Virumaa , Vironia , Virland , Viru region ( Est. Virumaa , Est. Viru regioon , German Wierland ) is a historical region in the north-east of Estonia .
Before the 13th century Livonian Crusade, the Vironians were pagans, had several fortified points, and were divided into five clans (kilikunda):
- Maum (t. Mahu ),
- Laemund (t. Lemmu and Pudiviru ),
- Askele
- Revele (t. Rebala ),
- Alentagh (t. Alutaguse ).
During the conquest of the country of Virumaa - one of the six maakondas of continental Estonia - the Vironians participated in the battle of Viljandi, fatal for the independence of the region , in 1217.
Then Virumaa became an arena of struggle between Danish and German knights, since 1238 - as part of Danish Estonia . In 1268, the Battle of Rakovors between the Russian and German-Danish coalitions took place on the territory of Virumaa. In the XIV-XVI centuries the territory was owned by the Livonian Order .
It is currently divided into two Estonian counties: Ida-Virumaa (East Virumaa) and Lääne-Virumaa (West Virumaa). Largest cities:
- Narva
- Kohtla-Järve
- Rakvere
- Johvi
- Sillamae .