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"From Tribe to Nation", a Brief History of Latvia

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From Tribe to Nation A Brief History of Latvia 1 Cover photo: Popular The history of Latvia is one which its people are demonstration on very proud of. It is a history of the birth and de- Dome square, 1989 velopment of an idea of an independent nation, and a consequent struggle to attain it, maintain it, Above: A Zeppelin and renew it. above Rīga in 1930 Despite its importance in Latvia, generally its histo- Below: Participants ry is not entirely unique – the changes which swept of the XXV Nationwide through the territory of Latvia over the last two Song and Dance dozen centuries were tied to the ever changing Celebration in 2013 map of Europe, and the shifting balance of power. From the Viking conquests and German Crusades, to the recent World Wars, the territory of Latvia, strategically located on the Baltic Sea between the Scandinavian region and Russia, was very much part of these events, and shared their impact es- pecially closely with its Baltic neighbours. What is unique, perhaps, and also attests to the importance that history holds in Latvia today, is how the growth and development of a nation, initially as a mere idea, even though Latvia did not gain independence until the first half of the 20th century, permeated all these events through the centuries. In this brief history of Latvia you can read how Latvia grew from tribe to nation, how its history intertwined with the changes throughout Europe, and how through them, or perhaps despite them, Latvia came to be a country with such a proud and distinct national identity 1 3 Incredible Historical Landmarks Left: The people of The Baltic Way – this was one of the most creative Latvia united in the non-violent protest activities in history. On August Baltic Way, 19:00 on 23, 1989, approximately two million people joined August 23, 1989 hands to form a human chain spanning over 600 kilometers across the three Baltic States – Esto- Above: Handwritten nia, Latvia, Lithuania –all part of the Soviet Union at folksong entry from the the time. The Baltic Way was arranged on the 50th original Dainas archive anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact which led to the occupation of the Baltic States in 1940, Below: Latvian Army and aimed to draw global attention to the unlawful forces in Old Rīga during occupation of the countries. a battle with the army of Bermondt-Affair – this was the greatest victory Bermondt-Avalov, in Latvian military history. 32 000 Latvian troops November 1919 against 45 000 troops led by Bermondt, 20 Lat- vian cannons against Bermondt’s 100, 3 Latvian planes against Bermondt’s 100 – against all odds the Latvian Army, supported by the Estonian navy and armoured trains, succeeded in defending Rīga against the so called West Russian Volunteer Army in November 1919. The event, known as Lāčplēša Diena, is still commemorated today by lighting candles in house windows and on the bank of the river Daugava. Dainas – this is a traditional form of music or poet- ry, usually consisting of four lines in quatrain form. Dainas are specifically Latvian in their structure, thematic sentiments, and worldview. Dating back well over a thousand years, more than 1.2 million texts and 30,000 melodies have been identified and collected; they were first published between 1894 and 1915. 2 3 Not Quite Latvian yet Left: Āraiši lake dwelling Latvia as a country appeared on the map of Europe after the First World War, relatively recently, but prede- site with original and cessors of the Latvian people arrived in the territory long before then – as tribes and settlers who lived on reconstructed the banks of the river Daugava, then as merchants who built trade routes from north to south, and west to remnants of Latgalian east, or took advantage of the Gulf of Rīga to access other markets farther away. (proto-Latvian) settlements from Gradually the settlers and merchants formed the Baltic tribes, which over many centuries became the 9th-10 th century Latvian people. On the whole, in the beginning, instead of the history of Latvia, we can look at the history of the people in the territory known today as Latvia, and the gradual development of a national identity, subsequently a nation, and eventually, a country. Elsewhere in the world Finno-Ugrian peoples, Amber trade flourishes 5000BC ancestors of present- Baltic peoples, ancestors Early Livonian people in the region, and is sold Ancient Greece at- day Finns and Estonians of present-day Lithuani- move to coastal areas as far away as Ancient tempts to expand arrive. ans and Latvians, arrive. around the Gulf of Rīga. Rome. eastwards, but is met ~ 3000 B.C. ~ 2000 B.C. ~ 1800 B.C. ~ 100 A.D. with resistance from Persia, starting the Greco-Persian Wars Gradually four individual 44BC – 1453 AD Baltic tribal cultures The Roman Empire develop: Couronians, 541AD Latgallians, Selonians, The Couronian tribe The Justinian Plague Semigallians. Each tribe grows in strength, and breaks out and kills 50% is headed by a tribal becomes a feared oppo- of Europe’s inhabitants leader. nent to invading forces. 