"Rotalia” - Estonian corporation in St. Petersburg (1913-1918)

Relevance. At the end of 19th - beginning of 20th centuries there was a new rise in the national movement in the Russian Empire. The increase of number of organizations struggling for political independence and / or cultural identity was also echoed in higher education. Student national societies were created in large university cities. Despite their common goal (the struggle for national autonomy) they could hold different political views: from revolutionary to deemed “apolitical” i.e. conservative ones. A striking example of the latter was the Estonian corporation ‟Rotalia”. Method or methodology. To bridge the existing historiographic gap, we will resort to the historical and biographical method. Through the memories and life path of the most famous members of the corporation, the main stages of the organization's activities will be restored. Results. The method we have chosen made it possible to supplement the poor archival evidence of the organization's activities, expand the understanding of the customs, life and traditions of the Estonians in St. Petersburg. It also allowed to determine the place of ‟Rotalia” in the political spectrum of student self-organizations. Conclusions. The material we worked out allowed us to highlight in more detail the St. Petersburg / Petrograd period of the existence of ‟Rotalia” and at the same time to reveal the political views of its participants. The leaders of this corporation adhered to conservative views and tried to stay away from active political life, being concentrated on educational activities and organizing mutual assistance. At the same time they consistently and consciously distanced themselves from the socialist Estonian societies.