Estonia - Narva

Narva (Estonian: Narva; Russian: Нарва, Narva) is the third largest city in Estonia. It is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, by the Russian border, on the Narva River which drains Lake Peipus.

History

People settled in the area during 5th to 4th millennium BC, as witnessed by the archeological traces of the Narva culture, named so after the city. The settlement was first mentioned in the First Novgorod Chronicle as Rugodiv (Ругодивъ) under the year 1171.

The castle of Narva was founded during the Danish rule of northern Estonia on November 30, 1223. The castle and surrounding town of Narva became a possession of the Livonian Order after 1346. Captured briefly by Russians in 1558, Narva changed hands a few times, and after 1581 was controlled by Sweden.

During the Great Northern War, Narva was the setting for its first great battle between the forces of King Charles XII of Sweden and Tsar Peter I of Russia. Although outnumbered, the Swedish forces achieved a tactical victory over the Russians. The city was subsequently reconquered by Russia in 1704.

Narva became part of independent Estonia in 1918 following World War I. It was made part of the Estonian SSR in 1940 during World War II. The old center of Narva was destroyed by the Red Army and retreating Germans during the Battle of Narva (1944); it has never been completely rebuilt.