Guilds and brotherhoods
· Vanalinn
Armoury of the Blackheads
The Blackheads’ arms recall that a merchant brotherhood also had duties in the defence of Tallinn.
The Brotherhood of Blackheads is known for festivities and its grand house, but its members were also expected to take part in protecting the city. Acquiring, keeping and organising weapons required a different kind of order within the same association. The idea of an armoury captures that practical role, though the form and inventory of any surviving room require historical evidence. A merchant’s responsibilities did not end at the marketplace.
Practical information
Address: Pikk 26
See the House of the Blackheads at Pikk 26. Do not assume a historic armoury survives as a publicly accessible original room.