Haapsalu Castle Haapsalu Episcopal Castle, is a castle with cathedral in Haapsalu, western Estonia. It was founded in the thirteenth century to be a center for Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek. When there is a full moon in the month of August, it is said that an image of a maiden, the White Lady, appears on the inner wall of the chapel. On full moon nights in August an image of a maiden, The White Lady, is said to appear on the inner wall of the chapel. In 1228, the Archbishop of Riga formed a new diocese consisting of Läänemaa, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa and designated Gottfried, an abbot of Dünamünde Cistercian monastery, as the bishop
History Archaeological evidence of the first human settlement in Hiiumaa dates to as early as the 4th century BC. The first documented record of the island of Dageida was made by contemporary chroniclers in 1228, at the time when Hiiumaa, along with the rest of Estonia, had been conquered by Germanic Crusaders. In 1254, Hiiumaa was divided between the Bishoprick of Ösel-Wiek and the Livonian branch of the Teutonic order who were also partly acting on behalf of the Hanseatic league The island was part of Swedish Estonia from 15631720, after which it passed to the Russian as part of the Governorate of Estonia, although Dagö's Swedish population kept most of their privileges. Most of the island's previously numerous Swedish speaking population emigrated or were "Estonia" during the period of Imperial Russian rule, although a small minority remains to this day
Piiskopkond asus Kura poolsaarel ning selle stift (piiskopi ilmaliku võimu ala) oli jaotatud Liivi ordu valdustega kolmeks osaks. Selle keskus oli Piltenes, suuruseks umbes 4500 km², sealhulgas kuulus selle alla ka Ruhnu saar. Piiskopkonna dlötseesi kuulusid orduvaldustest Kuldga ja Vindavi komtuurkonnad ning Grobia ja Kandava foogtkonnad. Saare-Lääne piiskopkond (ladina keeles Ecclesia Osiliensis, saksa keeles Bistum Oesel- Wiek) oli katoliku kiriku piiskopkond ja ühtlasi riik, mille territooriumid asusid Läänemaal, Saaremaal ja Hiiumaal. Tartu piiskopkonna moodustasid Ugandi maakond ja Vaiga lõunaosa, suurusega umbes 9600 km². Piiskop oli ühtaegu nii ilmalik kui ka vaimulik võimukandja. Stifti (ilmaliku võimuala) ja diötseesi (vaimuliku võimuala) piirid olid erinevad. Tartu piiskopi diötseesi kuulusid ka Liivi ordu läänid Edela- ja Kesk-Eestis. Piiskopkonna keskuseks oli Tartu, kus
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