St. George's Night Uprising, or Estonian Revolt of 1343-45
Years: 1343 - 1346
The St. George’s Night Uprising denotes a series of unsuccessful rebellions in 1343-1345 by the indigenous Estonian-speaking population in the Duchy of Estonia, the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek, and the insular territories of the State of the Teutonic Order to rid themselves of the Danish and German rulers and landlords, who had conquered the country in the thirteenth century during the Livonian crusade, and to eradicate the non-indigenous Christian religion.
It is arguably the single most notable uprising of Estonian-speakers against the local German-speaking upper class, which dominates Estonia from the thirteenth to early twentieth century.After initial success, the revolt is ended by the invasion of the Teutonic Order.
In 1346 the Duchy of Estonia is sold for nineteen thousand Köln marks by the King of Denmark to the Teutonic Order.
The shift of sovereignty from Denmark to the State of the Teutonic Order takes place on November 1, 1346.