790-1066AD 900 A.D. onwards 900 A.D. onwards The Viking Age 5 Crusades to Christianize the Baltics begin, led by German bishops. The The Current proto-Latvian Curonians, Semigalians, Selonians Rīga is founded near the Arrival of German mer- and Latgalians, as well site of a Liv village on the Viking raids and con- chants and Christian mis- as the Livs, oppose the confluence of Rīdzene Territory quests in the Baltic area. sionaries to the Baltics. invaders. and Daugava rivers. IX – XI c. Late XII c. 1198 1201 of Latvia in Ever Livonia is established in today’s territory of Latvia Russia attempts to con- and Estonia. Germans Most Latvians join the quer the territory. The Li- Rīga becomes an im- become the ruling class, Lutheran church, with vonian army jointly with a Changing Europe portant trading post German knights become the exception of Latgale force of local conscripts and joins the Hanseatic landed barons and retain where Catholicism pre- staves off the forces of League. privileges until WW1. vails to this day. Tsar Ivan III. XIII c. 1282 XIII – XIV c. XVI c. 1501-1503 After incursions of Ivan Rīga is conquered by Duke Jacob Kettler, the The map of Europe was ever-changing in the 8th- the Terrible’s army, Dan- the Kingdom of Sweden, apogee of the Duchy The written form of Lat- 18 th centuries as the importance and might of na- ish and Polish-Lithuanian who reduce German of Courland, under the vian is developed by Ger- tions shifted, empires were built, collapsed, built forces, the Livonian Or- baron privileges. The Polish Lithuanian king, man priests, culminating by others, and territories deemed useful or desir- der surrenders. Territo- period becomes known founds colonies in Gam- in a translation of the Bi- able, whether it be for location, natural resources, ries to the east of the as the “good Swedish bia in Africa, and on the ble by Father Ernst Glik trade or other reasons, were invaded or fought Daugava come under times”. Eastern Latvia re- Caribbean island of To- of the Alūksne Lutheran over. The territory of Latvia, with its highly stra- Polish rule. mains under Polish rule. bago. parish. tegic location between the Scandinavian countries 1561-1583 1621 1651-1654 XVII c. 1685 and Russia, was very much a part of these chang- es and power struggles. Elsewhere in Europe 170 0 - 1721 As a result of the Great During the First Partition Over the centuries the territory which is today The Great Northern War Northern War, Rīga sur- of Poland, conducted Above: Rīga harbour known as Latvia experienced the rule of the Cru- between the Russian renders to Peter the by the Russian Empire, on the Daugava river saders, Poles and Lithuanians, Swedes, Russians, and Swedish Empires Great. Northern Latvia Prussia and Habsburg in 1863 and Germans. Each new ruler of the territory sub- 1775 - 1783 comes under Russian Austria, eastern Latvia During the Third Parti- jugated the local tribes, but also brought some- The American War of rule, and peasants be- (Latgale) becomes part tion of Poland the Duchy Below: Rundāle – thing new to the area and influenced the devel- Independence against come serfs of their Ger- of the Russian province of Courland becomes a a distinguished baroque opment of culture and trade, and, by lesser or the United Kingdom man barons. of Polotsk. Russian province. palace, designed by greater form of oppression, sparked the forma- 1789 - 1799 1710 1772 1795 Bartolomeo Rastrelli tion of the idea of an independent Latvian nation. The French Revolution 6 7 The First Signs of National Awakening Left: Poster for the The 19th century brought with it the start of the development of a distinctly Latvian national identity. The first Latvian Song Celebration books were published in the Latvian language, cities and towns in the territory grew in size and prominence. with a famous poem The abolishment of serfdom went hand in hand with the emergence of a Latvian working class, increase in “Nevis slinkojot un economic independence and migration to cities. The level of education also increased and resulted in the pūstot” by Juris Alunāns, formation of a cultural and political awareness. designed by H. Šics, Several crucial cultural and social developments took place and played a key role in the growth of a national 1873 identity – such as the first Nationwide Song and Dance Celebration, a tradition which continues to this day; publishing of the vast collection of Latvian folk songs (the Dainas) and of the first Latvian novels, signifying an important and symbolic accomplishment in the formation of the literary Latvian language.
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