List of rulers of Estonia

This list of rulers of Estonia starts with the ancient counties (maakond) and parishes (kihelkond) each headed by Seniores and Meliores (Elders) as noted by Henry of Livonia. The administrative jurisdiction of the parish and county elders was limited, the counties themselves remained autonomous^[1] until the Teutonic and Danish conquest of Estonia in the 13th century. Ending with the states and the rulers of states (starting from the time of the first successful Danish conquest in 1219) who either ruled or laid claims of sovereignty over some parts of the territory of present-day Estonia, as well as the leaders of the independent Republic of Estonia since 1918.

Ancient counties

 

Counties of Ancient Estonia

Alempois

Title: Elder (-1224)

Harju

Title: Elder (-1224)

Järva

Title: Elder (-1224)

Jogentagana

Title: Elder (-1224)

Läänemaa

Title: Elder (-1224)

Mõhu

Title: Elder (-1224)

Nurmekund

Title: Elder (-1224)

Revala

Title: Elder (-1224)

Saaremaa

Title: Elder – It is probable that these men, whose names appear on a treaty with the Order of the Brethren of the Sword in 1251, were the chiefs of administrative units on Saaremaa, Muhu, and Sõrve. Their "signatures" were, in all likelihood, phonetically "Latinized" by the authors of the document.

• Ylle
• Culle
• Enu
• Muntelene
• Tappete
• Yalde
• Melete
• Cake

Sakala

Title: Elder (-1223)

• before 1211–21 September 1217 Lembitu
• 21 September 1217 – ? Unnepeve
• Meeme

Ugandi

Title: Elder (-1224)

Vaiga

Title: Elder (-1224)

Virumaa

Title: Elder (-1224)

• Kyriavanus
• Tabelinus

Rulers of Estonia

Part of the Kingdom of Denmark

House of Estridsen

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Canute I (Knud Valdemarsen ) 1220–1227 (deposed)		1205 illegitimate son of Valdemar II of Denmark and Helena Guttormsdotter	Hedwig of Pomerelia before 1260 two children	1260 aged 55
Occupied by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword:1227-1237
Occupied by the Livonian Order of the Teutonic Order:1237-1238
Canute I (Knud Valdemarsen ) 1238–40 (restored)		1205 illegitimate son of Valdemar II of Denmark and Helena Guttormsdotter	Hedwig of Pomerelia before 1260 two children	1260 aged 55
Valdemar I the Victorious (Valdemar Sejr) 1240–41		9 May/28 June 1170 second son of Valdemar I and Sophia of Minsk	(1) Dagmar of Bohemia c. 1205 Lübeck one son (2) Berengaria of Portugal 18/24 May 1214 four children	28 March 1241 Vordingborg Castle aged 70
Eric I Ploughpenny (Erik Plovpenning) 1241–50		c. 1216 eldest son of Valdemar I and Berengaria of Portugal	Jutta of Saxony 17 November 1239 six children	9 August 1250 on the Schlei aged 33–34
Abel 1 November 1250–1252		c. 1218 second son of Valdemar I and Berengaria of Portugal	Matilda of Holstein 25 April 1237 Schleswig Cathedral four children	29 June 1252 Eiderstedt aged 33–34
Christopher I (Christoffer 1.) 25 December 1252–1259		c. 1219 third son of Valdemar I and Berengaria of Portugal	Margaret Sambiria c. 1248 five children	29 May 1259 Ribe aged 39–40
Eric II Klipping (Erik Klipping) 1259–66 (abdicated)		c. 1249 eldest son of Christopher I and Margaret Sambiria	Agnes of Brandenburg 11 November 1273 Schleswig Cathedral seven children	22 November 1286 Finderup aged 36–37
Margaret Sambiria (Margrethe Sambiria) 1266-1282		c. 1230 daughter of Sambor II of Pomerelia and Matilda of Mecklenburg	Christopher I of Denmark c.1248 five children	December 1282 Finderup aged 51–52
Eric II Klipping (Erik Klipping) 1282–86 (restored)		c. 1249 eldest son of Christopher I and Margaret Sambiria	Agnes of Brandenburg 11 November 1273 Schleswig Cathedral seven children	22 November 1286 Finderup aged 36–37
Eric III Menved (Erik Menved) 1286–1319		c. 1274 eldest son of Eric II and Agnes of Brandenburg	Ingeborg of Sweden June 1296 Kärnan Castle fourteen children	13 November 1319 Roskilde aged 44–45
Christopher II (Christoffer 2.) 25 January 1320–26 (deposed)		29 September 1276 second son of Eric II and Agnes of Brandenburg	Euphemia of Pomerania c. 1300 six children	2 August 1332 Nykøbing Castle aged 55
Eric (IV) (Erik Christoffersen) 1321-26 (deposed)		c. 1307 eldest son of Christopher II and Euphemia of Pomerania	Elizabeth of Holstein-Rendsburg 1330 no issue	early 1332 aged c. 25
Valdemar II (Valdemar 3.) 1326–1329 (deposed)		c. 1314 only son of Eric II, Duke of Schleswig and Adelaide of Holstein	Richardis of Schwerin two sons	c. 1364 aged 49–50
Canute II Porse (Knud Pedersen Porse) (House of Porse) 1329–30 (elected)		c.1282 Son of Peter Knudsen Porse	Ingeborg of Norway 21 June 1327 three children	30 May 1330 Copenhagen aged 47–48
Ingeborg of Norway (Ingibjörg Hákonardóttir) 1329–32 (co-ruler)		1301 daughter of Haakon V of Norway and Euphemia of Rügen	Eric, Duke of Södermanland 1312 Oslo two children Canute II Porse 21 June 1327 three children	17 June 1361 aged 59–60
Otto (Otto Christoffersen) 1332-38		c. 1310 second son of Christopher II and Euphemia of Pomerania	unmarried	after 1341 aged c. 31/32
Valdemar II (Valdemar 3.) 1338-40 (restored)		c. 1314 only son of Eric II, Duke of Schleswig and Adelaide of Holstein	Richardis of Schwerin two sons	c. 1364 aged 49–50
Valdemar III Atterdag (Valdemar Atterdag) 21 June 1340–46		c. 1320 third son of Christopher II and Euphemia of Pomerania	Helvig of Schleswig c. 1340 Sønderborg Castle six children	24 October 1375 Gurre Castle aged 54–55

