List of wars involving Estonia

Below is a list of military conflicts in which Estonians participated on a larger scale or took place on Estonian territory. Items in bold are the wars most often considered to be ''major conflicts'' by Estonian historians and the general public.

Ancient Estonia

* 6th century – 1203, a series of Estonian (mostly Oeselian) raids and counter-raids against the Swedish, Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic vikings as well as by their later states:
** 6th century, Gotland Viking attempt to colonize Hiiumaa Island;
** 7th century, attempted Swedish invasion of Estonia by King Ingvar;
** 7th century, Swedish raid on Estonia by King Anund;
** 8th century, Battle of Brávellir, on the side of the Swedes, against the Danes;
** 972, a battle against Icelandic Vikings on Saaremaa Island;
** 1008, a battle against Norwegian Vikings on Saaremaa Island;
** 11th century, a Swedish Viking raid to Viru County;
** 1170, a naval battle between Estonians, its allies and Denmark near Öland Island;
** 1187, Estonians (or Karelians or Curonians) raid of Mälaren and Sigtuna in Sweden;Enn Tarvel (2007)
''Sigtuna hukkumine''.
Haridus, 2007 (7-8), p 38–41
** 1203, Estonian raid on Danish Scania;
*** 1203, a naval battle between Estonians and German settlers of Riga near Visby, Gotland.
* 1030–1217, a series of battles and (raid) campaigns against Kievan Rus', Novgorod, Pskov and Smolensk:
**1030, Kievan Rus' defeat Chuds and establish Yuryev stronghold;
**1032, according to one hypothesis, battle at ''Iron Gate'' mentioned in Russian chronicles and usually placed in northern Russia, may have been naval battle, where Novgorod fleet was defeated near Aegna;
**ca. 1054, Kievan Rus' campaign against Estonians;
**1060, Kievan Rus' campaign against Sosols (tribe possibly in Estonia) and taxation of them.
**1061, Sosols uprise, destroy Yuryev and attack Pskov.
**1077, Smolensk and Novgorod campaign against Chuds (possibly Estonians);
**1113, a battle against Kievan Rus', possibly in modern Izborsk;
**1116, Kievan Rus' conquest of Otepää stronghold;
**1130, Kievan Rus' campaign against Estonians;
**1132, a battle against Novgorod in Vaiga, Vaiga County;
**1134, a battle against Novgorod for Tartu, Tarbatu (Yuryev) stronghold;
**1177, Estonian raid of Pskov;
**1180, Novgorod raid of Southeastern Estonia;
**1190, Pskov attack on Estonian sailors on Lake Peipus;
**1192, Novgorod raid of Tartu, Tarbatu (Yuryev) stronghold;
**1192, Novgorod raid of Otepää stronghold.
**1210–1227, raids during the Livonian Crusade:
***1210, Pskov's and Novgorod's raid of Ugandi and Torma, Estonia, Torma and siege of Otepää stronghold;
***1211, Pskov raid to Western Estonia;
***1211, Novgorod raid to Viru County;
***1212, Novgorod and Pskov raid to Central Estonia;
***1212, Estonian raid of Pskov;
***1216, Pskov conquest of Otepää stronghold;
***1221, Novgorod raid of Ugandi;
***1223, a general Pskov and Novgorod raid to mainland Estonia;
* 1213–1219, Lithuanians, Lithuanian raids against Estonians;
** 1213, Lithuanians, Lithuanian raid to Sakala County;
** 1219, Lithuanians, Lithuanian raid to Saaremaa Island and mainland Estonia;

The Middle Ages

Estonia remained one of the last corners of medieval Europe to be Christianity, Christianized. In 1193 Pope Celestine III called for a crusade against paganism, pagans in Northern Europe. The Northern Crusades from Northern Germany established the stronghold of Riga. With the help of the newly converted local tribes of Livonian people, Livs and Latvians, Letts, the crusaders initiated raids into part of what is present-day Estonia from 1197.

