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| Est(h)oniaEesti, Eestimaa | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autonomous Governorate of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Russia | |||||||||||
| 1917–1918 | |||||||||||
Flag
Coat of arms of Estonia
Coat of arms
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 Estland was located approximately on the later territory of Estonia (above, green), declared February 23, 1918. | |||||||||||
| Capital | Tallinn | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| • Established | April 12, 1917 (autonomy) 1917 | ||||||||||
| • Disestablished | February 24, 1918 (de jure) March 4, 1918 (de facto) 1918 | ||||||||||
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Estonia (also Estland, Template:Lang-et, Low German: Ehstland, Template:Lang-ru) as an unified and separate political entity first emerged as a result of the Russian Revolution of 1917. For most of its history, Estonia was divided between two states or provinces. The Reval Governorate in the north corresponded to the historic Estland (Eestimaa). Most Estonians however lived in Livonia. After the February Revolution of 1917, the Reval Governorate was extended on April 12 (March 30 Old Style) to include the native Estonian areas of northern Livonia. The Russian Provisional Government also granted national autonomy to Estonia.
Elections for a provisional parliament, Maapäev was organized, with the Menshevik and Bolshevik fractions of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party becoming the largest parties. On November 5, 1917, two days before the October Revolution in Saint Petersburg, Estonian Bolshevik leader Jaan Anvelt led his leftist insurgents to a coup in Tallinn, then the capital of Estland, and took political power in governate from governor Jaan Poska at November 9. On November 28 (November 15) 1917 the Menshevik dominated Maapäev, refusing to recognize the new Bolshevik rule, proclaimed itself the supreme legal authority of Estonia. It was soon however disbanded by the the Bolsheviks. In 1918, elections for a Constitutional Assembly were arranged, anti-Bolshevik parties again winning the majority.
In February, after the collapse of the peace talks between Soviet Russia and the German Empire, mainland Estonia was occupied by the Germans. Bolshevik forces retreated to Russia. On 23 February 1918, one day before German forces entered Tallinn, the Elders of the Maapäev emerged from underground and made a formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Estonia. Although it took nearly 9 months for Estonia to be liberated from German occupation, this date is still celebrated as Estonia's independence day.
See also
References
External links
- Jaan Anwelt
- Tartu rahu sepistaja Jaan Poska väärib monumenti (Estonian)
- On 28 November 1917, the Estonian Diet (the Maapäev) declared itself fee supreme power in Estonia.
- On 28 November 1917, the Land council proclaimed itself the highest power in Estonia...
- On This Day - 28 November 1917
- Though the popularly elected Provisional National Council, had proclaimed itself the highest authority in Estonia as early as 28 November 1917...