In 1346, Northern Estonia is sold to the Livonian Order. This Order was already ruling Southern Estonia since 1237.

Southern Estonia

Bishoprics of Livonia (Bishopric of Riga) and Estonia (Bishopric of Leal)

Livonian Order

• 1237–1238 Hermann Balk (Balke)
• 1238–1241 Dietrich von Grüningen
• 1241–1244 Andreas von Velven (Felben)
• 1244–1245 Heinrich von Heimburg
• 1245–1247 Dietrich von Grüningen
• 1247–1253 Andreas von Stirland
• 1253–1254 Eberhard von Seine (Seyn)
• 1254–1257 Anno von Sangershausen
• 1257–1261 Burchard von Hornhausen
• 1261 ....... Georg von Eichstadt
• 1261–1263 Werner von Breithausen
• 1263–1266 Konrad von Mandern (Manstadt)
• 1266–1270 Otto von Lutterberg
• 1271 ....... Andreas von Westphalen
• 1271–1273 Walther von Nordeck (Nortecken)
• 1273–1279 Ernst von Ratzeburg (Rassburg)
• 1279–1280 Gerhard von Katzenelnbogen
• 1280–1282 Konrad von Feuchtwangen
• 1282 ....... Mangold von Sternberg (Manhold von Sternberg)
• 1282–1288 Wilhelm von Nindorf (Wilken von Endorp, Willekin von Endorp)
• 1288–1290 Konrad von Hazzigenstein (Konrad von Hattstein, Konrad von Herzogenstein)
• 1290–1293 Halt von Hohembach (Balthasar Holte)
• 1294–1295 Heinrich von Dinkelaghe (Heinrich II von Dumpshagen)
• 1296–1298 Bruno
• 1298–1305 Gottfried von Rogge
• 1305–1306 Wennemar I
• 1307–1322 Gerhard von Jork (Gerhard II von Jocke, Conrad von Jocke or Conrad von Jorke)
• 1322–1324 Konrad Kesselhut (Konrad Ketelhoed, Johannes Ungenade)
• 1324–1328 Reimar Hane
• 1328–1340 Eberhard von Monheim
• 1340–1345 Burchard von Dreileben
• 1345–1346 Goswin von Herike