* 1197–1268, Northern Crusades, Northern Crusades (1147–13th century/16th century):
** 1197, a Swedish, Gotland, Gutnish as well as German crusader and possibly Danish raid to Viru County;
** 1206–1261, the Livonian Crusade, Livonian Crusade (1198–1290):
*** 1206, 1st Danish attempt to conquer Saaremaa Island;
*** 1208–1227, Livonian Brothers of the Sword and allied Conquest of Estonia;
**** 1210–1224, Estonian counter campaigns against the Livonian Brothers of the Sword;
**** 1217–1223, occasional Estonian-allied Pskov's and Novgorod's battles against the crusaders;
**** 1219–1224, Battle of Lyndanisse, Danish Conquest of Northern Estonia;
**** 1220, Battle of Lihula, against Sweden;
**** 1222, 2nd Danish attempt to conquer Saaremaa Island;
*** 1219/1225–1238, a conflict between Denmark and the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, later the Livonian Order;
*** 1236–1261, Oeselians#Conquest of Oeselians, Saaremaa Rebellions:
**** 1236–1241, Oeselians#Conquest of Oeselians, 1st Rebellion of Saaremaa;
**** ca. 1241–ca. 1255, a Oeselians#Conquest of Oeselians, possible rebellion on Saaremaa;
**** 1260–1261, Oeselians#Conquest of Oeselians, 2nd Rebellion of Saaremaa;
** 1217–1268, crusader and allied Estonian conflicts with Pskov and Novgorod:
*** 1217, Livonian Brothers of the Sword and allied raid around Pskov and Novgorod;
*** 1233, Livonian Brothers of the Sword conquest of Izborsk and Pskov;
*** 1233, Reconquest of Izborsk and Pskov from the Livonian Brothers of the Sword by the forces of Novgorod and Pskov;
*** 1234, Pskov and Novgorod invasion of the Bishopric of Dorpat;
*** 1240–1242, Livonian campaign against Rus';
*** 1253, Livonian Order raid of Pskov;
*** 1253, Pskov, Novgorod and Karelians, Karelian raid of Northeastern Estonia;
*** 1254, Novgorod and Karelians, Karelian raid to Northeastern Estonia;
*** 1254, Bishopric of Riga's and Danish raid to Votia and Karelia;
*** 1255, Novgorod raid to Northeastern Estonia;
*** 1256, united crusader, Danish, Swedish and Finns, Finnish failed attempt to conquer Ingria from Republic of Novgorod, Novgorod;
*** 1262, Novgorod raid of Tartu, Tartu (Dorpat);
*** 1262, Novgorod's and Principality of Polotsk, Polotsk's raid of Tartu, Tartu (Dorpat);
*** 1267, Novgorod raid of Rakvere, Rakvere (Wesenberg);
*** 1268, Novgorod raid of Northern Estonia and Battle of Wesenberg (1268), Battle of Rakvere, against the Livonian Order;
* 1263–1329, a series of Lithuanians, Lithuanian raids against the crusaders in the Estonian part of Medieval Livonia:
** 1263, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lithuanian raid of Pärnu#History, Old-Pärnu;
** 1270, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lithuanian raid to Saaremaa and the Battle of Karuse, against the crusader states;
** 1298, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lithuanian raid to Southern Estonia;
** 1322, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lithuanian raid of the Bishopric of Dorpat;
** 1323, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lithuanian raid of Northern Estonia;
** 1329, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lithuanian raid to Southern Estonia
* 1233–1557, a series of civil wars on the Estonian part of Medieval Livonia, between different crusader states:
** 1233, Livonian Order's reconquest of Tallinn, Tallinn (Reval) from The Pope, papal legate Balduin de Alna;
** 1238, Livonian Order's and Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek's conquest of Koluvere Castle from the de Lode family;
** 1297–1330, war between the Livonian Order and the alliance of the Archbishopric of Riga and the town of Riga;
** 1298, a border war between the Livonian Order and the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek;
** 1374–1397, Incorporation Strife, between the Bishopric of Dorpat and the Livonian Order;
** 1396, Bishop Damerow's Conflict, between the Livonian Order and the Bishopric of Dorpat;
** 1423–1468, Ösel-Wiek Strifes, within the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek;
** 1479, Stodewescher Feud, between the Livonian Order and the Archbishopric of Riga;
** 1481–1491, war between the Livonian Order and the alliance of the Archbishopric of Riga and the town of Riga
** 1532–1536, Ösel-Wiek Feud, within the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek;
** 1556–1557, Coadjutor Feud, between the Livonian Order and the alliance of the Archbishopric of Riga;
* 1269–1343, post-crusade period conflicts between the crusader and Russians, Russian states:
** 1269, Livonian Order's raid of Izborsk and Pskov;
** 1294, Livonian Order's failed attempt to conquer Votia;
** 1294, Novgorod raid of Narva;
** 1299, Livonian Order's raid of Pskov;
** 1307, Livonian Order's raid of Pskov;
** 1323, Livonian Order's raid of Pskov;
** 1341–1343, war between the Livonian Order and Pskov;
** 1349, Livonian Order's raid around Pskov;
** 1367, Novgorod raid of Narva and Northeastern Estonia;
** 1367, Novgorod raid of Vastseliina;
** 1369, Russians, Russian raid of Southeastern Estonia;
** 1371, Pskov's and Novgorod Republic, Novgorod's raid of Southern Estonia;
** 1406, Pskov raid of Southern Estonia;
** 1407, Pskov raid of Eastern Estonia;
** 1443–1448, war between the Livonian Order and Novgorod;
** 1480–1481, war between the Livonian Order and Pskov;
** 1501–1503, Livonian-Muscovite War;
* 1343–1345, the St. George's Night Uprising against Denmark and the Livonian Order.

