House of the Noble Corporation of Estonia - the Estländische Ritterschaft
Welcome to Tallinn Old Town tour.
Our first station is the house of the Noble Corporation of Estonia. It was built in Neorenaissance style from 1846-1848.
The Noble Corporation of Estonia was initially formed as a community of interests of German vassals in the Northern Estonian provinces of Harrien (Estonian Harju) and Wierland (Virumaa). Its existence was documented first in 1252 while the territory was still under Danish reign. With the course of time the Noble Corporation transformed into a political entity representing the entire country, including the Estonian peasant population, but excluding the cities.
Interestingly the Noble Corporation of Estonia maintained its important role in society throughout the period of Swedish and Russian rule. By each sovereign it was granted extensive privileges until the early 20th century and was thus largely self-administrating with wide-ranging autonomy for the administration of the land and the application of law to its German and Estonian population.
Moreover, its privileges also guaranteed the practice of the Protestant-Lutheran faith and the use of German as the administrative language.
Address: Kiriku plats 1