Baltic German nobility

Baltic German nobility consisted of German-speaking aristocrats who settled in the Baltic region (Estonia and Latvia) from the medieval period through the early 20th century. They held significant land, political, and social influence, often governing local communities and maintaining a distinct cultural identity. As a privileged minority within the largely Baltic and Russian populations, they played key roles in regional governance, military, and economy. Their status declined after Estonia and Latvia gained independence around 1918, leading to land reforms that redistributed noble estates and diminished their traditional power.