Northern and Southern Estonia (reunited)

Livonian Order

• 1346–1359 Goswin von Herike
• 1359–1364 Arnold von Vietinghof
• 1364–1385 Wilhelm von Friemersheim (Vrymersheim, Vrimersheim)
• 1385–1388 Robin von Eltz
• 1388–1389 Johann von Ohle
• 1389–1401 Wennemar von Bruggenei (Wennemar Hasenkamp von Brüggeneye, Wolmer von Brüggeney)
• 1401–1413 Konrad von Vietinghof
• 1413–1415 Dietrich Tork
• 1415–1424 Siegfried Lander von Spanheim
• 1424–1433 Cysse von Rutenberg (Zisse, Cisse von dem Rutenberg)
• 1433–1435 Frank von Kersdorf
• 1435–1437 Heinrich von Bockenvorde (Schüngel)
• 1438–1450 Heinrich Vincke von Oberbergen (Overberg)
• 1450–1469 Johann von Mengeden (Osthoff)
• 1470–1471 Johann Wolthus von Herse
• 1471–1483 Bernhard von der Borch
• 1483–1494 Johann Freitag von Loringhoven
• 1494–1535 Wolter von Plettenberg
• 1535–1549 Hermann von Bruggenei (Hermann Hasenkamp von Brüggeneye)
• 1549–1551 Johann von der Recke
• 1551–1557 Heinrich von Galen
• 1557–1559 Johann Wilhelm von Fürstenberg
• 1559–1561 Gotthard Kettler

• 1247–1251 vacant
• 1251–1263 Unknown person
• 1263–1268 Alexander
• 1268–1288 Friedrich von Haseldorf
• 1289–1299 Bernhard I
• 1303–1312 Dietrich II Vyshusen
• 1312–1313 vacant
• 1313–1323 Nikolaus (acting)
• 1323–1341 Engelbert von Dolen
• 1341–1342 vacant
• 1342–1344 Wescelus
• 1344–1346 vacant
• 1346–1373 Johannes I Viffhusen
• 1373–1377 Heinrich I Velde
• 1377–1379 vacant
• 1379–1400 Dietrich III Damerow
• 1400–1400 vacant
• 1400–1410 Heinrich II Wrangel
• 1410–1411 vacant
• 1411–1413 Bernhard II Bülow
• 1413–1440 Dietrich IV Resler
• 1440–1442 vacant
• 1442–1459 Bartholomäus Savijerwe
• 1459–1468 Helmich von Mallinkrodt
• 1468–1468 vacant
• 1468–1473 Andreas Peper
• 1473–1473 vacant
• 1473–1485 Johannes II Bertkow
• 1485–1485 vacant
• 1485–1498 Dietrich V Hake
• 1498–1499 vacant
• 1499–1505 Johannes III von der Rope
• 1505–1513 Gerhard Schrove
• 1513–1514 vacant
• 1514–1514 Johannes IV Duesborg
• 1514–1518 Christian Bomhower
• 1518–1518 vacant
• 1518–1527 Johannes V Blankenfeld, Archbishop of Riga (1524–1527)
• 1527–1532 vacant
• 1532–1543 Johannes VII Bey
• 1543–1544 vacant
• 1544–1551 Jodokus von der Recke (Jost von der Recke)
• 1551–1554 vacant
• 1554–1558 Hermann II Wesel

In 1558, during the Livonian War, Dorpat ceased to exist.

