The Reformation saw the mass conversion of both Estonians and their German-speaking masters to Protestantism, fatally weakening the Livonian Order. In 1556 the Swedes captured Tallinn. Over the next four decades they fought both the Order and Russian invaders from the East before establishing control over the whole of Estonia. The ensuing century was remembered as the “Good Swedish Times” by the Estonians: Swedish rule was generally characterised by growing prosperity and the rule of law.

This golden age came to an end with the Great Northern War of 1700-1721, a titanic struggle between Sweden and Russia that saw Russian Tsar Peter the Great take control of Estonia and neighbouring Latvia.

Russian rule left Estonia’s German-speaking aristocracy in its place, providing its members were loyal to the Tsar. A stratified culture of German landlords, Russian imperial administrators and Estonian peasants prevailed, with Neo-feudal restrictions ensuring that the landlords got richer at the peasantry’s expense.