page_title: Estonian Swedes
section_title: Swedish Estonia
hierarchical_section_title: Estonian Swedes / History / Swedish Estonia
caption_attribution_description: Map showing the development of the Swedish Empire in Early Modern Europe (1560-1815)
context_page_description: The Estonian Swedes, Estonia-Swedes, or Coastal Swedes are a Swedish-speaking minority traditionally residing in the coastal areas and islands of what is now western and northern Estonia. The beginning of the continuous settlement of Estonian Swedes in these areas dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries, when their Swedish-speaking ancestors arrived in Estonia from what is now Sweden and Finland. Almost all of Estonia's Swedish-speaking minority fled to Sweden during World War II, and only the descendants of a few individuals who stayed behind are permanently resident in Estonia today.
context_section_description: In 1561, Sweden established the Dominion of Swedish Estonia, which it would hold until 1710 (formally until 1721, when the territory was ceded to Russia under the Treaty of Nystad). The Estonia-Swedes prospered during this period. Swedish, along with German and Estonian, was one of the official languages.
caption: The Swedish Empire in 1658, including the Dominion of Swedish Estonia and the Dominion of Swedish Livonia (now southern Estonia).
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