A simple reminder of chilling history.
Estonia was one of the last parts of Europe to be christianized. As the Livonian Order crusaded through Estonia, many of the native pagans retreated to the Islands, and Muhu and Sarremaa were the least places in Estonia to be christianized.
The Muhu stronghold was the last stand. The remaining pagans offered their surrender to the crusaders in 1227 in the face of a force of 20,000 soldiers that had crossed the ice from the mainland.
They Livonians didn't accept, and besieged the stronghold instead. After 6 days they broke through, collected the remaining supplies and livestock, and then slaughtered all the Estonians who had earlier offered capitulation and agreed to accept baptism.
All thats left here is a raised ring of bushes that marks the remains of the walls, and this monument in the middle. Visually it pales in comparison to Tallinn, Kurrasarre, and all the other exciting and dramatic places we saw, but I found it incredibly gut wrenching, and one of the most poignant places we went.
A simple reminder of chilling history.
Estonia was one of the last parts of Europe to be christianized. As the Livonian Order crusaded through Estonia, many of the native pagans retreated to the Islands, and Muhu and Sarremaa were the least places in Estonia to be christianized.
The Muhu stronghold was the last stand. The remaining pagans offered their surrender to the crusaders in 1227 in the face of a force of 20,000 soldiers that had crossed the ice from the mainland.
They Livonians didn't accept, and besieged the stronghold instead. After 6 days they broke through, collected the remaining supplies and livestock, and then slaughtered all the Estonians who had earlier offered capitulation and agreed to accept baptism.
All thats left here is a raised ring of bushes that marks the remains of the walls, and this monument in the middle. Visually it pales in comparison to Tallinn, Kurrasarre, and all the other exciting and dramatic places we saw, but I found it incredibly gut wrenching, and one of the most poignant places we went.