The Reformation Period (1558–1721)

By the late 1550s, the Protestant Reformation, Reformation and Counter-Reformation had caused internal conflicts in Livonian Confederation, while its Eastern neighbour Russia had grown stronger after defeating the khanates of Kazan Khanate, Kazan and Astrakhan Khanate, Astrakhan. The conflict between Russia and the Western powers was exacerbated by Russia's isolation from sea trade. Neither could the tsar hire qualified labour in Europe.
* 1558–1583, the Livonian War, between Tsardom of Russia, Russia and an alliance of the Livonian Confederation, Livonia, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Poland–Lithuania, Denmark-Norway and Sweden;
** 1558–1561, Russo-Livonian War;
** 1560/1570–1577, Duke Magnus of Holstein's campaign in Central Estonia, allied with Tsardom of Russia, Russia;
** 1560, Läänemaa, Wiek peasant uprising;
** 1562–1570, Muscovite–Lithuanian War#Livonian_War, Muscovite–Lithuanian War;
** 1563–1570, Northern Seven Years' War between Sweden and an alliance of Denmark-Norway and Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Poland–Lithuania;
** 1570, Klaus Kursell's rebellion against the administration of Swedish Estonia;
** 1570–1583, Russo-Swedish War (1590–1595), Russo-Swedish War;
** 1575–1582, Livonian campaign of Stephen Báthory, Russo-Polish War;
** 1577–1579, Ivo Schenkenberg's raids against Russia;
* 1590–1595, Russo-Swedish War (1590–95), Russo-Swedish War of 1590–1595;
* 1600–1625, the Polish–Swedish War (1600–1629):
** 1600–1611, the Polish–Swedish War (1600–1611), war of 1600–1611;
** 1617–1618, the Polish–Swedish War (1617–1618), war of 1617–1618;
** 1621–1625, the Polish–Swedish War (1621–1625), war of 1621–1625;
* 1611–1613, the Kalmar War (1611–1613)
* 1613, Time of Troubles (1598–1613):
**1613, Ingrian War (1610–1617), Tsardom of Russia, Russian raids into Swedish Estonia;
* 1642, Võhandu, Pühajõgi Revolt
* 1656–1657, the Second Northern War, Second Northern War (1655–1660) between Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Poland-Lithuania, Tsardom of Russia, Russia and their allies on one side and Sweden and its allies on the other side;
** 1656–1658, Russo-Swedish War (1656–58), Russo-Swedish War (1656–1658);
** 1657–1658, Second Northern War, Polish-Swedish War (1655–1660).
* 1700–1710, the Great Northern War, Great Northern War (1700–1721), between Swedish alliance and Russian alliance;
**1711–1712, unsuccessful Swedish landings in Estonia;
** 1719, Battle of Ösel Island.