• 1229–1234 vacant
• 1234–1260 Heinrich I
• 1260–1262 vacant
• 1262–1285? Herman I de Bekeshoevede
• 1285?–1290? vacant
• 1290?–1294 Heinrich II
• 1294–1297? vacant
• 1297?–1307? Konrad I
• 1307?–1310 vacant
• 1310–1321 Hartung (Garttungus)
• 1321–1322 vacant
• 1322–1337 Jakob
• 1337–1338 vacant
• 1338–1362 Hermann II Osenbrügge
• 1362–1363 vacant
• 1363–1374 Konrad II
• 1374–1381 Heinrich III
• 1381–1385 vacant
• 1385–1419 Winrich von Kniprode
• 1419–1420 vacant
• 1420–1423 Kaspar Schuwenflug
• 1423–1423 vacant
• 1423–1432 Christian Kuband
• 1432–1432 vacant
• 1432–1438 Johannes I Schutte
• 1438–1439 vacant
• 1439–1449 Ludolf Grove (acting)
• 1449–1449 Ludolf Grove (acting in Saaremaa (Ösel)); Johannes II Creul (in Läänemaa (Wiek); Bishop since 1939)
• 1449–1457 Ludolf Grove (in Saaremaa (Ösel)); Johannes II Creul (in Läänemaa (Wiek))
• 1457–1458 Ludolf Grove
• 1458–1458 vacant
• 1458–1463 Johannes Vatelkanne (acting)
• 1463–1468 Johannes Vatelkanne (acting); Jodokus Hoenstein (Bishop since 1460)
• 1468–1471 Jodokus Hoenstein
• 1471–1471 vacant
• 1471–1491 Peter Wedberg (Wetberch)
• 1491–1515 Johannes III Orgas
• 1515–1527 Johannes IV Kievel
• 1527–1527 vacant
• 1527–1530 Georg von Tiesenhausen
• 1530–1532 vacant
• 1532–1541 Reinhold von Buxhövden
• 1532–1534 Reinhold von Buxhövden (in Saaremaa (Ösel); Wilhelm (acting in Läänemaa (Wiek))
• 1534–1541 Reinhold von Buxhövden
• 1541–1542 vacant
• 1542–1559 Johannes V von Münchhausen
• 1559–1572 Magnus, Duke of Holstein
• 1572–1573 vacant

In 1573, Ösel-Wiek was annexed by Denmark.

Duchy of Estonia

Part of the Swedish Empire (1561–1721)

House of Vasa

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Eric XIV (Erik XIV) 1561– 29 September 1568		Tre Kronor (castle), 13 December 1533 son of Gustav I and Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg	Karin Månsdotter	Died (Poisoned) while imprisoned in Örbyhus Castle, 26 February 1577. Aged 43, buried at Västerås Cathedral
John III (Johan III) 30 September 1568 – 17 November 1592		Stegeborg Castle, Östergötland, 20 December 1537 son of Gustav I and Margaret Leijonhufvud	Catherine Jagellonica (1562 – 1583), Gunilla Bielke (1585–1597)	Tre Kronor (castle), 17 November 1592, aged 54, buried at Uppsala Cathedral
Sigmund (Sigismund) 17 November 1592 – 24 July 1599		Gripsholm Castle, 20 June 1566, son of John III and Catherine Jagellonica of Poland.	Anna of Austria (1592–1598), Constance of Austria (1605–1631)	Warsaw, Poland, 30 April 1632, aged 65, buried at Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, Poland
Charles IX (Karl IX) 22 March 1604 – 30 October 1611 also as regent Duke Charles, 1599–1604		Tre Kronor (castle), 4 October 1550 son of Gustav I and Margaret Leijonhufvud	Maria of Palatinate-Simmern (1579–1589), Christina of Holstein-Gottorp (1592–1611)	Nyköping Castle, 30 October 1611, aged 61, buried at Strängnäs Cathedral
Gustav II Adolph (Gustav II Adolf) 30 October 1611 – 6 November 1632		Tre Kronor (castle), 9 December 1594, son of Charles IX and Christina of Holstein-Gottorp.	Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg	6 November 1632, in the Battle of Lützen, Electorate of Saxony, aged 37, buried in Riddarholmen Church
Christina (Kristina) 6 November 1632 – 6 June 1654		Stockholm, 8 December^[2] 1626, daughter of Gustavus Adolphus and Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg	Unmarried	Rome, 19 April 1689, aged 62, buried at St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, a branch of the House of Wittelsbach

