Sulev Vahtre

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Sulev Vahtre (July 6, 1926 – August 31, 2007) was a leading Estonian historian. He was born in Laiuse Parish, which is now part of Jõgeva Parish in Jõgeva County. He studied at the University of Tartu, graduating in 1955, and worked there until 1993. Vahtre focused on Estonian agrarian history, medieval chronicles, cultural history, Estonia’s Christianization in the 13th century, and the St. George’s Night Uprising. He earned his PhD in 1973.

In 1989, Vahtre reestablished the chair of Estonian history at the University of Tartu and led it until his retirement in 1993. He was one of the leading Estonian historians, serving as the chief editor of the Estonian history book series (volumes 4 and 6) and of the Estonian Chronology (first edition 1994, second 2007). His older son Silver Vahtre is an artist, and his younger son Lauri Vahtre is a politician and historian. He died in Tartu in 2007.