The Estonian Noble Corporation
History Activities Executive Committee Genealogy Literature Contacts
Activities

Annual extraordinary Executive Committee meetings in Spring at one of the members' residence.


Annual Estländertreffen (Estlän
der Gathering) in Autumn in Tostedt.


Conferences for our younger members in order to transmit historic knowledge as a basis of our identity. Since Estonia's independence, selected young Estonians can also be invited to these conferences.

1964 Wilhelm Baron v. Wrangell (narrative) and Georg v. Krusenstiern (illustrations) are entrusted with editing the seminal book "Die Estländische Ritterschaft, ihreRitterschaftshauptmänner und Landräte", Limburg/Lahn 1967.

1986 The first seminar on the history of the Estländische Ritterschaft for younger generations takes place in Rheinbreitbach (7 - 11 May 1986). The participation of members of the older generation, who could share their experiences of times in Estonia between the two World Wars, was a specific concern to secure a continuity of our traditions. This is a main reason for the great success the seminars have since had amongst their young participants.

1986 Henning v. Wistinghausen is entrusted with editing a collection of unpublished memoirs: "Zwischen Reval und St. Petersburg. Erinnerungen von Estländern aus zwei Jahrhunderten" ("Between Reval and St. Petersburg. Memories of Estländer from Two Centuries"), Weißenhorn 1993.

1992 Initiative to conserve the epitaphs bearing the coats of arms of Baltic German noblemen in the cathedral at Reval (initially mainly funded by the German government, now by the City of Tallinn).

1992 Second historic seminar at Nierstein/Mathildenhof on 29 - 31 May 1992 on "Our history in the Baltic States, in particular Estonia, until the 'repatriation' and our new beginning in the Federal Republic of Germany".

1995 An initiative is started to affix a commemorative plaque to the building of the former cathedral school of Reval, first mentioned 1319. The school was funded by the Estländische Ritterschaft until 1920, and many Ritterschaft members were educated there. The unveiling ceremony took place on 19 June 1996 in the presence of President Lennart Meri.

1995 First German-Estonian seminar at Dorpat/Tartu and Reval/Tallin on 27 February - 3 March 1995 on "The history of Estonia in the mirror of the country's self-administration by the estates". On their journey to Estonia, the German participants escorted a relief convoy for the hospital at Hapsal/Haapsalu. The seminar brought Germans and Estonians together as speakers and participants.

1996 Cross-generational meeting at Nierstein/Mathildenhof on 29 - 31 March 1996 around the subject "Were there prospects for a new future in an Estonian state?". Younger participants were informed about the time after the Estländische Ritterschaft had lost its public role and after the expropriation of country estates.

1997 A yearly book award is created "as tribute to the academic accomplishments of the alma mater Dorpatensis in furtherance of young academic talents and of future mutual exchange" to reward the best diploma theses in various faculties of the universtity of Dorpat/Tartu on subjects related to our common history and present times.

1999 Second German-Estonian seminar at Schloß Höhnscheid on 4 -7 October 1999 on "Germans and Estonians in tomorrow's Europe (Perceptions - Orientation - Prospects)".

2000 The renovation of the Fersen chapel at Reval/Tallinn cathedral and of the commemorative plaques with the names of the members of the Estländische Ritterschaft who served as Russian officers in the campaigns against Napoleon 1812 - 1814. The works are funded by donations and the Verbands-Foundation.

2002 The chairman of the Estländische Ritterschaft participates at the celebration commemorating the re-establishment of the university of Dorpat/Tartu 200 years ago, which at that time was initiated by the noble corporations of Livonia and Estonia. He delivers congratulations on behalf of the Baltic noble corporations in a speech at the celebration in the university's great hall on 3 May 2002.

2002 On the date of the 750th anniversary of the Estländische Ritterschaft, Archbishop Jaan Kiivit celebrates a service in Reval/Tallinn cathedral on 7 September 2002, followed by a ceremonial act and a reception hosted by the Estländische Ritterschaft in the former Knights' Hall (Ritterhaus). The Estonian head of state Arnold Rüütel takes part and delivers a speech.

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