On this day in 1918: an independent Estonian nation was born

Estonia's national flower is the blue cornflower

“Esthonia” had for centuries existed only as a far-flung province in somebody else’s empire. The land that encompasses today’s Estonia has at various times been included on the official maps of Denmark, the Livonian Order, Sweden, and Russia. But never, from the early 13th century to the early 20th century, was Estonia its own nation.

On a cold winter’s day in 1918, however, Estonians declared that the time for independence had arrived.

The idea of nationhood had begun to gather steam in the late 19th century. And on 19 Feb 1918, amidst the turmoil of the First World War, a “manifesto” of independence was approved by Estonia’s Provisional National Council. Five days later, on Sunday, the 24th of February, 1918, it was proclaimed to the world.

The manifesto marked a bold first step, but actual nationhood would have to wait almost two more years, during which the fledgling sovereign state would endure nine months of German occupation followed by a brutal tw0-front War of Independence — fought against Bolshevik Russia to the east and Baltic German forces to the south. De facto independence was achieved with the signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty on 2 February 1920 (which you can read more about here).

24 February 1919: Estonia celebrates the first anniversary of its Declaration of Independence

Estonia’s independence lasted until World War II, at which point it was interrupted by nearly a half century of Soviet occupation. Independence was regained in August 1991, but the Republic of Estonia officially commemorates its independence on the date, 92 years ago, that the bold manifesto was issued in Reval (as the capital Tallinn was then known).

Click the link to read the 1918 New York Times article reporting the proclamation of Estonia’s independence manifesto: Reval would now be free

You can listen to the rousing cadences of Estonian national anthem here, and read more about Estonian Independence Day here.

Happy Birthday, Estonia!