Enn Tarvel’s International Reach Through His Works on the Polish Rule in Livonia
Enn Tarvel’s International Reach Through His Works on the Polish Rule in Livonia

Summary/Abstract: Enn Tarvel (1932–2021) is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most erudite Estonian historians. His expertise encompassed a wide range of historical topics, includ- ing medieval and early modern history, with a particular focus on the Polish rule in Livo- nia. This article provides insights into Tarvel’s educational background, his self-taught ap- proach to research, and the challenges he faced during his career due to his reluctance to join the party. Despite his significant impact on Estonian scholarship, Tarvel’s international reach was somewhat limited due to the constraints of the Soviet academic system. Notably, Poland played a crucial role in his academic career. Tarvel’s first dissertation, later pub- lished as a book, focused on the management of Polish state manors and the peasantry in southern Estonia during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. This research earned him recognition in Estonia and abroad, particularly in the Eastern Bloc. Tarvel was one of the first Estonian historians to submit his contributions to Polish historical journals. He published articles and other pieces in, for example, Kwartalnik Historyczny and Zapi­ ski Historyczne. The vital role played by his Polish contacts for his academic development is emphasised not only by those articles but also by his research stays in Poland in 1959 and 1969 and his correspondence with Polish scholars in the 1960s and 1970s. Access to Polish archives and libraries facilitated his meticulous research. Tarvel also participated in numer- ous international conferences. However, he was not always able to attend them due to the constraints imposed by the Soviet regime.

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