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Charles X Gustav (Karl X Gustav) 6 June 1654 – 13 February 1660		Nyköping Castle, 8 November 1622, son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catharina of Sweden (daughter of Charles IX)	Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp	Gothenburg, 13 February 1660, aged 37, buried in Riddarholmen Church
Charles XI (Karl XI) 13 February 1660 – 5 April 1697		Tre Kronor (castle), 24 November 1655 son of Charles X and Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp	Ulrike Eleonora of Denmark	Tre Kronor (castle), 5 April 1697, aged 41, buried in Riddarholmen Church
Charles XII (Karl XII) 5 April 1697 – 30 November 1718		Tre Kronor (castle), 17 June 1682 son of Charles XI and Ulrika Eleonora the Elder	Unmarried	Fredrikshald, Norway, 30 November 1718, aged 36, buried in Riddarholmen Church
Ulrica Eleanor (Ulrika Eleonora) 5 December 1718 – 29 February 1720		Tre Kronor (castle), 23 January 1688 daughter of Charles XI and Ulrika Eleonora the Elder	Frederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel	Stockholm, 24 November 1741, aged 53, buried in Riddarholmen Church

House of Hesse

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Frederick (Fredrik I av Hessen) 24 March 1720 – 10 September 1721		Kassel, (in today's Germany), 23 April 1676 son of Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Maria Amalia of Courland	Louise Dorothea of Prussia Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden	Stockholm, 25 March 1751, aged 74, buried in Riddarholmen Church

On 10 September 1721, Sweden ceded Estonia to the Tsardom of Russia, in the Treaty of Nystad.

Governors during Swedish rule

• 1561–1562 Lars Ivarsson Fleming [de]
• 1562–1562 Henrik Klasson Horn
• 1562–1564 Svante Stensson Sture
• 1564–1565 Hermann Pedersson Fleming [de]
• 1565–1568 Henrik Klasson Horn
• 1568–1570 Gabriel Kristiernsson Oxenstierna [de]
• 1570–1572 Hans Björnsson Lejon [de]
• 1572–1574 Clas Åkesson Tott
• 1574–1575 Pontus de la Gardie
• 1576–1578 Karl Henriksson Horn [de]
• 1576–1577 Nilsson Hans Eriksson Finne
• 1577–1580 Göran Boije af Gennäs [de]
• 1580–1581 Svante Eriksson Stålarm [de]
• 1582–1583 Göran Boije af Gennäs (2nd time)
• 1583–1585 Pontus De la Gardie
• 1585–1588 Gustaf Gabrielsson Oxenstierna [de]
• 1588–1588 Hans Wachtmeister
• 1588–1590 Gustaf Axelsson Banér
• 1590–1592 Erik Gabrielsson Oxenstierna [de]
• 1592–1600 Göran Boije af Gennäs (3rd time)
• 1600–1601 Karl Henriksson Horn [de]
• 1601–1602 Moritz Stensson Leijonhufvud [de]
• 1605–1608 Axel Nilsson Ryning
• 1611–1617 Gabriel Bengtsson Oxenstierna
• 1617–1619 Anders Eriksson Hästehufvud
• 1619–1622 Jacob de la Gardie
• 1622–1626 Per Gustafsson Banér
• 1626–1628 Johan De la Gardie [de]
• 1628–1642 Philipp Scheiding [de]
• 1642–1646 Gustaf Gabrielsson Oxenstierna [de]
• 1646–1653 Erik Axelsson Oxenstierna [de]
• 1653–1655 Heinrich von Thurn-Valsassina [de]
• 1655–1656 Wilhelm Ulrich [de]
• 1656–1674 Bengt Klasson Horn [de]
• 1674–1681 Andreas Lennartson Torstensson
• 1681–1687 Robert Johannson Lichton
• 1687–1704 Axel Julius De la Gardie
• 1704–1706 Wolmar Anton von Schlippenbach
• 1706–1709 Niels Jonsson Stromberg af Clastorp
• 1709–1710 Carl Gustaf von Nieroth

Part of the Russian Empire (1721–1917)

