Virumaa is one of the earliest regions of Estonia, where settlers built their settlements. One of the most prominent
places of such settlements is located nearby Kunda. Some 3 000 years ago there existed a cultivated area at the plateau of
the northern coast. The earliest iron items to be found, had been discovered in Sope (Lüganuse).
Drawing conclusion of the relatively peaceful and quiet period, Viru land was approached by Vikings during 10th – 13th
centuries. Their burial places can be found at the northern and the eastern sides of the county. In the year of 1268, the
Novgorodian army, led by Russian prince Dmitry and Pskovians, under control of Lithuanian prince Daumantas, intervened the
land. The beginning of the 13th century was highlighted by the presence of pillagers from Germany – the Crusaders. In the
years of 1219 – 1220 the people were baptized by Dutch. They had been holding their authority over northern Estonia for
more than a century. In the year of 1346 Dutch sold their possessions to Saxon Order, that time was a starting point of a
new period of peace, which ended up in 1558 with the beginning of the Livon war.
When in 1700 the Northern war began, the Russian army once again stormed into Narva, however, it was encountered and beaten
by the Swedish, whose king at that time was Karl XII. But in 1704 the Russians took revenge by making Narva capitulate, and
subjecting the whole Ida-Virumaa region to Russia. Thnks to the mess of the Russian revolution of 1918, Estonia declared
itself Estonian Republic and again gained it’s independence. The period of liberty ended up in 1940, when, as a result of
political overturn, Estonia became a part of the Soviet Union. When, in the events of the March 1991, when newly schemed
political overturn in Russia failed, Estonian republic again got it’s independence.
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