Danish Estonia (13th–17th century)

Danish Estonia refers to the territories of present-day Estonia that were ruled by Denmark firstly during the 13th–14th centuries and again during the 16th–17th centuries. Denmark rose as a great military and mercantile power in the 12th century. It had an interest to end the occasional Estonian and Couronian pirate attacks that threatened its Baltic trade. Danish fleets attacked Estonia in 1170, 1194, and 1197. In 1206, King Valdemar II and archbishop Andreas Sunonis led a raid on Ösel island, Saaremaa. The Kings of Denmark laid a claim on Estonia as their possession, which was recognised by the pope. In 1219 the Danish fleet landed in the major harbor of Estonia and defeated the Estonians in the Battle of Lindanise that brought Northern Estonia under Danish reign until the Estonian uprising in 1343, when the territories were taken over by the Teutonic Order and sold by Denmark in 1346.^[7]

Early relations with Estonia (1918–1921)

About 200 Danish volunteers took part in the Estonian War of Independence from 1918 to 1920 comprising the Danish-Baltic Auxiliary Corps led by Danish officer Borgelin.^[8] In 1918, Estonian statesman Jaan Tõnisson travelled to Denmark to head the Estonian Foreign Delegation. The Estonian Foreign Delegation situated in Copenhagen was the headquarter for Estonia to seek international recognition from other countries.^[9] On 5 February 1921, diplomatic relations were established with Flemming Lerche appointed envoy to Estonia with residence in Helsinki. The next year J.C. Johansen was appointed consul general in Tallinn.^[3] Johansen was the only foreign diplomatic envoy in Tallinn during the Estonian Independence War.^[10] Economically, relations were minimal as Estonia was reorganizing much of its industries and the Land Reform of 1919 only made the two countries competitors on the international agricultural market.^[11] In 1926, Estonia picked Ernst Carlsen as general consul in Copenhagen while a couple of consulates were opened all around the city.^[12]

On 18 December 1926, both countries established a conciliation commission.^[13] On 13 May 1930, an agreement on reciprocity was signed.^[14]

Relations with Soviet Estonia (1940–1991)

Denmark never recognized the Soviet occupation of Estonia. The Estonian government in exile was maintained by its foreign minister in-exile and representative to Denmark August Koern.^[15]

After the Soviet occupation of Estonia, Moscow ordered all diplomats abroad to return. However, after consultations with Germany, Denmark refrained from ordering Koern to leave which imitated the policy of the Germans. However, Denmark meticulously began a policy of removing all traces of the Baltic countries in the country, including ordering telecommunications companies to remove all Baltic diplomatic and consular representations from their telephone books.^[16] From 1941 to 1952, many Estonian refugees fled to Denmark.^[17] From 1945 to 1964, Denmark and the Soviet Union held difficult negotiations on compensation for the Danes who had their properties in Estonia due to nationalization policies. The Soviet Union urged Denmark to publicly admit that Estonia was part of Soviet sovereignty, concessions which Danish politicians would not give. Nonetheless, at a meeting with Andrey Vyshinsky, Danish negotiator Frants Hvass failed at expressing the Danish stance unambiguously which the Russians believed was sufficient enough. Ultimately, the two countries signed an agreement in February 1964 wherein the Soviets would pay Denmark 2.6 million DKK as compensation. Initially, the Danish demanded 20 million DKK.^[18]

Official contacts between Denmark and Soviet Estonia were minimal until the Singing Revolution which culminated with Danish Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann-Jensen signing an agreement with his Estonian counterpart Lennart Meri on renewing diplomatic relations, on 24 August 1991.^[15]

Modern relations

In the 1990s, Denmark pursued a policy which aimed at incorporating Estonia into the European Union, NATO and Council of Europe.^[20] From 1992 to 2003, the total Danish assistance to Estonia amounted to 147 million euro for defense, environment and fishing.^[21] Support to integrate the Russian minority also had a high priority.^[22]

Royal visits

Queen Margrethe II visited Estonia in 2001 and 2019.^[36][37] The unofficial visit in 2001 was to the former Danish-controlled Saaremaa hosted by President Lennart Meri.^[36] Crown Princess Mary visited Estonia in 2014.^[38]