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The name "Latvia" is derived similarly to that of its neighbour state Lithuania, probably from the Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that settled in the area from the 8th century onwards. Trade routes had long been established to Byzantium and Rome bartering Baltic amber for precious metals. In the 12th century Teutonic Knights were sent on a "crusade" to convert the pagan population to Christianity by force of arms.
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In the 13th century the Pope ruled that all Baltic trade must go through Rīga. The city became part of the Hanseatic League, mainly controlled by German merchants.
The Baltic region has during its history come under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes and Russians. |
In the 16th century Livonia (as the region was then called) fell under Lithuanian and Polish rule. In the 17th century it came under Swedish rule. In the 18th century the region was ceded to tsarist Russia.
| The "National Awakening" in the 19th century saw the birth of Latvian nationalism. But only after World War I did an independent Latvian republic emerge. Latvia was again annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, becoming a Soviet Socialist Republic, but was occupied by Nazi German forces for 3 years from 1941 before again coming under Soviet control. The country re-established its independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Some 30% of the population is ethnic Russian, though the last Russian forces left in 1994. Tensions have continued with the often hostile treatment of ethnic Russians, who until EU influence were sometimes refused recognition as Latvian citizens even though born in the country. |
Looting in wartime Daugavpils
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