# Timeline of Estonian history

This is a timeline of Estonian history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Estonia and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Estonia. See also the list of rulers of Estonia.

## BC (Before Common-era)

| Year | Date | Event |
| 3,000 BC | | Finno-Ugric peoples (ancestors of Estonians) started to move from eastern Europe to northeastern coast of Baltic Sea. |

## 1st century

| Year | Date | Event |
| 98 | | Roman historian Tacitus writes in the book Germania about aesti tribes. |

## 6th century

| Year | Date | Event |
| 600 | | Vikings from Gotland sail to Hiiumaa (Dagö) island and build a fortification there. |
| 600 | | King Ingvar of Sweden invades Estonia, but is killed. His son Anund avenges his father and raids the country. |

## 8th century

| Year | Date | Event |
| 800 | | Estonians participate in the Battle of Brávellir on the side of the Swedes and against the Danes. |

## 10th century

| Year | Date | Event |
| 967 | | Olaf Tryggvason, the future King of Norway, is captured by Estonian vikings, and sold as a slave. |
| 972 | | A battle between Estonian and Icelandic Vikings in Saaremaa. |

## 11th century

| Year | Event |
| 1008 | Olaf Haraldsson, the future King of Norway, wins a battle in Saaremaa. |
| 1030 | Prince Yaroslav the Wise of Kiev defeats Chuds and founds a fort named Yuryev (modern Tartu). |
| 1050 | Estonians started trading and raiding Viking expeditions over Baltic Sea to Sweden. |
| 1061 | Sosols (Estonian tribe) destroy the Yuryev castle and attack Pskov. |

## 12th century

| Year | Event |
| 1113 | Prince Mstislav I of Kiev wins a battle against the Chuds (Estonians or people related to Estonians). |
| 1116 | Prince Mstislav of Kiev, aided by Pskov and Novgorod, makes a raid against the Chuds and conquers the Otepää stronghold. |
| 1132 | Prince Vsevolod of Novgorod is defeated by Estonians of Vaiga county. |
| 1134 | Prince Vsevold of Novgorod fights against the Chuds and briefly captures the fortification of Tartu (Yuryev). |
| 1154 | Arab geographer Al Idrisi mentions Estonian places, also marking the foundation of Tallinn. |
| 1165 | The Benedictine bishop Fulco is named Bishop of the Estonians by the Archbishop of Lund. |
| 1170 | Valdemar I of Denmark fights with Curonian and Estonian pirates near Öland island. |
| 1171 (or 1169–1170) | Bishop Fulco makes a missionary journey to Estonia. |
| 1177 | Fulco second missionary journey to Estonia. |
| 1177 | Estonians attack and burn Pskov during winter. |
| 1187 | Estonians, Karelians or/and Karelians ravage the Mälaren area in Sweden, pillage town of Sigtuna, and kill the archbishop Johannes. |
| 1191 | Cistercian monk Theoderich, future Bishop of Estonia, makes an unsuccessful missionary journey to Estonia. |
| 1192 | Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich of Novgorod makes two raids against Estonians, burning down the Tartu and Otepää strongholds. |
| 1193 | Pope Celestine III calls for a crusade against pagans in Northern Europe. |
| 1200 | Bishop Albert and his crusaders capture Riga in Latvia. |