House of Romanov

Monarch	Coat of arms	Portrait	Birth	Marriage	Emperor from	Emperor until	Death
Peter I the Great			9 June 1672 Moscow, Tsardom of Russia	Eudoxia Feodorovna Lopukhina 1689 3 children Marta Helena Skowrońska 1707 9 children	10 September 1721	8 February 1725	8 February 1725, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Catherine I			15 April 1684 Ringen (Rõngu), Duchy of Livonia, Sweden	Peter I of Russia 1707 9 children	8 February 1725	17 May 1727	17 May 1727, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Peter II			23 October 1715 St. Petersburg, Tsardom of Russia	unmarried	18 May 1727	30 January 1730	30 January 1730, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Anna			7 February 1693 Moscow, Tsardom of Russia	Frederick Wilhelm, Duke of Courland November 1710 no children	13 February 1730	28 October 1740	28 October 1740, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Ivan VI (disputed)			23 August 1740 St. Petersburg, Russian Empire	unmarried	28 October 1740	6 December 1741	16 July 1764 (murdered) Shlisselburg, Russian Empire
Elizabeth			29 December 1709 Kolomenskoye, Tsardom of Russia	Alexey Razumovsky 1742 no children	6 December 1741	5 January 1762	5 January 1762, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Peter III			21 February 1728 Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein	Princess Sophie Friederike Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst 16 August 1745 one son	9 January 1762	17 July 1762	17 July 1762 (murdered), Ropsha, Russian Empire
Catherine II the Great			2 May 1729 Stettin, Kingdom of Prussia	Peter III of Russia 16 August 1745 one son	9 July 1762	6 November 1796	6 November 1796, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Paul I			1 October 1754 St. Petersburg, Russian Empire	Princess Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt 29 September 1773 one stillborn son Princess Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg 26 September 1776 ten children	17 November 1796	11 March 1801	11 March 1801 (assassinated), St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Alexander I the Blessed			23 December 1777 St. Petersburg, Russian Empire	Princess Louise of Baden 28 September 1793 2 daughters	24 March 1801	1 December 1825	1 December 1825, Taganrog, Russian Empire
Constantine I (disputed)			27 April 1779 Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire	Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld 26 February no children	1 December 1825	26 December 1825	27 June 1831 Vitebsk, Russian Empire
Nicholas I			6 July 1796 Gatchina, Russian Empire	Princess Charlotte of Prussia 13 July 1817 7 children	26 December 1825	2 March 1855	2 March 1855, St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Alexander II the Liberator			29 April 1818 Moscow, Russian Empire	Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine 16 April 1841 8 children	2 March 1855	13 March 1881	13 March 1881 (assassinated), St. Petersburg, Russian Empire
Alexander III the Peace-Maker			10 March 1845 St. Petersburg, Russian Empire	Princess Dagmar of Denmark 9 November 1866 6 children	13 March 1881	1 November 1894	1 November 1894 Livadiya, Russian Empire
Saint Nicholas II			6 May 1868 Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire	Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine 26 November 1894 5 children	1 November 1894	15 March 1917	17 July 1918 (executed) Yekaterinburg, Russian SFSR
Michael II (disputed)			22 November 1878 Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire	Natalia Brassova 15 October 1911 one son (born before his parents' marriage)	15 March 1917	16 March 1917	12 June 1918 (murdered) Perm, Russian SFSR

Governors during Russian rule

• 1710–1711 Rudolph Felix Bauer – General-Governor
• 1711–1719 Prince Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov – General-Governor
• 1719–1728 Count Fyodor Matveyevich Apraksin – General-Governor
• 1728–1736 Friedrich Baron von Löwen
• 1736–1738 Sebastian Ernst von Manstein
• 1738–1740 Gustaf Otto Douglas
• 1740–1743 Woldemar von Löwendahl
• 1743–1753 Peter August Friedrich von Holstein-Beck (1696–1775)
• 1753–1758 Prince Vladimir Petrovich Dolgorukiy
• 1758–1775 Peter August Friedrich von Holstein-Beck – General-Governor
• 1775–1792 Count George Browne – General-Governor
• 1783–1786 Georg Friedrich von Grotenhielm
• 1786–1797 Heinrich Johann Baron von Wrangell
• 1797–1808 Andreas von Langell
• 1808–1809 Peter Friedrich Georg von Oldenburg (1784–1812)
• 1809–1811 Vacant
• 1811–1816 Grand Duke Paul Friedrich August von Oldenburg (1783–1853)
• 1816–1819 Berend Baron Üxküll
• 1819–1832 Gotthard Wilhelm Baron Budberg von Bönninghausen
• 1832–1833 Otto Wilhelm von Essen
• 1833–1841 Paul Friedrich von Benckendorff
• 1842–1859 Johann Christoph Engelbrecht von Grünewaldt
• 1859–1868 Wilhelm Otto Cornelius Alexander Ulrich
• 1868–1870 Mikhail Nikolaiyevich Galkin-Vraskoy
• 1870–1875 Prince Mikhail Valentinovich Shakhovskoiy-Glebov-Strezhnev
• 1875–1885 Viktor Petrovich Polivanov
• 1885–1894 Prince Sergey Vladimirovich
• 1894–1902 Yefstafiy Nikolaiyevich Skalon
• 1902–1905 Aleksey Valerianovich Bellegarde
• 1905–1906 Nikolay Georgiyevich von Bünting
• 1906–1907 Pyotr Petrovich Bashilov
• 1907–1915 Izmail Vladimirovich Korostovetch
• 1915–1917 Pyotr Vladimirovich Veryovkin

