Sakala County
County of Sakala Sakala Maakond | |
|---|---|
| 11th century–1224 | |
 | |
| Common languages | Estonian |
| Government | County |
| Elder | |
• unknown-1217 | Lembitu |
| History | |
• Established | 11th century |
• Disestablished | 1224 |
Sakala County (Estonian: Sakala, Latin: Saccalia)[1] was an ancient Estonian county [2] that was first mentioned in print by Henry of Latvia in the early 13th century.[3]
Geography
[edit | edit source]Sakala County is in northwestern Livonia, covering approximately the present counties of Viljandi, the southern half of Pärnu and the western third of Valga County. It was the southernmost of the ancient Estonian counties.
History
[edit | edit source]According to one hypothesis, the tribe of Sosols mentioned in Old East Slavic chronicles implies the people of Sakala. The chronicles say that Kievan Rus organized military campaign against Sosols in 1060 and taxed them. A year later, Sosols rose, destroyed Kievan Rus Fort in Tartu and tried to attack Pskov.[4]
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 the Ugaunians might attack.[citation needed]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Historical Dictionary of Estonia; p.63 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ p31, History of Estonia, 2nd Ed., Tõnu Tannberg, et al. AS Bit 2002, Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ The Chronicle of Henry of Livonia Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).