Modern Era I
The Modern Times witnessed controversial development in Tartu. On one hand, the era brought along destruction, devastation and deportation. On the other hand, Tartu as a city of science and education started to grow.
The years of misery for Tartu began in 1558 when the Russian czar Ivan the Terrible broke out the Livonian War and within a few years, deported all the German citizens. After the Livonian War, the rulers in the city changed in every couple of years until the Swedish reign established till the end of the 17th century.
Still, the years of biggest devastation were to come when the Russian czar Peter the Great ordered to burn down the city and deport all the citizens to Russia in 1708.
Of that period a lamentation by the local priest is well known: „Oh, me, my poorest town of Tartu..."
In the 18th century Tartu severely suffered from four big fires.
During the hard times, the Jesuits established the first Gymnasium in Tartu - which was also the first in Estonia - in the end of the 16th century. Johan Skytte, the Governor-general of the Swedish time, was aware of the fact and re-established the Gymnasium in the 17th century.
After some years the Gymnasium initiated by Skytte became Academia Gustaviana, or Universitas Dorpatensis, Alma Mater.
At the end of the 17th century one of the first educated Estonians, Bengt Gottfried Forselius established a Seminar in Tartu to teach young Estonian peasants to read and write, and be teachers in the countryside.
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Gustav Adolf |
Universitas Tartuensis |
