Duke of Estonia

The first Duke of Estonia [Also known as [http://books.google.com/books?lr=&q=%22Duke+of+Estland%22&btnG=Search+Books Duke of Estland] or [http://books.google.com/books?lr=&ei=7NnmSKvDM5KQzQTJnfWDAQ&q=%22Prince+of+Estonia%22&btnG=Search+Books Prince of Estonia] or [http://books.google.com/books?lr=&ei=7NnmSKvDM5KQzQTJnfWDAQ&q=%22Lord+of+Estonia%22&btnG=Search+Books Lord of Estonia] ] ( _da. Hertug af Estland ) was appointed in 1220 cite book |title=Danish Medieval History & Saxo Grammaticus |last=Skyum-Nielsen |first=Niels |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1981 |publisher=Museum Tusculanum Press |location= |isbn=9788788073300 |pages= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=EUFCkqua7dUC&pg=PA119] by Valdemar II after Danish conquest of Estonia during Livonian crusade. The title was resumed by the kings of Denmark since 1269. For the period of 1266-82 during the reign of Queen Dowager Margaret Sambiria the title "Lady of Estonia" (Latin:Domina Estonie) was used.

In 1332 after Christopher II died his elder son Otto inherited the title of the Duke of Estonia. Valdemar III assumed the title in 1338. [cite web |url=http://www.estonica.org/eng/lugu.html?menyy_id=993&kateg=43&alam=80 |title= Overture in Europe |accessdate=2008-10-05 |work= |publisher=estonica.org |date= ]

The Duke of Estonia rarely resided in Estonia. To govern the Duchy of Estonia the king of Denmark appointed together with royal counsellors the Lieutenant (Latin:Capitaneus) who resided in Reval. [cite book |title=The New Cambridge Medieval History |last=Michael |first=Jones |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2000 |publisher= |location= |isbn=9780521362900 |pages= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LOS1c0w91AcC&pg=RA1-PA718 ]

The king of Denmark sold the Duchy to Teutonic Order in 1346 but Christian I reassumed the title of duke of Estonia in 1456. [cite book |title=The Northern Crusades |last=Christiansen |first=Eric |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1997 |publisher=Penguin |location= |isbn=9780140266535 |pages= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=W02ZZFqP1JcC&q=%22Duke+of+Estonia%22&dq=%22Duke+of+Estonia%22&ei=_c_mSLSKIILeyASUvPXLAQ&pgis=1]

After the Livonian War Estonia became part of Swedish Empire and the title was gained by kings of Sweden. [cite book |title=Research Guide to European Historical Biography |last=Moncure |first=James |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1992 |publisher=University of Michigan |location= |isbn=9780933833289 |pages= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=dU8YAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Duke+of+Estonia%22&dq=%22Duke+of+Estonia%22&lr=&ei=7NnmSKvDM5KQzQTJnfWDAQ&pgis=1 ]

The title was resumed by the Russian tsars after the Great Northern War and Treaty of Nystad when Estonia became part of Russian Empire. The last Duke of Estonia ( _ru. Князь Эстляндский) was Nicholas II of Russia. [cite book |title=Russia as it Really is |last=Joubert |first=Carl |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1905 |publisher=E. Nash |location= |isbn= |pages= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=FhwEAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA296&dq=%22Duke+of+Estland%22]

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