Balthasar Russow
Illustration — The Chronicle of Livonia by Balthasar Russow, published in 1578 Balthasar Russow (1536–1600) was one of the most important Livonian and Estonian chroniclers. Russow was born in Reval, Livonia (now Tallinn, Estonia). He was educated at an academy in Stettin, Pomerania (now Szczecin, Poland).
Balthasar Russow
Balthasar Russow · Eesti rahva ajalugu By Juhan Libe Tartu: Loodus, 1932. · Public domain
- Born
- 1536 · Tallinn.
- Died
- 1600 · Tallinn.
- Occupation
- writer · historian · cleric · chronicler · pedagogue · theologian
- Known for
- The Chronicle of Livonia
- Languages
- Estonian
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wikidata · Q495702 · wikipedia · Balthasar Russow
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Institutions cited
Bibliothèque nationale de France · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
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Biography
He was the Lutheran pastor of the Estonian congregation at the Holy Spirit Church in Reval from 1566 until his death. Russow is most famous for his Low German-language chronicle Chronica der Provinz Lyfflandt describing the history of Livonia, especially the decline of the Livonian Order and the period of the Livonian War (1558–83). The chronicle was first printed in Rostock in Mecklenburg in 1578 and quickly sold out. The revised edition was printed in 1584. In his work Russow was highly critical of the squander and immorality of the Livonian upper classes. He also complained about the superstitious beliefs and pagan traditions of the Estonian peasants and the venality of mercenary armies during the wars. He praised the rule of the new regional power, Sweden. Russow is the main character in Kolme katku vahel (Between Three Plagues), a four-part historical novel by modern Estonian writer Jaan Kross, the first part published in 1970.
Documentary record
Balthasar Russow appears in the authority records of the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek as a “Chronist”, theologian and educationalist (1536 – 24 November 1600). Balthasar Russow was born in Tallinn (1536) and died in Tallinn (24 November 1600).
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Primary material
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scholarly publication
- Henry of Livonia and Balthasar Russow: The chronicler as literary artist, Journal of Baltic Studies, 1975
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 1975
reference work
- “Balthasar Russow”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q495702: Balthasar Russow
General reference · Wikidata
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The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Balthasar Russow, revision 1362269001 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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Notes from the source article
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- 1.unsicher, nach anderen Quellen 1540 bzw. 1542.
- 2.nach gregorianischem Kalender 3. oder 4. Dezember 1600.
- 3.Chronica Der Provintz Lyfflandt, darinne vormeldet werdt: Wo datsülvige Land ersten gefunden, unde thom Christendome gebracht ys: Wol de ersten Regenten des Landes gewesen sint: Van dem ersten Meister Düdesches Ordens in Lyfflandt, beth up den lesten, unde van eines ydtliken Daden: Wat sick in der voranderinge der Lyfflendeschen Stende, unde na der tydt, beth in dat negeste 1577. Jar, vor seltzame unde wünderlike gescheffte im Lande thogedragen hebben, nütte unde angeneme tho lesende, Korth unde loffwerdich beschreuen, Dörch Balthasar Rüssouwen Revaliensem. Rostock, Gedrücket dörch Augustin Ferber, 1578.
- 4.Chronica. Der Provintz Lyfflandt, darinne vermeldet werdt. Wo dath sülvige Landt ersten gefunden, unde thom Christendome gebracht ys: Wol de ersten Regenten des Landes gewesen sind; van dem ersten Meyster Düdesches Ordens in Lyfflandt beth up den lesten, unde van eines ydtliken Daden. Wat sick in der voranderinge der Lyfflendischen Stende, und na der tydt beth in dat negeste 1583. Jar, vor seltzame und wünderlike Gescheffte im Lande tho gedragen hebben: nütte unde angenehme tho lesende korth und loffwerdich beschreven. Dorch Balthasar Russowen Revaliensem. Thom andern mal mith allem flyte anersehen, corrigeret, vorbetert, und mith velen Historien vormehret dorch den Autorem sülvest. Gedrücket tho Bart in der Förstliken Drückerye, Dorch Andream Seitnern. 1584.
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scholarly publication
Henry of Livonia and Balthasar Russow: The chronicler as literary artist, Journal of Baltic Studies, 1975Crossref registry
Institutional witnessreference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
39,529 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Baltasar GraciánAuthor
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- Balwantray ThakoreAuthor
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