True crime · 1706
The Bible translator beheaded by Tartu's Town Hall Square
Piiblitõlkija, kellelt raiuti pea Tartu Raekoja platsi ääres
Adrian Virginius, pastor of Puhja and later Otepää, edited the first complete New Testament in South Estonian, a milestone of written Estonian. During the Great Northern War, after Russian troops took southern Estonia, he was arrested on a charge of spying for Sweden: he had received letters from Tallinn, still in Swedish hands, and had not reported them to the Russian authorities. In the summer of 1706 he was publicly executed beside Tartu's Town Hall Square, by the ravelin that then stood there; tradition says he was beheaded, a death thought more honourable than the rope, while town councillors were hanged at the same spot.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Puhja ja hiljem Otepää pastor Adrian Virginius toimetas esimese tervikliku lõunaeestikeelse Uue Testamendi, mis on eesti kirjakeele verstapost. Põhjasõjas, pärast seda kui Vene väed olid Lõuna-Eesti vallutanud, vangistati ta süüdistatuna spioneerimises Rootsi kasuks: ta oli saanud kirju veel rootslaste käes olnud Tallinnast ega olnud neist Vene võimudele teatanud. 1706. aasta suvel hukati ta avalikult Tartu Raekoja platsi ääres, seal asunud raveliini juures; pärimuse järgi raiuti tal pea maha, mida peeti auväärsemaks surmaks kui poomist, samas kohas poodi aga ka linnaraehärrasid.