## 13th century

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1202 | | Pope Innocent III declares Crusade to Christianize Old Livonia. The crusader Livonian Brothers of the Sword are founded. |
| 1203 | | Saaremaa islanders ravage areas of Southern Sweden, then belonging to Denmark. The returning pirates skirmish with the German settlers of Riga near the town of Visby in Gotland. |
| 1206 | | Valdemar II of Denmark builds a fortress in Saaremaa, but burns it down after finding no volunteers to man it. |
| 1207 | | The Terra Mariana ("Land of St Mary) is established as the political unit of crusaders in Livonia. |
| 1208 | | Sword Brothers, Letts and Livs invade Sakala and Ugandi in Southern Estonia, starting the Estonian Ancient Fight for Freedom (1208-1227). |
| 1209 | | Sword Brothers and Letts attack Ugandi. |
| 1210 | | Estonians besiege the Cēsis stronghold in Latvia. |
| 1210 | | Estonians defeat the Sword Brothers and Livs in the Battle of Ümera in Latvia. |
| 1210 | | Pskov and Novgorod troops besiege the Otepää stronghold. |
| 1210-1211 | | First recorded plague in Estonia. |
| 1211 | | Pskov troops raid Western Estonia. |
| 1211 | Summer | Estonians are defeated by Sword Brothers in the Battle of Turaida in Latvia. |
| 1211 | | Sword Brothers are defeated by Estonians in the Battle of Viljandi. |
| 1211 | | Estonians raid crusader areas in Latvia. |
| 1211 | | Three-year truce between Estonians and Germans is signed at Turaida. |
| 1212 | | Russian troops besiege the Varbola Stronghold. |
| 1212 | | Troops from Sakala, led by Lembitu of Lehola, burn Pskov. |
| 1213 | | Lithuanians raid the Sakala area. |
| 1215 | | Sword Brothers defeat Estonians in the Battle of Lehola. |
| 1215 | | Troops from Saaremaa besiege Riga. |
| 1215 | | Troops from Sakala raid crusader areas in Latvia. |
| 1216 | | Pskov troops capture the Otepää stronghold. |
| 1217 | February | Sword Brothers are defeated by Estonians and Russians in the Battle of Otepää. |
| 1217 | 21 September | Sword Brothers, Latgalians and Livs defeat Estonians in the Battle of St. Matthew's Day, where the Estonian leader Lembitu of Lehola is killed. |
| 1219 | 15 June | Valdemar II of Denmark conquers Tallinn in the Battle of Lindanise and builds the Toompea Castle. |
| 1220 | 8 August | John I of Sweden invades Läänemaa, but is defeated by troops from Saaremaa in the Battle of Lihula. |
| 1221 | | Estonians besiege Tallinn. |
| 1222 | | The invading Danish troops are defeated by Estonians in Saaremaa. |
| 1223 | 29 January | Estonians defeat the Sword Brothers in the Battle of Viljandi and the entire Southern Estonia is liberated. |
| 1223 | | Estonians are defeated by Sword Brothers in Ümera, Latvia. |
| 1223 | | Pskov and Novgorod troops raid most of mainland Estonia. |
| 1224 | 15 August | Sword Brothers capture the Tartu stronghold from joint Estonian and Russian troops - mainland Estonia falls to the crusaders. |
| 1224 | | The Bishopric of Dorpat is established in Southeastern Estonia. |
| 1227 | January | Sword Brothers conquer stronghold of Muhu, and last pagan stronghold of Valjala surrenders. |
| 1227 | | Sword Brothers conquer Northern Estonia from Denmark. |
| 1228 | 1 October | The Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek is established in Western Estonia. |
| 1234 | | Pskov and Novgorod troops invade the Bishopric of Dorpat, that is forced to pay tribute for four years. |
| 1234 | | De Lode brothers in Kullamaa Parish refuse to recognize the new Bishop of Ösel-Wiek. |
| 1236 | 22 September | Sword Brothers are defeated by Samogitians in the Battle of Saule. Saaremaa islanders rebel against German rule. |
| 1237 | | Livonian Brothers of the Sword merge into the Teutonic Order and become known as the Livonian Order, autonomous of the Teutonic Order State. |
| 1238 | | The Livonian Order helps restore the power of the Bishop of Ösel Wiek in Kullamaa Parish. |
| 1239 | | The Liber Census Daniae is compiled. The book also gives first recorded data on northern Estonia. |
| 1242 | 5 April | The Livonian Order and Estonians are defeated by Novgorod in the Battle of the Ice. |
| 1249 | | St. Michael's Convent is founded in Tallinn. |
| 1251 | | first mentioning of a school in Estonia (the cathedral school in Pärnu). |
| 1268 | 18 February | Pskov and Novgorod defeat the Livonian Order in the Battle of Rakvere, ending the Order's attempts to invade Russia. |
| 1270 | 16 February | Lithuanians defeat the Livonian Order in the Battle of Karuse. |
| 1285 | | Tallinn becomes a member of the Hanseatic League. |
| 1298 | | A border war between the Livonian Order and the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek. |

