Varbola ( Latin Castrum Warbole ) is a fortress in the territory of the modern Estonian district of Harju County . One of the largest fortresses with a circular rampart and a large shopping center of the X — XII centuries.
In ancient Russian chronicles it is mentioned as “the city of Sparrow” or “Sparrow nose”. It was heavily fortified ( limestone wall about 580 meters long and 8-10 m high). The area is about 2 hectares. High defensive towers and long gateways with several gates were erected to protect the entrance to the fortress.
Excavations of 1938-1941 and 1953 showed that Varbola arose in the X century.
It is first mentioned as Castrum Warbole in the chronicles of Henry of Latvia in 1211 when it was besieged by Novgorodians and Pskovites under the command of Prince Mstislav Mstislavich Udatny and forced to pay tribute.
At the beginning of the XIII century, an important stronghold of the Estonians in the fight against the Order of the Swordsmen during the Livonian Crusade .
Varbola lost its significance in the second half of the XIV century, was destroyed and abandoned, playing an important role during the peasant war in Estonia (1343–1345) for the liberation of the country from the German-Danish yoke.
The ruins of the fortress stand to this day.
Literature
- Soviet historical encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1962. - T. 2. - St. 964.
- Moora H. A. On the results of a study of the settlements of the Estonian SSR // Ancient settlements and settlements: Archeol. Sat - Tallinn, 1955. - Sat. 1. (In Est.