ABSTRACT
The conqueror considered Estonia as his personal demesne. He had his son Knud appointed duke of Estonia, a title known already from about 1220, and again found in 1229. The king could nevertheless call himself ‘Lord of Estonia’ or even ‘duke’ in the same period, typical of the inconsistencies of medieval constitutional theory and praxis. A viceroy called captain is known from 1240. He was appointed by the king and functioned as his plenipotentiary. Bishop Henrik, the king’s confidential agent, gave his approval. Yet the king’s approval was necessary to extend the validity of the articles beyond two years. A forerunner for such an institution may be found in 1343. The Estonian authorities then apologized for calling up the Order as ‘inevitable necessity, which knows no law’. As to the power of legislation the king on various occasions granted or confirmed the civic rights of Lubeck to the towns of Estonia.
