Oeselians
Maritime raiders of Saaremaa who resisted Christian conquest.
The Oeselians, also known as Osilians, are a historical name for the people who lived on the Estonian island of Saaremaa (Ösel) prior to the Northern Crusades in the 13th century. They are noted in Viking Age literature as part of the 'Vikings from Estonia' and are mentioned in several historic written sources from the Estonian Viking Age. Their significance lies in their maritime raiding culture and their prolonged resistance against Christian conquest.
- Field
- Baltic maritime raiders and pagans
- Nationality
- Estonian (inhabitants of Saaremaa)
- Known for
- Viking raids, resistance to Northern Crusades, worship of Tharapita
- Language
- Finnic (as evidenced by the phrase 'Laula! Laula! Pappi!')
- Era
- Prior to and during the 13th century Northern Crusades
Lore & Background
The Oeselians were described in the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle as neighbors to the Kurs (Curonians), surrounded by the sea, and never fearing strong armies because their strength was in their ships. In summers, they raided surrounding lands, oppressing both Christians and pagans. They used two types of ships: the piratica, a warship carrying about 30 men with a high prow shaped like a dragon or snakehead and a quadrangular sail, and the liburna, mainly a merchant ship. The Chronicle of Henry of Livonia records a fleet of sixteen ships and five hundred Oeselians ravaging southern Sweden, then belonging to Denmark. Saxo Grammaticus describes a battle on Öland in 1170 where Danish king Valdemar I mobilized his entire fleet to curb incursions by Estonian Vikings and Couronians.
Reader's Guide
The Oeselians are significant for their role as a persistent pagan maritime power in the Baltic Sea during the Viking Age and the Northern Crusades. Their repeated resistance against Danish, Swedish, and German crusading forces—including the Livonian Brothers of the Sword and the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek—demonstrates their military capability and cultural resilience. They formally accepted Christianity in 1227 after the destruction of Muhu Stronghold and surrender of Valjala Stronghold, but later renounced it, leading to further conflicts and treaties in 1241, 1255, and 1261. The 1255 treaty granted extraordinary rights concerning land ownership, inheritance, social system, and exemption from certain religious observances. Their legacy includes the St. George's Night Uprising in 1343, when they killed all Germans on the island and besieged the Livonian Order's castle at Pöide. Saaremaa eventually became part of Denmark in 1559 and Sweden in 1645. The Oeselians are also notable for their worship of the god Tharapita, associated with the Scandinavian god Thor, and a legend linking his flight to a meteor disaster that formed the Kaali crater.
Did You Know?
- The Oeselians used two types of ships: the piratica (warship carrying about 30 men) and the liburna (merchant ship).
- Their god Tharapita was said to have been born on a forested mountain in mainland Estonia and flown to Saaremaa.
- The phrase 'Laula! Laula! Pappi!' (Sing! Sing! Priest!) was recorded by Henry of Livonia as spoken by Oeselians to a captured missionary.
- In 1220, Oeselians attacked a Swedish stronghold at Lihula, killing the entire garrison including the Bishop of Linköping.
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