Helmet

58° 1′ N , 25° 53′ E 

Helme Castle was founded in the first half of the 14^th century (presumably, around 1329). A major battle of the First Russo-Livonian War of 1500—1503 took place under the walls of this castle. In 1563 it passed to Sweden as part of the dowry of Catherine Jagiellon who married Duke John of Finland, the future King of Sweden (from 1568). Helme is associated with the defection of Prince Andrey Kurbsky on 30 April 1564. The Prince defected Ivan the Terrible and fled from Livonian Yuriev after prior agreement with the Lithuanians. Having missed the people sent to meet him, he headed for Helme where he was captured by the local soldiers who were unaware of the details of his treason. Kurbsky was assaulted, robbed and humiliated. Astonished by this inhospitality he left for Wolmar where he wrote a letter to John the Terrible accusing the Czar of all his troubles.

Tags: castles and fortresses, 16 century