Jaan Paulus

Jaan (Ivan) Paulus (1896–?) was a charismatic leader of the Velise revolutionaries who boldly proclaimed the Estonian Republic during the 1905 uprising, declaring himself its president at Haimre Manor. His declaration marked a pivotal moment in Estonia's struggle for independence, as he rallied the people to seize power from the ruling Tsar Nikolai II, symbolizing the birth of a new national order and a vision for a future where Estonia belonged to its people rather than foreign rulers.