Jonas Drothenius (aka Drothemius; 21 July 1683 Söderköping – 12 February 1726 Ruhnu), Finnish and Estonian minister.

His father was a minister in the Drothem church in Söderköping, Sweden. Studied 1683–86 in the University of Turku and in 1690 in the University of Tartu.

He acted as a regiment and garrison pastor in Livonia, Koknes on the bank of river Daugava in 1696, a vicar in Rõuge and minister in Hargla in 1701. 1702–26 minister of Ruhnu St. Magdalene congregation.

Several important events in the history of Ruhnu happened during his tenure. On the 5th of July, 1708 the Russians occupied the Swedish garrison on the island; the commandant, lieutenant and two soldiers were killed and the rest got injured. Drothenius escaped to Saaremaa at the last moment. Four years later, the people of Ruhnu got a letter of protection and freedom from the Russian tsar, in 1713 oath of loyalty and allegiance was given to the tsar Peter the Great. At the same time, a separate Ruhnu parish was formed.

Plague which broke out in the beginning of September 1710, had even greater importance. In three months 213 died and only 80 survived – 47 men and 33 women. In seven farms, all the people died and in additional seven, only one survived.

References

• Ylioppilasmatrikkeli 1640–1852 (Helsingin Yliopisto) (in Finnish)
• Die evangelischen Prediger Livlands bis 1918. Böhlau Verlag Köln, Wien 1977

Created in 2013