Russian rule (1721–1918)

After the Great Northern War, the territory of Estonia was officially handed over to the Russian Empire in 1721.
Conflicts that occurred in Estonia during that era:
* 1784, Baltic governorates, Baltic Tax per head, Head Tax Riots:
** 1784, "Wooden Fence War", between Estonian peasants and the Russian Army;
* 1790, Russo-Swedish War (1788–90):
** 1790, Battle of Reval;
* 1805, "Kose-Uuemõisa War", between Estonian peasants and the Russian Army;
* 1808–1809, Finnish War:
** 1808–1809, Paldiski Naval Blockade, by Sweden and the United Kingdom;
* 1841, "Lake Pühajärv, Pühajärv War", between Estonian peasants and the Russian Army;
* 1854–1855, Crimean War (1853–1856):
** 1854–1855, Charles Napier (Royal Navy officer)#Baltic Campaign, Baltic Sea Campaign: British and French naval attacks on Estonian coastal settlements and occasional landings.
* 1858, "Mahtra War", between Estonian peasants and the Russian Army;
* 1905–1906, the Russian Revolution of 1905 between local revolutionaries and the Russian Army;
* 1914–1918 World War I:
** 1914–1918, a series of naval battles during the Template:Campaignbox Baltic Sea 1914–1918, Baltic Sea Campaign;
** 1915, German Empire, German attack of Ruhnu Island;
** 1916, German Empire, German attack of Paldiski;
** 1917, Operation Albion, between German Empire and the retreating Russian Empire;
** 1918, Operation Faustschlag, between German Empire and the retreating Russian Empire;
* 1917, Russian Revolution:
** 1917, February Revolution:
*** 1917, February Revolution, March Revolution, between local revolutionaries and the Russian Army;
** 1917, October Revolution, between Bolshevik revolutionaries and Estonian officials.

Soldiers were Conscription in the Russian Empire, conscripted among Estonians since 1796. At first, the term of service was 25 years, but was lowered to 20 years plus 5 years of reserve in 1834 and to 12 years plus 3 years of reserve in 1855. Estonians served in List of wars involving Russia#Russian Empire (1721–1917), several wars involving the Russian Empire:
* 1904–1905, Russo-Japanese War, against Japan;
* 1914–1918, World War I, against the Central Powers;
** 1915–1918, among the Russian Expeditionary Force in France.

Independent Estonia (1918–1940)

Estonia declared independence on 24 February 1918. After a brief German occupation of Estonia during World War I, German occupation in World War I, Estonia regained independence and was subsequently invaded by the Red Army. A series of conflicts followed:
* 1918–1920, Russian Civil War, Russian Civil War (1917–1922);
** 1918–1920, the Estonian War of Independence
*** 1918–1920, Soviet westward offensive of 1918–19, war between Estonia and the Russian SFSR;
*** 1918–1919, British campaign in the Baltic (1918–19), British campaign in the Baltic;
*** 1918, the Tihemetsa, Battle of Punapargi, against retreating German soldiers of World War I;
*** 1919, a failed rebellion in Saaremaa;
*** 1919, White Army's and Estonian Russian Civil War#Estonia, Latvia and Petrograd, Petrograd campaign;
*** 1919, the Latvian War of Independence, in alliance with Latvia against both German and Soviet Russian forces;
**** 1919, the Baltische Landeswehr, Landeswehr War, against the Baltische Landeswehr.

Estonians also took part of the Estonian War of independence on the Soviet Russian side. They formed the puppet state Commune of the Working People of Estonia (1918–1919) in an effort to show the conflict as an Estonian civil war.

Other conflicts with Estonian volunteers:
*1918, the Finnish Civil War, mostly on the side of whites against the bolsheviks, reds and Soviet Russia.
*1917–1922, the Russian Civil War, mostly on the side of the Bolsheviks, and mostly following their defeat in the Estonian War of Independence.

Other conflicts of the time:
* 1924, the 1924 Estonian coup d'état attempt, 1924 Communist coup d'état attempt;
* 1936, Estonian forces open fire on three Soviet Air Force, Soviet airplanes above Narva;
* 1938, a firefight with Soviet Border Guards on Lake Peipus;
* 1938, a firefight with Soviet Border Guards on Lake Peipus.

