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Viljandi
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Viljandi_flagpng
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Viljandi_coatofarmspng
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Viljandi County
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Peep Aru
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1462
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20,422
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2004
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1,3968
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58°22′ N 25°36′ E
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58_22_N_25_36_E_
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Viljandi_in_Estoniajpg
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(historical
German name ''Fellin'') is a
Town and
Municipality in southern
Estonia . It is the
Capital of
Viljandi County . The town was first mentioned in
1283 , upon being granted its town charter by
Villekinus De Endorpe .
In
1211 the hill-fort of the
Estonians in Viljandi was besieged by a joint army of
Germans ,
Latvians , and
Livs . The Livonian
Sword Brethren captured the hill-fort in August
1223 from a contingent of
Russians , who joint forces with the insurgent Estonians. The following year the Grand Master
Volquin led the construction of the
Castle at the site of the former hill-fort. The Viljandi (Fellin) castle was one of the largest in the
Baltic Region . It was a major fortification of the
Livonian Order and was appointed a commander from
1248 . The fortress was continually rebuilt and modernized over the next two-hundred years.
In
1283 , the town received a charter from Villekinus de Endorpe, the master of the Order. The town became a member of the
Hanseatic League at the beginning of the
14th Century , and today is one of five Estonian towns and cities in the league.
In
1470 ,
Johann Wolthus Von Herse , then master of the order, took up residence in the castle. In
1481 ,
Ivan II Of Russia laid siege to the castle but could not take it. However, during the
Livonian War the
Russian Empire succeeded in seizing it in
1560 . During the
Polish-Swedish War at the beginning of the
17th Century the castle changed hands several times and fell into ruins. The same goes for the town, which was deprived of its privileges.
After the
Great Northern War the Russians revoked local autonomy until
1783 , when in the course of the regency reforms of the Empress
Catherine The Great Viljandi became a district town. This involved the re-establishment of town bylaws. The economic and political importance of Viljandi started to increase. The population, after decreasing in population and wealth, started to rise again, as handicraft, trading, and cultural life were revived.
The popular Estonian
Newspaper ''
Sakala '' was founded in Viljandi in
1878 .
Famous for
Viljandi Folk Festival
