The Valjala Stronghold ( la, Castrum Waldia, et, Valjala Maalinn) was a major

ringfort Ringforts, ring forts or ring fortresses are circular fortified settlements that were mostly built during the Bronze Age up to about the year 1000. They are found in Northern Europe, especially in Ireland. There are also many in South Wales ...

on the island of

Saaremaa Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring . The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island and west of Muhu island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago. The capital of the island i ...

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

. Established in the 12th century, at the time it was the most important

Oeselian Oeselians ( la, Oesel, , sv, Ösel, da, Øsel, fi, Saarenmaa) is a term historically applied before the Northern Crusades up to the 13th century to people who were living on the island of Saaremaa or Oesel as it was known back then, an island ...

stronghold. Its surrender in 1227 finalized the crusader conquest of Estonia.

History

The Valjala Stronghold was founded in the 12th century, and by the time of the crusades had become the main fortress of the island of

. Valk 2014, p. 343 It was a

with a

courtyard A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary ...

area of , and the only stone castle on Saaremaa. Valk 2014, p. 355 Tamm & Kaljundi 2016, p. 329 The nearby

Lõve River Lõve River is a river in Saare County, Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the ...

was an actively used waterway for the Oeselians.

Henry of Livonia Henry of Latvia ( la, Henricus de Lettis, german: Heinrich von Lettland, lv, Latviešu Indriķis, et, Läti Henrik; 1187 – after 1259), also known in the English-speaking world as Henry of Livonia, was a priest, missionary and historian. ...

referred to the leaders of Valjala as ''nobiles'', a term usually reserved for the Western European nobility. He also stressed the stronghold's importance, describing it as follows: In January 1227 the

Livonian Brothers of the Sword german: Schwertbrüderordenfrench: Ordre des Chevaliers Porte-Glaive , image= , caption= , dates=1204–1237 , country= Terra Mariana , allegiance= Catholic Church , garrison= Wenden (Cēsis), Fellin (Viljandi), Segewold (Sigulda). Aschera ...

organized a major invasion against Saaremaa, marching an army of 20,000 men over the frozen sea. The stronghold of

Muhu Muhu (also called Muhumaa in Estonian), is an island in the West Estonian archipelago of the Baltic Sea. With an area of it is the third largest island belonging to Estonia, after Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. Together with neighbouring smaller is ...

was attacked first and completely destroyed. The crusader army then laid siege to Valjala, plundering the island in the process. The defenders of the Valjala Stronghold surrendered and accepted Christianity. Raukas et al. 2009, p. 75 Tamm & Kaljundi 2016, p. 295 This surrender concluded the crusaders’ conquest of Estonia. Raukas et al. 2009, pp. 85–86 A mass baptism was organized and a stone chapel was built about northwest from the stronghold, marking the starting point of the sacred architectural history in Estonia. Excavation results, including finds of iron nails, indicate that the stronghold remained in use after the crusade. It was probably demolished, possibly after failed rebellions of 1236–1241 or 1260–1261.

Excavations

The stronghold ruins were first excavated in 1895 by Sergei Bogojavlenski and P. P. Stackelberg. Between 1962 and 1964 a team led by Aita Kustin conducted excavations, discovering multiple building foundations and stove floors. Archaeological finds from the stronghold included crusader crossbow bolts from the 1227 siege.

Today

The stronghold is located about south from

Valjala Valjala is a small borough (') in Saare County, Estonia, on the island of Saaremaa Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring . The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island and west o ...

. It is slightly oval shaped, having a diameter about by . The height of the walls is inside and outside. The courtyard includes a limestone-lined well.

References

Bibliography

* * * * * {{Refend Livonian Crusade Castles in Estonia Saaremaa Parish Buildings and structures in Saaremaa Ruined castles in Estonia Tourist attractions in Saare County Buildings and structures completed in the 12th century

History

Excavations

Today

See also

References

Bibliography