## 14th century

| Year | Event |
| 1305 | Padise Abbey is founded. |
| 1343 | St.George's Night Uprising (1343–1345) in Northwestern Estonia and Saaremaa. |
| 1346 | King Valdemar IV of Denmark sells Northern Estonia to the Teutonic Order. |
| 1347 | The Teutonic Order gives Northern Estonia to Livonian Order. |

## 15th century

| Year | Event |
| 1407 | Pirita convent is built. |
| 1419 | The Livonian Diet is formed to solve internal disputes in Livonia. |
| 1433 | First recorded great fire in Tallinn. |
| 1435 | The Livonian Confederation is established to solve internal disputes in Livonia. |
| 1440 | The Livonian Order becomes self-governing from the Teutonic Order. |
| 1464 | Plague kills 2/3 of population of Tallinn. |
| 1480-1481 | First war between Old Livonia and Muscovite Russia. |
| 1500 | Estonian population exceeds 250,000. |

## 16th century

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1500-1502 | | Second Livonian-Russian war. |
| 1504-1505 | | Plague ravages Estonia. |
| 1507 | | Old Livonian peasants are not allowed to own weapons. |
| 1523 | | The Reformation comes to Estonia. |
| 1524 | 14 September | Catholic churches are pillaged in Tallinn. |
| 1525 | | The Teutonic Order is secularized and the Livonian Order becomes de facto independent. |
| 1552 | | First library is founded in Tallinn. |
| 1558 | | Russian forces invade Eastern Estonia, starting the Livonian War. |
| 1558 | | The Bishopric of Dorpat and several bailiwicks of the Livonian Order in Eastern Estonia surrender to Russian forces. |
| 1558 | | Tartu surrendered to Russian troops in the Livonian War |
| 1559 | | The Bishop of Ösel-Wiek sells his bishopric to King Frederick II of Denmark, who gives the land to his brother Duke Magnus of Holstein. Lutheranism prevails in Western Estonia. |
| 1560 | | Duke Magnus of Holstein takes power in the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek. |
| 1560 | | Russian troops defeat the Livonian Order in the Battle of Härgmäe. |
| 1560 | | Russian troops capture Central Estonia from the Livonian Order. |
| 1560 | | Ivan the Terrible decimated the Livonian Order in the Battle of Ergeme. |
| 1560 | | Uprising of Wiek's peasants. (:et) |
| 1561 | | The Commandery of Tallinn and the nobility of other North Estonian bailiwicks of the Livonian Order swear allegiance to Sweden. |
| 1561 | | The Treaty of Vilnius gives lands of the Livonian Order in Southern Estonia and Northern Latvia to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as the Duchy of Livonia. |
| 1561 | 6 June | The city council of Reval surrendered to Sweden. |
| 1562 | | The Livonian Order is dissolved. |
| 1562 | | The Bailiwick of Maasilinna of the former Livonian Order in Saaremaa and Hiiumaa refuses to recognize Lithuanian power. |
| 1564 | | The Bailiwick of Maasilinna gives itself under Danish rule. |
| 1573 | 1 January | The Russians occupied Pärnu (Pernau) in Western Estonia and the fortress of Weissenstein (Paide). |
| 1578 | | Balthasar Russow publishes his cronicles about the Livonian War. |
| 1581 | 6 September | A mercenary army of Sweden under Pontus de la Gardie captured Narva from Russia. |
| 1582 | | By the armistice of Jam Zapolski, Dorpat together with Southern Estonia was incorporated into the state of Poland-Lithuania. |
| 1595 | | Treaty of Teusina: Sweden's right to Narva and Estonia was signed. |

