karl Magnusson of Linköping , both from the powerful House of Bjälbo , also remained in the castle. On August 8, 1220 the united Œselian and Rotalian armies encircled the castle at dawn. It was set ablaze in the course of the fierce battle that ensued. The Swedish troops tried to make their way out, but were killed on site apart from

256-742: The 13th century the following major districts had developed in Estonia: Saaremaa (Osilia), Läänemaa (Rotalia or Maritima), Harjumaa (Harria), Rävala ( Revalia ), Virumaa ( Vironia ), Järvamaa (Jervia), Sakala (Saccala), and Ugandi ( Ugaunia ). Läänemaa ( Latin : Rotalia, Maritima , Low German : Wiek ) was an independent country on the east coast of the Baltic Sea , bordered by Revala , Harjumaa , Alempois , and Sakala . Läänemaa had an area of approximately 1900 hides . Early in 1220 troops from Sweden , initially led by King John I , had invaded Läänemaa. The Swedish army took

288-461: The 13th century, later used as a bell tower. The walls were later raised to 15 metres (49 ft). The inner trenches and blindages, which were built for cannons and as a shelter from bombing, date back to the Livonian War (1558–1582), during which the stronghold was severely damaged. The walls of the small castle and the outer fortification were left partly destroyed. In the 17th century,

320-411: The 19th century, the reconstruction of the ruins into a romantic castle park was started. In 1886–1889, the church was renovated and rebuilt. The ruined Romanesque-style portal was replaced by the pseudo-Gothic "stepped portal", the extant fragments of the wall paintings were covered over, and the tombstones were taken out of the church. On October 15, 1889, the first service dedicated to Saint Nicholas

352-540: The German conquest in 1227, Lääne County became the center of the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek , an independent principality within the Livonian Confederation . Parts of Bishop's castle are still preserved in Haapsalu . 58°55′N 23°45′E  /  58.917°N 23.750°E  / 58.917; 23.750 County Governments of Estonia The counties of Estonia ( Eesti maakonnad ) are

SECTION 10

#1732781191114

384-759: The Swedish expansion to Estonia for more than 300 years, and the country was left for the Teutonic Knights , Low German Bishops and Denmark to divide. In the meantime, Sweden focused on Finland and the Swedish-Novgorodian Wars . After the Livonian Crusade Läänemaa became the main territory of the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek , an independent Bishopric. Parts of the Bishop's castle are still preserved in Haapsalu . After

416-421: The architecture changing according to the development of weapons. The stronghold achieved its final dimensions – area of more than 30,000 square metres, thickness of the wall between 1.2 and 1.8 meters (3.9 and 5.9 ft), and maximum height over 10 metres (33 ft) – under the reign of Bishop Johannes IV Kievel (1515–1527). The western side of the castle houses a 29-metre (95 ft) watchtower dating from

448-721: The bishop. The bishopric was created as a state of the Holy Roman Empire on 1 October 1228, by Henry , King of the Romans . Papal legate Wilhelm of Modena fixed these borders permanently in 1234. The first residence of the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek was located in Lihula Castle , where with the help of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword , a stronghold was built of stone. In an attempt to avoid conflicts with

480-666: The castle was no longer used as a defensive building by the Swedes who now ruled the Swedish Estonian Province . In the course of the Great Northern War in 1710, Estonia fell under Russian rule and the walls were partially demolished at the command of the Peter I of Russia , turning the castle in effect into ruins. The Cathedral of Haapsalu was a cathedral (i.e. the main church) of the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek, where

512-590: The current and historical (pre-1940) layouts, the historical borders are still used in ethnology, better representing cultural and linguistic differences. County governments were abolished at the end of 2017, with their duties split between state authorities and local governments. Nowadays counties have no noteworthy independent competences, but local governments are required by law to work together in developing their county. Haapsalu Castle Haapsalu Castle (also Haapsalu Episcopal Castle , Estonian : Haapsalu piiskopilinnus , or more simply Bishop's Castle )

544-402: The dilapidated stronghold into a modern castle. Arent Passer , a well-known sculptor and master builder, was invited as a consultant. On March 23, 1688, the sheet-copper roof of the church was destroyed in a fire, but the church was restored relatively quickly. The storm in 1726 destroyed the roof again. The decreased congregation could not afford the renovation and moved to the town church. In

576-451: The first centuries AD political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge in Estonia. Two larger subdivisions appeared: the parish ( Estonian : kihelkond ) and the county ( Estonian : maakond ). A parish consisted of several villages. Nearly all parishes had at least one fortress. The defense of the local area was directed by the highest official, the parish elder. A county was composed of several parishes, also headed by an elder. By

608-423: The formation of Valga County (from parts of Võru, Tartu and Viljandi counties) and Petseri County (area acquired from Russia with the 1920 Tartu peace treaty). During Soviet rule, Petseri County became a part of Russia in 1945. Hiiumaa seceded from Läänemaa in 1946, Jõgevamaa from Tartumaa in 1949 and Jõhvimaa (modern Ida-Virumaa ) from Virumaa in 1949. Counties were completely dissolved in 1950 as Estonian SSR

