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The stronghold ruins were first excavated in 1895 by Sergei
Bogojavlenski and P. P. Stackelberg. Between 1962 and 1964 a team led by Aita Kustin conducted excavations, discovering multiple building foundations and stove floors. Archaeological finds from the stronghold included crusader crossbow bolts
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and completely destroyed. The crusader army then laid siege to
Valjala, plundering the island in the process. The defenders of the Valjala Stronghold surrendered and accepted Christianity. This surrender concluded the crusaders’ conquest of Estonia. A mass baptism was organized and a
308:. It is slightly oval shaped, having a diameter about 120 m (390 ft) by 110 m (360 ft). The height of the walls is 3–6 m (9.8–19.7 ft) inside and 5–8 m (16–26 ft) outside. The courtyard includes a limestone-lined well.
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Excavation results, including finds of iron nails, indicate that the stronghold remained in use after the crusade. It was probably demolished, possibly after failed rebellions of 1236–1241 or 1260–1261.
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was built about 1 km (0.62 mi) northwest from the stronghold, marking the starting point of the sacred architectural history in
Estonia.
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The
Valjala Stronghold was founded in the 12th century, and by the time of the crusades had become the main fortress of the island of
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organized a major invasion against
Saaremaa, marching an army of 20,000 men over the frozen sea. The stronghold of
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Crusading and
Chronicle Writing on the Medieval Baltic Frontier: A Companion to the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia
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Mägi, Marika (2004). ""…Ships are their main strength." Harbour sites, arable lands and chieftains on
Saaremaa".
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254:... fort, called Waldia, in the midst of Oesel. Waldia is the strongest city among all those of the Oeselians.
600:"The Fate of Final Iron Age Strongholds of Estonia: struggle for power and transition to the Middle Ages"
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area of 3,600 m (39,000 sq ft), and the only stone castle on
Saaremaa. The nearby
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527:; Bauert, Heikki; Willman, Sebastian; Puurmann, Elle; Ratas, Urve (2009).
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The stronghold is located about 700 m (2,300 ft) south from
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Geotourism highlights of the
Saaremaa and Hiiumaa islands
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Buildings and structures completed in the 12th century
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657:Buildings and structures in Saaremaa
667:Tourist attractions in Saare County
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519:(2). Estonian Academy Publishers.
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513:Estonian Journal of Archaeology
217:Schematic of the stronghold by
57:Location of the site in Estonia
260:Livonian Brothers of the Sword
31:Remnants of Valjala Stronghold
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467:(in Estonian). Valjala School
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203:crusader conquest of Estonia
488:(in Estonian). eestigiid.ee
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291:Remnants of the stronghold
662:Ruined castles in Estonia
536:. Geoguide Baltoscandia.
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435:Tamm & Kaljundi 2016
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372:Tamm & Kaljundi 2016
580:. Bradt Travel Guides.
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101:58.39972°N 22.79472°E
258:In January 1227 the
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647:Castles in Estonia
452:Raukas et al. 2009
420:Raukas et al. 2009
318:Varbola Stronghold
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167:Valjala Stronghold
106:58.39972; 22.79472
465:"Valjala maalinn"
189:on the island of
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16:Castle in Estonia
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642:Livonian Crusade
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561:. Routledge.
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273:stone chapel
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146:13th century
135:12th century
70:Saare County
596:Valk, Heiki
454:, pp. 85–86
408:Taylor 2014
283:Excavations
228:. It was a
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80:Coordinates
636:Categories
623:2018-12-18
549:2018-12-20
492:2019-01-12
471:2018-12-20
329:References
238:Lõve River
151:Site notes
92:22°47′41″E
89:58°23′59″N
618:1406-3867
384:Mägi 2004
357:Valk 2014
342:Valk 2014
234:courtyard
156:Condition
140:Abandoned
598:(2014).
437:, p. 295
410:, p. 260
398:, p. 330
386:, p. 146
374:, p. 329
359:, p. 355
344:, p. 343
312:See also
230:ringfort
226:Saaremaa
199:Oeselian
191:Saaremaa
187:ringfort
179:Estonian
121:Ringfort
66:Location
578:Estonia
422:, p. 75
306:Valjala
248:nobiles
232:with a
209:History
195:Estonia
132:Founded
127:History
74:Estonia
20:Valjala
616:
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534:(PDF)
300:Today
171:Latin
159:Ruins
614:ISSN
582:ISBN
563:ISBN
538:ISBN
266:was
264:Muhu
165:The
117:Type
193:in
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442:^
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144:c.
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169:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