Russian Provisional Government, 1917

 

Alexander Kerensky

Title: Chairman (1917)

• Georgy Evgenyevich Lvov (15 March (2 March) – 21 July (8 July) 1917)

Title: Prime Minister (1917)

• Alexander Kerensky (21 July (8 July) – 7 November (25 October) 1917)

Part of the German Empire (1917–1918)

House of Hohenzollern

Image	Name	Date of birth	Monarch From	Monarch Until	Date of death
	Wilhelm II	27 January 1859	25 October	9/28 November 1918^[3] (abdicated)	4 June 1941

The Russian Revolution of 1917

(independent de facto)

Title: Chairman of the Soviet Executive Committee of Estonia (Eestimaa Nõukogude Täitevkomitee esimees) (1917–18)

• Jaan Anvelt (5 November (23 October) 1917 – 4 March 1918)

(independent de jure)

Title: Gouvernement Commissioner (Kubermangukomissar) (1917–18)

• Jaan Poska (28 November (15 November) 1917 – 24 February 1918)

Republic of Estonia

Prime Minister (Peaminister) of the Estonian Provisional Government Portrait	Name	Birth	Reign	Death
		Konstantin Päts	23 February 1874	24 February 1918 – 9 May 1919	18 January 1956

Title: Prime Minister (Peaminister) (1919–1920)

• Otto August Strandman (9 May – 18 November 1919)
• Jaan Tõnisson (18 November 1919 – 28 July 1920)
• Ado (Aadu) Birk (28 – 30 July 1920)
• Jaan Tõnisson (30 July – 26 October 1920)
• Ants Piip (26 October – 20 December 1920)

Title: Head of State (Riigivanem) (1920–34)

• Ants Piip (20 December 1920 – 25 January 1921)
• Konstantin Päts (25 January 1921 – 21 November 1922)
• Juhan (Johann) Kukk (21 November 1922 – 2 August 1923)
• Konstantin Päts (2 August 1923 – 26 March 1924)
• Friedrich Karl Akel (26 March 1924 – 16 December 1924)
• Jüri Jaakson (16 December 1924 – 15 December 1925)
• Jaan Teemant (15 December 1925 – 9 December 1927)
• Jaan Tõnisson (9 December 1927 – 4 December 1928)
• August Rei (4 December 1928 – 9 July 1929)
• Otto August Strandman (9 July 1929 – 12 February 1931)
• Konstantin Päts (12 February 1931 – 19 February 1932)
• Jaan Teemant (19 February 1932 – 19 July 1932)
• Kaarel Eenpalu (19 July 1932 – 1 November 1932)
• Konstantin Päts (1 November 1932 – 18 May 1933)
• Jaan Tõnisson (18 May 1933 – 21 October 1933)
• Konstantin Päts (21 October 1933 – 24 January 1934)

Title: Prime Minister acting Head of State (Peaminister Riigivanema ülesannetes) (1934–37)

• Konstantin Päts (24 January 1934 – 3 September 1937)

Title: President-Regent (Riigihoidja) (1937–1938)

• Konstantin Päts (3 September 1937 – 24 April 1938)