## 17th century

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1625 | | Swedish commander Jacob De la Gardie took Dorpat (Tartu) and Southern Estonia from Poland |
| 1628 | | First glass manufacturer is established in Estonia on Hiiumaa (operates until 1664). |
| 1629 | | Truce of Altmark: Sweden acquired the territory of Livonia. |
| 1630 | | First gymnasium is established in Estonia in Tartu. |
| 1630 | | Gustav Adolf Gymnasium is established in Tallinn (being the oldest continuously operating secondary school in Estonia). |
| 1630 | | First printer is established in Estonia in Tallinn. |
| 1632 | | Foundation of the University of Tartu under Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus. |
| 1645 | 13 August | Saaremaa (Ösel) island was ceded from Denmark to Sweden by the Treaty of Brömsebro. |
| 1684 | | Forselius Seminar for schoolmasters is opened near Tartu (operated until 1688). |
| 1687 | | Over the Estonia, widespread opening of village schools for peasants, starts. |
| 1690 | | Tartu University is re-opened, but 1699–1710 operates in Pärnu. |
| 1695-1697 | | Great Famine of Estonia. |
| 1700 | 20 November | Battle at Narva, where the Swedish army under King Charles XII defeats the Russian army. |

## 18th century

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1704 | | Russian troops under czar Peter the Great captured Dorpat (Tartu) in the Great Northern War. |
| 1708 | | Fearful of Swedish attack, Russians burned down the city of Tartu. |
| 1710 | | Whole Estonia was included in Russian empire. |
| 1710-1713 | | Last great plague in Estonia. About 200,000 people dies (about half of population). |
| 1718 | | Construction of Kadriorg Palace begins. |
| 1721 | 30 August | Estonia was formally ceded by Sweden to Russia by the Treaty of Nystad. |
| 1730 | | Herrnhut sects arrives in Estonia. Amongst the other things, they propagate reading among peasants. |
| 1782 | | The customs border between Russia and Baltic governorates is abolished. |
| 1792 | | First mirrors producing factory is opened in Estonia. |

