Eestlaste sõjalised kohustused keskajal
Military Obligations of Estonians during the Middle Ages

Summary/Abstract: By the beginning of the 13th century, the social structure in the Estonian territorial area had reached the early stages of feudalism. Social stratification in Estonian was based upon ownership of land and military prestige. The leading positions in Estonian society were held by nobles, who were, both, the biggest landowners, and also, the local warlords. Natural social development, in this region, was disrupted by the arrival of German and Danish crusaders on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. The result was, that the local native populations, including Estonians, were subjugated and, at least formally, Christianized. Nevertheless, at first, no major social changes took place. The Christian religion, generally, remained distant and alien for the local people. And the local nobles retained their social role in the administrating of some areas. Several local nobles were probably made liege lords in the new power structure, and, in time, became Germanized. (Longer version of this abstract available as a separate article)

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