In 1471, the Teutonic Order's Tolsburg Castle (Estonian: Toolse Ordulinnus) was built on a peninsula on the Gulf of Finland. Tolsburg was the northernmost and youngest order castle in Estonia. Its founder was the master of the Livonian Order, Johann Wolthus von Herse († 1472). The fortress was primarily intended to protect against attacks by pirates. Initially, the castle was a three-storey fortress with a tower. At the end of the 15th century, the fortress was expanded to include an inner and outer courtyard and was specially protected against the use of firearms. The walls were 14 m high and 2 m thick. Later, the order's castle was reinforced with a gate tower and then with a round cannon tower on the north side. During the Livonian War (1558–1583), the castle was destroyed. It was partially rebuilt in the 17th century. During the Great Northern War it was finally destroyed and abandoned at the beginning of the 18th century.