## 19th century

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1802 | | Tartu University is re-opened (was closed until 1710). |
| 1816 | | Serfdom was abolished in Estonia (Estonian Governorate). |
| 1819 | | Serfdom was abolished in Livonia (Livonian Governorate). |
| 1823 | | Johann August Hagen forms the first choir of native Estonians in Tallinn. |
| 1834 | | agricultural institute is opened in Vana-Kuuste (operated until 1838). |
| 1838 | | Estonian Learned Society is founded. |
| 1839 | | Cimze seminary for schoolmasters is opened in Valmiera. |
| 1843 | | Eduard Ahrens publishes his Estonian grammar book. The book is a base of for written Estonian language. |
| 1849 | | New peasant farm law is proclaimed in Livonian Governorate. This allows peasants to purchase their tenant farms as freeholds. |
| 1850 | | Narva Linen Mill (predecessor of Kreenholm Manufacturing Company) is founded. |
| 1853 | | Estonian Naturalists' Society is established. |
| 1854 | | Peasant farm law (1849) is also extended to Estonian Governorate. |
| 1855 | | The first Estonian permanent newspaper Perno Postimees is founded. |
| 1855 | | Kreenholm Manufacturing Company is founded. |
| 1858 | | peasant revolt: Mahtra War. |
| 1861 | | "Kalevipoeg", Estonia's national epic, was published in both Estonian and German. |
| 1861 | | Prophet Maltsvet followers migrate to Crimea, in hope to find the promised land. |
| 1863 | | Preparatory works to establish the first Estonian-language secondary school (Estonian Aleksander School) begin. (school opened in 1888). |
| 1864 | 21 November | On Johann Köler's initiative, the a major Estonian peasants' petition (Estonian: 1864. aasta palvekirjaaktsioon) is presented to the imperator. |
| 1865 | | Vanemuine Cultural Society is founded in Tartu. |
| 1865 | | Estonia is founded in Tallinn. |
| 1866 | | The Law of Local Self-Government (Estonian: vallaseadus) comes into force. Noble estate owners' rights over peasants are severely reduced. |
| 1867-1870 | | Three influential patriotic speeches by Carl Robert Jakobson. |
| 1869 | | Estonian Song Festivals established. |
| 1870 | | First Estonian-language play Saaremaa onupoeg by Lydia Koidula is published. |
| 1870 | 5 November | First railroad is opened in Estonia. The railroad connects Paldiski, Tallinn, Narva and St. Petersburg. |
| 1870-1871 | | First agricultural societies are founded in Tartu, Pärnu and Viljandi. |
| 1872 | | Society of Estonian Literati is founded. |
| 1875 | | Cultural society Endla is founded in Pärnu. |
| 1876 | | Rail traffic between Tartu and Tapa is opened. |
| 1880 | | Eduard Bornhöhe short story Tasuja ('The Avenger') is published. Due to the book, patriotic fervor remarkably intensifies. |
| 1880 | 11–13 June | Third Estonian Song Festival, first time in Tallinn. |
| 1884 | 4 June | Blue-black-white tricolor (later the flag of Estonia) of the Estonian Students' Society is blessed at Otepää Church. |
| 1886 | | Russian language is decreed to be official language of communication in urban and rural administrations in Estonia. |
| 1887 | | Russian language is decreed to be official language of instruction in all public schools since grade three. |
| 1888 | | Jakob Hurt initiates the collection of national folkloric poetry. |
| 1888 | | Estonian Aleksander School is opened. |
| 1888 | 10 August | The first horse-drawn tram route is opened in Tallinn . |
| 1889 | | Policy of Russification introduced where Baltic German legal and educational institutions are abolished or transformed into Russian. |
| 1889 | | First temperance society is founded in Tori. |
| 1893 | | First hydroelectric power plant is opened in Kunda. |
| 1896 | | First cinematic presentations in Tallinna and Tartu. |
| 1896 | | First automobile is arrived in Estonia. |
| 1896 | | First narrow-gauge railroad is opened. It connects Pärnu and Valga. |
| 1900 | | First Estonian symphony orchestra is formed in Tartu. |
| 1900 | | Volta electric motor factory is established. |
| 1900–1903 | | Economic crisis. |