640-414: The influential Order, the Bishop transferred the diocese's residence to Perona , where it was burned by Lithuanians ten years later. A new center for the diocese was chosen in Haapsalu , where an Episcopal stronghold and cathedral were started. Construction of the castle continued for three centuries. The building, widening and reconstruction of the stronghold went on throughout several centuries, with

672-489: The local area was directed by the highest official, the parish elder. The county was composed of several parishes, also headed by an elder. By the 13th century the following major counties had developed in Estonia: Saaremaa (Osilia), Läänemaa (Rotalia or Maritima), Harjumaa (Harria), Rävala (Revalia), Virumaa (Vironia), Järvamaa (Jervia), Sakala (Saccala), and Ugandi (Ugaunia). Additionally there were several smaller elderships in central Estonia where danger of war

SECTION 20

#1732781191114

704-647: The name of an Estonian town Lindanisse, later Tallinn . Ugandi, Sakala and the smaller elderships disappeared from common usage. In the 1580s, after the Livonian war as Sweden had conquered Northern Estonia, Harju, Järva, Lääne and Viru counties were officially formed there. Southern Estonia, which belonged to Poland 1582–1625, was divided into voivodships of Pärnu and Tartu; the island of Saaremaa belonged to Denmark until 1645. They all became counties as they went under Swedish rule. This administrative system mostly remained as Estonia went under Russian rule due to

736-465: The ones having established the cathedral in Haapsalu and having provided our canons with the appropriate dwellings and income, determined a certain site to be a town, where everybody who has chosen it as their place of living together with us, could gather and find shelter there; and if needed would be able to defend the church with all the means at their disposal." Built in 1260, the church belongs to

768-595: The state administrative subdivisions of Estonia . Estonian territory is composed of 15 counties, including 13 on the mainland and 2 on islands. County governments ( maavalitsus ) were abolished at the end of 2017, with their duties split between state authorities and local governments, and nowadays counties have no noteworthy independent competences. Counties are composed of municipalities of two types: urban municipalities or towns ( linnad ), and rural municipalities or parishes ( vallad ), which are by law required to cooperate in development of their county. As of 2023,

800-451: The sum total of the population figures in the table below is 42,644 km , of which the land area is 42,388 km , so that 256 km of water is included in the figures. In the first centuries AD, political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge in Estonia. Two larger subdivisions appeared: the parish (kihelkond) and the county (maakond). The parish consisted of several villages. Nearly all parishes had at least one fortress. The defence of

832-516: The throne, the official chair of the Bishop, was situated and where the Chapter of the Bishopric worked. It is the biggest single-naved church in the Baltic countries, with its 15.5-metre (51 ft)-high domical vaults and an area of 425 m (4,575 sq ft). The first written record of the church is the charter of Haapsalu where Bishop Hermann I , the founder of the town wrote: "...we,

864-477: The transition period from Romanesque to Gothic architecture . The first is characterized by the plant ornament of the capital of the pilasters and the second by three star (asteroid) vaults. The portal was also originally Romanesque – the wimperg on the round arch had a niche with the figure of the patron saint. The inner walls were covered with paintings, the floor consisting of the gravestones of clergymen and distinguished noblemen. A unique round baptismal chapel

896-618: Was built in the second half of the 14th century. During the Livonian War , Estonia became part of the Lutheran Swedish kingdom . The Catholic Dome Church became a church with a Lutheran congregation and was then called the Castle Church. In 1625, the Swedish King Gustav II Adolf sold the town of Haapsalu, the castle and the nearby land property to Count Jacob De la Gardie , who planned to turn

928-466: Was divided into raions ( rajoonid ) and (until 1953) oblasts . Until the 1960s, the borders of raions often changed until 15 of them were left. Out of them, Põlva and Rapla regions became separate, while the others were roughly corresponding to the pre-1950 counties. Counties were re-established on 1 January 1990 in the borders of the Soviet-era raions . Due to the numerous differences between

960-566: Was empty for years; for some time it was used for storing grain, and even plans for turning it into a swimming-pool were made. On Mother's Day of 1992, a Mother's Altar to commemorate Estonian mothers killed during the Soviet occupation was consecrated. The statue of the Virgin and the Child was made by the sculptor Hille Palm . On full moon nights in August an image of a maiden, The White Lady,

992-429: Was held. The Soviet occupation in 1940 led to the closing of the church. During World War II , services were continued, but in the spring of 1944 hooligans broke into the church and destroyed the altar with the altarpiece, the organ, the chairs and the windows. In 1946, the congregation asked the Soviet government to list the cathedral as a protected historical monument, but it failed to raise their interest. The church

Lääne County - Misplaced Pages Continue

1024-729: Was smaller – Vaiga , Mõhu , Nurmekund and Alempois . The exact number and borders of some elderships are disputed. The first documented mentioning of Estonian political and administrative subdivisions comes from the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia , written in the 13th century during the Northern Crusades . The autonomy of the Estonian counties and parishes ended after conquered and divided between Denmark , Livonian Order , Bishopric of Dorpat and Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek . The name of Rävala became Reval, replacing

#113886