Sakala County

Sakala County (Estonian: Sakala, Latin: Saccalia) was an ancient Estonian county first mentioned in print by Henry of Latvia in the beginning of the 13th Century.

Sakala County is situated in north-western Livonia, covering approximately the present territories of Viljandi, the southern half of Pärnu, and a western third of Valga maakond. It was the southernmost of the ancient Estonian counties.

According to one hypothesis, tribe of Sosols mentioned in Old East Slavic chronicles imply to people of Sakala. Chronicles say that Kievan Rus organized military campaign against Sosols in 1060 and taxed them. Year later Sosols rose up, destroyed Kievan Rus fort in Tartu and tried to attack Pskov.

After the Livonian Crusade the county became a part of the Livonian Confederation.

In Sackalian folklore, the neighbouring Ugaunians (ugalased) were enemy warriors and robbers. For instance, a folk song from Viljandi (the capital of Sackalia) calls for speeding up the harvest work because Ugaunians might attack.

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