## 20th century

| Year | Date | Event |
| 1901 | | Konstantin Päts founds the newspaper Teataja in Tallinn. |
| 1902 | | First commercial bank in Estonia is established in Tartu. |
| 1903 | | Ants Laikmaa founds the first arts academy in Estonia. |
| 1904 | | Noor-Eesti is established. |
| 1904 | | Keila-Haapsalu rail line is opened. |
| 1904 | | Local elections in Tallinn. Estonian-Russian joint group (led by Konstantin Päts) takes power from Baltic Germans group in city council. |
| 1905 | November | Russian Revolution of 1905 swept through Estonia. Estonian nationalist feeling is widespread, and autonomy from Russia is demanded. |
| 1906 | | The first fully Estonian-language school (Estonian: Eesti Noorsoo Kasvatuse Seltsi tütarlastegümnaasium, nowadays Miina Härma Gymnasium) is opened in Tartu. |
| 1907 | | First small-scale electric plant starts operating in Pärnu. Plant provides electric power to nearby households. |
| 1908 | | First radio transmission station in Estonia is opened. It is located at the Russian Imperial Baltic Fleet's Tallinn port. |
| 1908 | | Mihhail Rostovtsev opens Tartu Private University. University operates until 1918. |
| 1909 | 14 April | Estonian National Museum is opened in Tartu. |
| 1912 | 27 April | First airplane lands in Estonia. |
| 1913 | 24 August | Estonia Theatre and Concert Halls building is opened. |
| 1914 | 1 August | Russian Empire enters WW I. |
| 1915 | 20 August | Retreating Russian forces burn the Waldhof pulp mill. Then the largest pulp mill in Europe. |
| 1915 | 15 November | Steam trams begin operating in Tallinn. |
| 1917 | 30 March | Russian Provisional Government granted Estonia its autonomy. |
| 1917 | 8 April | 40,000 Estonians are demonstrating in Petrograd. Their main slogan is that divided Estonia (two governorates) should be merged to Province of Estonia. |
| 1918 | 24 February | Estonian Declaration of Independence |
| 1918 | 3 March | Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Bolshevist Russia cedes sovereignty over Estonia to Germany. |
| 1918 | 11 November | Germans begin withdrawal and turn over power to the provisional government of Estonia (headed by Konstantin Päts). |
| 1918 | 22 November | Estonia is invaded by Bolshevist Russian forces. Beginning of Estonian War of Independence. |
| 1919 | | Bolsheviks are driven out of Estonia. |
| 1919 | 10 October | Agrarian Law passed redistributing many of the estates owned by Baltic Germans and Estonian landowners. |
| 1920 | 2 February | Treaty of Tartu which gives Estonia recognition by Soviet Russia. |
| 1920 | 15 June | Adoption of the Constitution of Estonia, which came into effect on 21 December. |
| 1921 | January | Estonia is recognized as an independent state, and starts its pursuit to join League of Nations. |
| 1922 | 22 September | Estonia joins the League of Nations. |
| 1933 | 14–16 October | Plebiscite in favour of constitutional reform giving wide powers to a new office of the president. |
| 1934 | 24 January | New constitution in effect. |
| 1934 | 12 March | Konstantin Päts with the help of General Johan Laidoner set up a virtual dictatorship. Parliament is prorogued and political parties banned. Many members of the Vaps Movement are arrested. |
| 1937 | 24 February | Election sees National Front winning 63 seats and all the opposition winning 17 seats. |
| 1937 | 29 July | A new constitution in force with civil liberties and democracy restored but with a very strong presidency. |
| 1938 | 24 April | Konstantin Päts elected president. |
| 1938 | 9 May | Kaarel Eenpalu becomes prime minister of Estonia. |
| 1939 | 23 August | The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact is signed, promising mutual non-aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union and agreeing to a division of much of Europe between these two countries. |
| 1939 | 12 October | Jüri Uluots becomes prime minister of Estonia. |
| 1940 | 17 June | The Red Army occupies Estonia and Latvia. |
| 1940 | 6 August | Estonia is unlawfully declared the Estonian SSR and incorporated into the Soviet Union. |
| 1941 | | German troops (with help of Forest Brothers) take over Estonia from the Soviets. |
| 1941 | 7 June | German troops begin to carry out The Holocaust in Estonia. |
| 1941 | 14 June | Mass deportations by Soviet Union authorities take place in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. |
| 1941 | 22 June | Germany attacks Soviet Union; Estonian partisans (Forest Brothers) start revolt in Southern Estonia. |
| 1941 | 28 August | Sinking of a Soviet steamer with 3500 Soviet-mobilized Estonian men on board; 598 of them die. |
| 1941 | 1 December | Estonian Self-Administration, headed by Hjalmar Mäe, is inaugurated by German military administration. |
| 1944 | | Otto Tief is captured by Soviet forces; Jüri Uluots and members of the Tief government escape to Sweden. |
| 1944 | 30 January | Battle of Narva: The first Soviet units cross Estonian border. |
| 1944 | 24 February | Battle of Narva: Estonian volunteers launch a counterattack at Narva river. |
| 1944 | 6 March | World War II: Soviet Army planes attack Narva in Estonia, destroying almost the entire old town. |
| 1944 | 9 March | World War II: Soviet Army planes attack Tallinn, Estonia. |
| 1944 | 26 July | Battle of Narva: The Soviets capture Narva. |
| 1944 | 29 July | Battle of Tannenberg Line: The Estonian and German counterattack stops Soviet advance towards Tallinn. |
| 1944 | 26 August | The Soviets capture most of Tartu, which becomes the frontline city for almost a month. |
| 1944 | 18 September | Jüri Uluots, prime minister in capacity of president of Estonia, asks Otto Tief to form a government on the eve of the withdrawal of German forces; official gazette published proclaiming the Tief government. |
| 1944 | 20 September | Otto Tief attempts to organise the defence of Tallinn against the arrival of the Red Army two days later. |
| 1944 | 22 September | The Soviets capture Tallinn. |
| 1944 | 19 December | The entire territory of Estonia is captured by the Red Army. |
| 1949 | 25 March | Operation Priboi: An extensive deportation campaign is conducted in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The Soviet authorities deport more than 92,000 people from the Baltics to remote areas of the Soviet Union. |
| 1955 | 19 July | Estonian Television (ETV) began broadcasting. |
| 1978 | 28 September | One of the last Forest Brother guerilla movement fighter, August Sabbe, is discovered and killed in Estonia. |
| 1980 | | Youth riots in the capital of the Soviet Republic of Estonia are quickly suppressed. |
| 1988 | | In Estonia, 300,000 people demonstrate for independence. |
| 1988 | | Estonian becomes the official language of Estonia. |
| 1988 | 16 November | The Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR declares that Estonia is "sovereign" but stops short of declaring independence. |
| 1989 | | After 44 years, the Estonian flag is raised on the Pikk Hermann castle tower. |
| 1989 | 23 August | Two million indigenous people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, at this time still occupied by the Soviet Union, join hands to demand freedom and independence, forming an uninterrupted 600km human chain called the Baltic Way. |
| 1991 | | Latvia and Estonia vote for independence from the Soviet Union. |
| 1991 | | The United States recognizes the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. |
| 1991 | 20 August | The Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR recognizes Estonian independence from the Soviet Union. |
| 1991 | 6 September | The Soviet Union recognizes the independence of the Baltic States. |
| 1992 | | Estonia holds a referendum on its constitution. |
| 1992 | | Heinrich Mark and the government in exile appointed by him cede their credentials to the newly elected Riigikogu. |
| 1992 | 20 June | The Soviet ruble is replaced by the kroon. |
| 1992 | 6 October | Lennart Meri is elected President of Estonia. |
| 1994 | | The Russian army leaves Estonia. |
| 1994 | 28 September | Car ferry MS Estonia sinks in the Baltic Sea, killing 852. |

