The Most Important Dates of Latvian History

The most important dates in Latvian history are closely connected with formation of Latvian nation and peoples fight for their independence.
Very long time Latvians were under the rule of other nations. The first nation who came to Latvia’s territory and subordinated people who lived here was Germans. At the very end of 12th century, German traders arrived and with them came preachers of the Christian faith who attempted to convert the pagan Baltic and Finno-Ugrian tribes to the Christian faith. Because of Balts unwillingly converted to the new and different beliefs and practices, the Roman Pope decided that Crusaders should be sent into Latvia to influence situation. The Germans founded Riga in 1201, and gradually it became the largest and the most beautiful city in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. The 16th – 17th centuries were a time of great changes for the inhabitants of Latvia; because today’s Latvian territory came under Polish, but later under Swedish rule. After the so-called “Livonian War” (1558 – 1583) Latvian territory came under Polish-Lithuanian rule. However after the Polish – Swedish war (1600 – 1629) Riga came under Swedish rule. Thanks to that events, in the 1600s consolidation of the Latvian nation occurred, with the merging of the Latgallians, Selonians, Semgallians and Livians a culturally unified nation that spoke common language developed – the Latvians. Russians were interested in Latvia’s territory and by the end of the 18th century, all of Latvia’s territory was under Russian rule. …