World War II (1940–1944)

Estonia declared its Country neutrality (international relations), neutrality in 1938, but was forced to allow Soviet Union, Soviet military bases on its territory in 1939 and was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940. World War II brought a number of sub-conflicts:
* 1940–1944, World War II, World War II (1939–1945):
** 1940, the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1940), Soviet occupation of Estonia;
*** 1940, Estonia Defence Forces, Signals Battalion Battle;
** 1941, the Estonia in World War II#Summer War, Summer War, between Nazi Germany, Germany and the Soviet Union;
*** 1941, Estonian "Forest Brothers" Guerrilla war in the Baltic states, guerrilla war against the Soviet Union;
** 1942–1944, Bombing of Tallinn in World War II, Soviet bombing raids in Estonia;
** 1944, the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1944), Soviet re-occupation of Estonia:
***1944, the Soviet Estonia in World War II#Battles in 1944, offensive in Estonia;
***1944, the Estonian Estonia in World War II#Attempt to restore independence, attempt to restore independence.

Estonians fought on both the Nazi Germany, German and the Soviet Union, Soviet side in the war, in all major battles involving Estonia. Other sub-conflicts of World War II with Estonian volunteers:
* 1939–1940, the Winter War on the Finland, Finnish side and against the Soviet Union.
* 1941–1944, the Continuation War on the Finnish side and against the Soviet Union.

Soviet occupation (1944–1991)

After the Soviet recapture of Estonia, many Estonians went into hiding and waged a low intensity resistance to the Soviet regime:
* 1944–1957/1978, Estonian "Forest Brothers" Guerrilla war in the Baltic states, guerrilla war against the Soviet Union.

During the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states, Soviet occupation, many Estonians were conscripted to the Soviet Armed Forces and were recruited to fight in several List of wars involving Russia#Soviet Union (1922–1991), wars involving the Soviet Union:
* 1944–1957/1978, against the "Forest Brothers" Guerrilla war in the Baltic states, guerrilla war in Soviet-occupied Baltic states;
* 1950–1953, in the Korean War against the United Nations Command, United Nations and allied forces;
* 1956, in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 against Hungarians, Hungarian revolutionaries;
* 1968, in the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia against Czechoslovakia and its allies;
* 1979–1989, the Soviet–Afghan War, against the Islamic Unity of Afghanistan Mujahideen, Sunni Mujahideen.

At the same time, many Estonians#Emigration, émigré Estonians also fought for Western Bloc, Western nations, most notably for the United States, Canada, Australia and for the United Kingdom.
* 1950–1953, in the Korean War against North Korea and its allies, including the Soviet Union;
* 1964–1973, in the Vietnam War against the communist forces, including the Soviet Union.

Independent Estonia (1991–onwards)

Estonia joined the NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004, and has taken part of the following conflicts:
* 2003–2014/present, the War on Terror, War on Terror (2001–present):
** Conflicts:
*** 2003–2009, the Iraq War, Iraq War (2003–2011) as part of the Multi-National Force – Iraq, Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF–I);
*** 2003–2014, the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) as part of the International Security Assistance Force, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
** Peacekeeping missions:
*** 2013, as part of the Operation Active Endeavour, Operation Active Endeavour (OAE) (2001–present) in the Mediterranean Sea.

Estonia has also taken part in several peacekeeping missions:
* 1995, as part of the United Nations Protection Force, United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) (1992–1995) in Croatia;
* 1996–1997 and 2015–onwards, as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) (1978–present).
* 1996–2011, in Bosnia & Herzegovina:
** 1996, as part of the Implementation Force, Implementation Force (IFOR) (1995–1996);
** 1996–2004, as part of the SFOR, Stabilization Force (SFOR);
** 2004–2011, as part of the EUFOR Althea, European Union Force Althea (EUFOR Althea) (2004–present);
* 1999–present, as part of the Kosovo Force, Kosovo Force (KFOR);
* 2010–2013, as part of the Operation Atalanta, Operation Atalanta (EU-NAVFOR-ATALANTA) (2008–present) in Somalia;
* 2014, in the Central African Republic conflict (2012–present), Central African Republic conflict (2012–present) as part of the EUFOR RCA, European Union Force RCA (EUFOR RCA) (2014–present);
* 2018–present, in the Northern Mali conflict, Northern Mali conflict (2012–present) as part of Operation Barkhane, Operation Barkhane (2014–present) and Takuba Task Force, Takuba Task Force (2020–present).

See also

* History of Estonia
* List of wars
* Military history of Estonia
* List of wars involving Russia
* List of wars involving Latvia

References

{{Europe topic, List of wars involving, title=Lists of wars involving European countries

Lists of wars by country, Estonia
Estonian military-related lists, Wars
Wars involving Estonia, *
Estonia history-related lists, Wars