Tallinn

  • First Mentioning
    Jan 1, 1154

    First Mentioning

    Tallinn was first mentioned by the Arab geographer al-Idrisi
  • First reliable mentioning
    Apr 8, 1219

    First reliable mentioning

    The first reliable account of Tallinn's history comes from The Chronicle of Latvian Henrik, wherein Henrik describes the landing of the Danish fleet, led by King Valdemar II, in June of 1219.
  • Brotherhood of the Swords
    Apr 8, 1227

    Brotherhood of the Swords

    Temporarily gaining power from the Danes, the enigmatic Order of the Brotherhood of the Swords governed Tallinn from 1227 to 1238
  • Period: Apr 8, 1227 to Apr 8, 1238

    Brotherhood of the Sword

    Temporarily gaining power from the Danes, the enigmatic Order of the Brotherhood of the Swords governed Tallinn from 1227 to 1238
  • Arrival of German merchants
    Apr 8, 1230

    Arrival of German merchants

    Around 1230, German merchants from Gotland were invited to Tallinn by the Brotherhood, and their arrival is today considered an important addition to Tallinn's population, which was predominantly German for centuries
  • Niguliste Church
    Apr 8, 1230

    Niguliste Church

    Most of the significant places of worship were built in the 13th century - Niguliste Church
  • St. Catherine's convent.
    Apr 8, 1240

    St. Catherine's convent.

    St. Catherine's convent.
  • Hanseatic League
    Apr 8, 1248

    Hanseatic League

    In 1248, Tallinn became a member of the Hanseatic League, a mercantile and military alliance of German-dominated cities in Northern Europe.
  • Oleviste
    Apr 8, 1267

    Oleviste

    Most of the significant places of worship were built in the 13th century - Oleviste Church .
  • German Roman Catholic Order
    Apr 8, 1350

    German Roman Catholic Order

    In the middle of the 14th century, due to a lack of cashflow, the King of Denmark decided to sell his piddly holdings in northern Estonia to the German Roman Catholic Order, the Teutonic Knights.
  • Construction boom
    Apr 8, 1425

    Construction boom

    Medieval Tallinn was one of the best-fortified cities in Europe. The town wall was contructed in the 14th century with 66 defense towers adorning it (today only 20 remain). The major boom in town construction (resulting in most of the fine medieval facades that visitors will still see there today) hit Tallinn in the 15th century