Karkus (Karksi)

58° 06′ 17″ N, 25° 33′ 53″ E

Karksi Castle. The fort on the hills where now only the ruins of Karksi castle have survived is first mentioned in 1248. The wooden fortification was built on the site of the destroyed Estonian stronghold. It was destroyed by a Lithuanian raid in 1298. In 1357 the construction of a stone castle began. Its layout consisted of individual fortifications located on several hills separated by moats. In 1560 Karksi passed under Polish control, and in 1563 passed to to Sweden as part of the dowry of Catherine Jagiellon who married Duke John of Finland, the future King of Sweden (from 1568). In 1573 Karksi castle was conquered by the Russians and given to Duke Magnus (it was reported to be domain of his spouse Maria of Staritsa). In 1578, after Magnus' defection, the castle passed to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It is situated near Karksi-Nuia town in Estonia.

Karkus 1 site