The territory of Latvia has been inhabited since 9,000 BC. Archaeological discoveries show that people settled at the river Daugava, which later became an important transport route. The Vikings used it to travel to Greece, and later other tradesmen used the strategically location of Latvia.

 

In this period four tribes were established; Couronians, Latgallians, Selonians and Semigallians. The Latgallian tribe was known for its socio-political development and the Couronians as the Baltic Vikings due to intensive invasions of their costal location.

The Selonian and the Semigallian tribes were the peace loving farmer tribes of Latvia at that.

 

German Crusaders  

Around 1190 German traders and missionaries arrived. They had discovered the strategic geographical location of Latvia and wanted to conquer the country. The missionaries aimed at converting the pagan Baltic to the Christian faith.

 

Loyalty to the pantheistic beliefs made it hard work for the German missionaries and finally the Pope in Rome send German crusaders to conquer Latvia.

In 1201 Riga was founded and German’s 700 years of domination of Livonia began.

 

Riga became an important trades centre and in 1282 the city joined the powerful trading organisation Hansa, the Hanseatic League. Later Cesis, Limbazi, Koknese and Valmiera followed.

 

Polish and Swedish influence  

In 1561 the southern part of Latvia was taken over by Poland, and the German Livonia fell apart.

With the Polish rule Catholicism made its entry in Latvia, and in the region of Latgale it is still the dominating religion today.

 

But in 1629 Sweden conquered part of Latvia including Riga. Sweden was at that time supplied with wheat from Latvia, and Riga turned into the largest and most developed city in the Swedish Kingdom.

 

Russian Empire and national consciousness 

In the beginning of the 18th century Russia took over power in Latvia, and the country developed into one of Russia’s most important provinces.

Europe experienced a growing national consciousness in the 19th century and Latvians followed the trend.

But the Independence did not become a reality before the end of the First World War. On November 18, 1918, Latvia obtained independence and this was even recognised by Soviet Russia.

 

Brief freedom feeling  

A secret agreement between Soviet and Germany ended the freedom. In 1940 Soviet forcibly incorporated Latvia into the Soviet Union, and thousands of Latvians were brutally taken to prison or deported to Siberia.

 

From 1941-44 Nazi German occupied Latvia and 90 percent of the Latvian Jews were killed. But in 1944 Soviet took over Latvia again and once again brutal deportations began. Two- thirds of the Latvian intellectuals fled to Western Europe, but the residual Latvians were under more than 40 years of Soviet occupation.

 

The Latvian farmers were forced into collectivisation and Soviet propaganda troubled the use of Latvian language and culture.

 

Today’s Latvia  

In the late 1980’s the first open protests against the Soviet rule took place. 2 million Estonian, Latvians and Lithuanians made a human chain of 600 kilometres. By joining hands the chain reached from Tallinn to Riga and further to Vilnius.

 

Softening within the Soviet regime known as “Glasnost” made Latvian nationally oriented organisations working for independence seize the opportunity of making changes.

And on 21st of August 1991 Latvia is finally completely recognised as a fully independent state.

 

Since then, Latvia has experienced astounding growth and development, and in 2004 the country became a member of both NATO and the European Union.

 

To read more about Latvian history or to see a historical timeline, please visit www.li.lv