## 21st century

| Year | Date | Event |
| 2001 | | 68 people died in Estonia after drinking bootleg alcohol that contained methanol. |
| 2002 | | Estonia hosted the first Eurovision Song Contest in a former Soviet republic. |
| 2002 | | North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit in Prague: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia were invited to join NATO. |
| 2003 | | Estonia approved joining the European Union in a referendum with 66% agreed with joining and 34% were against it. |
| 2004 | 29 March | The largest expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to date takes place, allowing Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia into the organization. |
| 2004 | 1 May | The largest expansion to date of the European Union took place, extending the Union by 10 member-states: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Malta and Cyprus. |
| 2005 | | The same storm which pounded the U.S. earlier in the month hit England, Scandinavia and the Baltic States, leaving 13 dead with widespread flooding and power cuts. |
| 2005 | 10 August | A passenger helicopter en route to Helsinki, Finland crashed into the sea near Tallinn, Estonia, killing 14. |
| 2006 | 9 October | Toomas Hendrik Ilves was elected President of Estonia. |
| 2007 | 27 April | Russians riot in Tallinn, Estonia, about moving the Bronze Soldier. Two nights of rioting left one dead. Cyber attacks launched against Estonia. |
| 2011 | August | Toomas Hendrik Ilves is re-elected president for a second five-year term. |
| 2016 | 10 October | Kersti Kaljulaid was elected as the first female President of Estonia since independence. |
| 2021 | 11 October | Alar Karis was elected President of Estonia. |