Title: President of the Republic (1938–40)

• Konstantin Päts (24 April 1938 – 21 June 1940)
• Johannes Vares (21 June – 21 July 1940 (Prime Minister acting as the President of Repuvblic, Soviet-installed collaborant)

Title: Prime Minister acting President (Peaminister Vabariigi Presidendi ülesandeis) (1940–92)

• Jüri Uluots (21 June 1940 – 9 January 1945)
• August Rei (9 January 1945 – 29 March 1963)
• Aleksander Varma (Warma) (30 March 1963 – 23 December 1970)
• Tõnis Kint (23 December 1970 – 1 March 1990)
• Heinrich Mark (1 March 1990 – 15 September 1992)

Title: Acting Prime Minister (Peaministri asetäitja) (since 1944)

• Otto Tief (18 September 1944 – 12 January 1944, since 10 October 1944 Soviet prisoner)
• Johannes Sikkar
• Aleksander Warma
• Tõnis Kint
• Heinrich Mark
• Enno Penno

Title: Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia (in the body of Soviet Union) (1990–91)

• Arnold Rüütel (8 May 1990 – 20 August 1991)

Title: Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia (Eesti Vabariigi Ülemnõukogu esimees) (1991–92)

• Arnold Rüütel (20 August 1991 – 6 October 1992)

President of the Republic	Portrait	Reign
Lennart Meri		6 October 1992 – 8 October 2001
Arnold Rüütel		8 October 2001 – 9 October 2006
Toomas Hendrik Ilves		9 October 2006 – 10 October 2016
Kersti Kaljulaid		10 October 2016 - 11 October 2021
Alar Karis		11 October 2021 - present

United Baltic Duchy

Title: Regent Councillor (1918)

• Adolf Pilar von Pilchau (9–19 November 1918)

Commune of the Working People of Estonia

Title: Chairman of the Council of The Commune of the Working People of Estonia (Eesti Töörahva Komuuna Nõukogu esimees) (1918–19)

• Jaan Anvelt (29 November 1918 – 5 June 1919)

Estonia during the Soviet occupation

Title: Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Estonian SSR (Eesti NSV Ülemnõukogu Presiidiumi esimees) (1940–88)

• Johannes Vares-Barbarus (21 July 1940 – 29 November 1946)
• Nigol Andresen (1946–47)
• Eduard Päll (1947–50)
• August Jakobson (1950–58)
• Johan Eichfeld (1958–61)
• Aleksei Müürisepp (1961 – 7 October 1970)
• Aleksander Ansberg (1970)
• Artur Vader (22 December 1970 – 25 May 1978)
• Meta Vannas (acting chairman; 1978)
• Johannes Käbin (1978–83)
• Arnold Rüütel (8 April 1983 – 8 May 1990)

Title: Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia (1990–1992)

• Arnold Rüütel (8 May 1990 – 6 October 1992)

Soviet Union

Title: Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1940–91)

• Joseph Stalin (1940–53)
• Nikita Khrushchev (1953–64)
• Leonid Brezhnev (1964–82)
• Yuri Andropov (1982–84)
• Konstantin Chernenko (1984–85)
• Mikhail Gorbachev (1985–91)

Reichskommissariat Ostland

Title: Führer und Reichskanzler (1941–44)

• Adolf Hitler (7 July 1941 – 24 November 1944)

Title: Generalkomissar für Estland (1941–44)

• Karl-Siegmund Litzmann (5 December 1941 – 18 September 1944)

Title: Eesti Omavalitsuse juht (1941–45)

• Hjalmar Mäe (15 September 1941 – 4 January 1945)

See also

• History of Estonia
• President of Estonia
• List of Swedish monarchs
• List of Russian monarchs
• Lists of office-holders

References

1. Raun, Toivo (2001). Estonia and the Estonians. Stanford: Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University. pp. 12. ISBN 0-8179-2852-9.
2. Note that the birth date is 8 December in the Julian calendar, which was in effect in Sweden at the time, corresponding to 18 December in the Gregorian calendar.
3. His abdication was announced by the Chancellor on 9 November, and the Emperor went into exile in the Netherlands. He did not formally abdicate until 28 November.