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Geography & Travel
Tartu
Estonia
Also known as: Derpt, Dorpat, Tarbatu, Yuryev
Category:
Geography & Travel
- German and Swedish:
- Dorpat
- Formerly (until 1893):
- Derpt and (1893–1918) Yuryev
Tartu, old university city of southeastern Estonia, on the Ema River. The original settlement of Tarbatu dates from the 5th century; in 1030 the Russians built a fort there called Yuryev. From the 13th to the 16th century, the town was a prosperous member of the Hanseatic League. Then held in turn by Poles (1582–1600, 1603–25) and Swedes (1600–03, 1625–1704), it was finally annexed to Russia by Peter I (the Great) in 1704. The city was devastated by fire in 1775 and was largely rebuilt in classical style. It suffered heavily again during World War II. Its university, founded in ...(100 of 181 words)