Sakala County

Infobox Former Subdivision
native_name = Sakala
common_name = Sakala
subdivision = county
nation = Ancient Estonia
capital = Viljandi
event_start =
year_start = ?
event_end =
year_end = 1224
p1 =
s1 = Bishopric of Dorpat

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image_map_caption =
common_languages = Proto-South Estonian dialects

Sakala County (Estonian: "Sakala", Latin: Saccalia) [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=XKWRct15XfkC&dq Historical Dictionary of Estonia; p.63 ISBN 0810849046] ] was an ancient Estonian county [p31, "History of Estonia", 2nd Ed., Tõnu Tannberg, et al. AS Bit 2002, ISBN 9985206061] , first mentioned in print by Henry of Livonia in the beginning of the 13th Century [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=FmJnyTlis7oC&dq The Chronicle of Henry of Livonia; ISBN 0231128894] ] .

It is situated in north-western Livonia, covering approximately the present territories of Viljandi, the southern half of Pärnu, and a western third of Valga maakond.

Kievan rule of Ugaunia may have lasted until 1061, when, according to Old East Slavic chronicles, the town of Tharbata/Yuryev (Tartu) was burned down by "Sosols", who were probably either Sackalians or the people of Soopoolitse.

After the Livonian Crusade the county became a part of the Livonian Confederation.

In Sackalian folklore, the neighbouring Ugaunians ("ugalased") were enemy warriors and robbers. For instance, a folk song from Viljandi (the capital of Sackalia) calls for speeding up the harvest work because Ugaunians might attack. Fact|date=October 2007

See also

*List of Estonian rulers

References