The History of Raplamaa The history of Raplamaa is long and complex and very rich in several events and landmarks that have been important for the development of Estonia and that have tested the self-consciousness and activeness of the Rapla people. The main part of the county comprises of Ancient-Harjumaa region. The area was at the end of the Ancient Era (13th century) a well-developed and densely populated area. This is proven by the number of archeological monuments – one-third of the 375 monuments in the county are located here. Also, the existence of strong kihelkonna centres (Keava, Loone, Varbola) and densely populated villages (Kabala, etc.) is proof of that. The western half of the county belonged to Ancient-Läänemaa and was less densely populated. Part of Kõnnumaa belonged to the small county of Alempois and was largely uninhabited – this is proven by the scarcity of archeological findings. From 13th century there is evidence of close cooperation between Harjumaa, Rävala, Läänemaa and Saaremaa. Raplamaa was the place where they gathered for their meetings – at Raikküla “kärajad.” After the conquering of Estonia, Raplamaa county was divided: Harjumaa – for the Danes, Läänemaa – for the Saare-Lääne bishop and Alempois – for the Livonian Order. Church parishes were formed – Hageri, Juuru, Märjamaa, Rapla and Vigala. Also, Kullamaa, Nissi, Türi and Vändra parishes extended to Raplamaa. The 1343 Jüriöö uprising – the last great resistance of Estonians to foreign power – started precisely in modern day Raplama (Southern-Harju). The freedom achieved for a very short time cost a lot – during the “calming down” period, the land was largely turned empty and abandoned. Harjumaa was taken by the Livonian Order. Liivi War (1558-1583) largely destroyed the area again and the extensive uprising of 1560 failed. The biggest battle took place in Ruunavere (in the northwestern part of the county) where “there was blood up to the knees of horses” – which is how the place got its name. The issuing of a new peasant law in 1858 brought along extensive talurahva uprisings that culminated in so-called Mahtra War. The echo of this war reached outside of Estonia as well and significantly influenced the policies towards peasants of the Russian czarist state that followed. The 1905 revolution was stormier in modern day Raplmaa than elsewhere in Estonia. A number of armed conflicts took place in Alu, Hageri, Velise, etc. Half of the manor houses burnt and destroyed in Estonia during that time are located in Rapla County. Before the Second World War the modern day Raplamaa was divided into Harju (Hageri, Juuru, Järvakandi, Kehtna, Kohila, Kuimetsa, Raikküla, Rapla and Varbola rural municipalities), Lääne (Kullamaa, Märjamaa, Velise and Vigala rural municipalities), Pärnu (Lelle rural municipality) and Järva (Käru rural municipality) Counties. The direct predecessor of the current county was the Rapla district which was formed in 1950 of what was in those days the southern part of Harjumaa. In 1959 a part of the Türi district was added and in 1962, a part of the Vändra district and almost all of the Märjamaa district. The Rapla County in its current borders and name has existed since 1 January 1990. | 
