Estonia under Swedish rule signifies the time between 1558 and 1710, when parts of present-day
Estonia (and after 1645 all of the present-day country) were under
Swedish rule. In the wake of the breakup of the
State of the Teutonic Order, the
Baltic German local aristocracy in the areas of Harrien (
Harjumaa) and Wierland (
Virumaa), as well as the city of Reval (
Tallinn) in June 1561 (and somewhat later Jerwen (
Järvamaa)) asked for and were granted protection by the Swedish king
Eric XIV, leading to Swedish involvement in the
Livonian War. At the conclusion of hostilities in 1583, Sweden was in control of the northern parts of modern Estonia and
Hiiumaa island; this territory was created the
Duchy of Estonia. Following renewed wars between
Poland and
Sweden, the southern parts of present-day Estonia (then
Livonia) were incorporated into Sweden by the
Treaty of Altmark in 1629. In 1645, Sweden also conquered the island of Ösel (
Saaremaa) from
Denmark, and were thus in control of all of present-day Estonia.