Läänemaa

Infobox Former Country
native_name = Läänemaa
conventional_long_name = Rotalia
common_name = Läänemaa
continent = Europe
region = Estonia
year_start = Viking Age
year_end = 1224
date_start =
date_end =
event_start =
event_end =
p1 =
flag_p1=
s1 = Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights
flag_s1= Teuton flag.svg
s2 = Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek
flag_s2= Haapsalu coatofarms.png

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image_map_caption = Ancient Estonia in 1214.
religion= Estonian paganism, Thor cult
capital = Lihula
stat_area1 =
stat_pop1 =
stat_year1 =
stat_area2 =
stat_pop2 =
stat_year2 =
government_type =
title_leader= Elder
leader1 =
year_leader1 =
leader2 =
year_leader2 =
common_languages= Proto Estonian
currency =

Läänemaa (Latin: "Rotalia", "Maritima", Low German: "Wiek") was an independent country on the east coast of Baltic sea, bordered by Revala, Harjumaa, Alempois, and Sakala. Läänemaa had an area of approximately 1900 hides. Early in 1220 troops of Sweden, initially led by King John I, had invaded Läänemaa. The Swedish army took 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 Bjelbo, also remained in the castle. In August 8, 1220 the united Œselian and Rotalian army encircled the castle at dawn. The castle was set ablaze in the course of the fierce battle that ensued. Swedish troops tried to make their way out, but they were killed on site except for a few soldiers that succeeded in escaping to Kesoniemi 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 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 Bishop castle are still preserved in Haapsalu.

Parishes ("kilikunda"'s)

*Hanila
*Cozzo (Karuse)
*Corbe (Kõrve)
*Lihula
*Ridala
*Soontagan ()
*around Märjamaa

See also

*Battle of Lihula
*Battle of the Neva
*Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek
*Chronicle of Henry of Livonia
*Livonian Crusade
*Livonian Rhymed Chronicle
*Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights
*Rulers of Estonia
*Second Swedish Crusade

References

* Eesti Ajalugu I-II. 1997. "History of Estonia", AS BIT 2000, 2002. ISBN 9985-2-0606-1.

External links

* [http://www.miksike.ee/docs/elehed/6klass/3linnastumine/6-3-1-1.htm Kuidas elasid inimesed vanasti, möödunud sajandil ja praegu (Estonian)]
* [http://www.hot.ee/arheoloogmust/ 9. - 13. saj.pärinevad Eesti aardeleiud (Estonian)]
* [http://www.syg.edu.ee/oppematerjalid/U_Kiil_ajalugu/voorvoimud.html Eesti haldusjaotus ja võõrvõimude vaheldumine läbi aegade (Estonian)]
* [http://www.virtsu.ee/ajalugu/esiajalugu.html Virtsu ajalugu]