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Bishopric of Dorpat

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The Bishopric of Dorpat was a medieval principality 1234-1558 in what are now Tartu, Põlva, Võru and Jõgeva counties in Estonia. It was part of Livonian Confederation. The first bishop of Tartu was Hermann von Buxhoeveden, the brother of Albert, bishop of Riga and leader of the Livonian Crusade. The Estonian Diocese was established by the bishop of Riga in 1211 and its first nominal seat was Leal (Lihula) in Western Estonia. In 1224 Estonian bishop Hermann took possessions of Southern Estonia prince-bishop of the Holy Roman Empire and chose Dorpat as his new seat. The principality was founded mainly on territories of Ugaunian tribe of ancient Estonians. In 1242 Bishop Hermann with his Ugaunian subjects was defeated by Novgorod's prince Alexander Nevsky in famous Battle on Lake Peipus. The defeat did not prevent the bishop from founding a successful principality. The seat of Bishop developed into an important Hanseatic trade center.

In the end of 14th century former Dietrich Damerow became the Bishop of Dorpat. He was the archenemy of the Livonian Order and made a coalition against it with Lithuania,Mecklenburg and Victual Brothers (notorious pirates of the Baltic Sea). He even asked King Richard II of England to take Dorpat under his protection. The Order invaded the bishopric in 1379 with no success. After settling the conflict the Livonian Order lost its right to demand vassals of bishoprics take part in military campaigns.

During its last years, the Bishopric of Dorpat had a dispute with Russia which became later the main pretext of the Livonian War. Tsar Ivan the Terrible demanded that the bishopric pay huge tribute of 40,000 talers.

Ivan insisted that the Dorpat was the ancient Russian fortress of Yuryev (referring to short time Ruthenian rule of the area after conquest by prince Yaroslav I the Wise, 1030-1061(?). The rulers of Dorpat tried to negotiate smaller amount in extrance of extending the truce, but Ivan dismissed the diplomats and started the war. 1558 Tartu was conquered by Russian troops. The Bishopric of Dorpat ceased to exist.

The Bishops of Dorpat

References

  1. redirect

 


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