History of Latvia

Prehistory

The first Baltic, Indo-European tribes close to the Lithuanians, as well as Live S, Finno-ugric people, settle around the gulf of Rīga towards 3.000 before J.C. Current Latvia is then on the road of trade between the Viking S and the Greeks as well as the former Russians. The corridor of principal exchange is along the Daugava. The ancestors of the Latvian people then benefit from this flow to organize a trade around the Ambre because this matter is then particularly appraisal.

There really did not exist of social organization with large scales and it is necessary to await the Xe century to see appearing gatherings of tribes. They are at this time there four:

  • the most advanced latgaliens, at the sociocultural level and most (Latgale)
  • sémigaliens, recognized for agriculture (Zemgale)
  • couronniens, called the Baltic Vikings because of their leaning for plundering and the raid (Courlande)
  • the séloniens

Occupation of the Germanic knights

With the IXe century , the tradesmen of the Western Europe use more and more Daugava with business ends, those of Germany involve with them missionaries, with an aim of converting the pagan Baltic tribes with the Christian faith.

1170 : the Princes of the north of the Holy roman Empire launch out in the colonization and the evangelization of banks of the Baltic. To come to end from indigenous resistance (in particular against the ceremony of the baptism), the pope Innocent III invites with the crusade against the “cruel people”. 1201 : Creation of the town of Rīga, head of bridge of the Germanic invasion.

1280 : Rīga enters the Hanseatic League and starts to thrive thanks to the trade of goods coming from Russia. Several military disasters put a crushing argument at the expansion of the teutonic Chevaliers towards the interior of the grounds.

Polish and Swedish occupation

Of 1558 with 1583 : The territory is in prey with the war known as of Livonie, the people of the west and of north accept the faith Lutheran whereas Latgale remains catholic.

1561 : Passage under the sovereignty of Poland, but the German economic domination confers actually a broad autonomy on this province. Following tensions with the Swedes, the latter carry it and divide the territories with the Poles in 1621 .

Russian occupation (empire)

1721 : at the end of the Great War of North, the tsar Pierre Large the seizes Rīga and the Swedish Livonie. Then the Russia takes possession of the provinces remained Polish during the XVIIIe century. Until the First World War, the Latvian provinces is thus managed by the Russian empire. In parallel, an urban and industrial company develops under German control. The abolition of serfdom, the elimination of illiteracy and the social progress allow the birth of a national middle-class beside the Baltic barons, downward of the knights teutonic.

The XIXe century sees the emergence of a Latvian national feeling. One attends during this period an awakening of the Latvian culture. Newspapers are printed in Latvian. Krišjānis Barons continues the work of collection of the Daina S undertook by Fricis Brīvzemnieks of which it publishes the entirety of work, of 1814 with 1915. It forms part, like many intellectuals of the time, the current of thought called the Nouveaux Latvians . Following the latter, the Latvian people start has to claim the same rights as those which reached of other European nations.

Wars and independence

1914-1917: Vis-a-vis the prospect being annexed by German Reich and being again the victims of Pan-Germanism, the Latvian population supports the Russian effort of war massively. But very quickly after the defeat of Tannenberg, the German army enters quickly in Courlande and Riga threat. Most of the population and economic tools of the country are then evacuated towards Moscow and the remainder of the country. The Russian government accepts then in 1915 the formation of Latvian units which symbolize soon the national aspirations. The courage and the heroism of these troops which manage to stop the German advance exceed soon the borders of the country. The Russian army is shown however very little laid out to give them means and to support them, which leads to enormous losses and a stabilization of the face. At the political level, the government tsarist then that of Kerensky (after the revolution of February 1917) refuse to grant any form of political autonomy. The ditch thus increases with Russia.

1917-1918: the collapse of Russia leads to the catch of Riga in September 1917 and the remainder of the Baltic States. The Latvians live until November 1918 under the German military domination and cannot make hear their opinion contrary to the German elites which ask to be attached in form or another in Germany. Part of Latvian divisions then will support the effort of the Bolsheviks and will become the spearhead of the Red Army while fighting the white forces (but of the Latvian units will be also formed in Siberia within the white forces).

1919: In November 1918, the collapse of Germany leads to the entry of the red troops in Latvia. The Latvian elites decide with proclamner independence on November 18th, 1918. Until the summer 1919, the authority of the new Latvian government remains very weak (not administration, few financial means and military, difficulty of convincing the population of its legitimacy). Riga, Latgale and part of Livonie are occupied by the forces Bolsheviks: the Latvian Communists proclaim the birth of a Soviet republic of Latvia. Taken refuge in Libau, the Latvian government is persecuted and persecuted by the German troops which support the old German elites of the country, the " barons baltes". The German volunteers flow and form the famous irregular forces. Riga is released in May 1919 but vis-a-vis the threat of these irregular forces, the allied powers finally decide to react via the military missions and of the allied fleets. Gouverment Latvian can finally settle in Riga in July 1919.

The irregular forces however refuse to evacuate Courlande. Worse, by qualifying from now on troops with the service of a Russian government marionettes (directed by a Bermondt adventurer), they attack the Latvians again and are close conquering Riga again. Only a national start of great width (similar to that of the Marne for France), supported by the combined ships, manages to push back this last attack and with the German evacuation of the country.

In January 1920, the Latvian State can finally start to function in a country having suffered considerably. After reserves (desire to see reappearing strong Russia and doubts about the viability of Latvia), the powers recognize swears Latvia on January 26th, 1921 and accept in September 1921 its entry with the SDN.

The first independence

The Constitution of the February 15th 1922 integrates Latvia into the democratic Occident, whereas a land reform modifies the old structures of the company.

May 15th 1934, Kārlis Ulmanis, one of the fathers of independence, seizes the power by a coup d'etat and installs a dictatorial mode. However, an economic revival calms an already acquired population with Ulmanis.

Russian occupation (the USSR)

Second world war

June 17th, 1940: the USSR enters to Latvia following the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.

August 5th, 1940: following a show of elections the Soviet socialist Republic of Latvia is proclaimed.

In the night from June 13rd to 14th 1941, 35.000 Latvians are off-set in Siberia

July 1941 : Germany occupies the country. There seeing a chance to release itself from the Soviet yoke, many Latvians enlist at the sides of the Wehrmacht. The daily life is terrible, and 85% of the 95.000 Latvian Jews are exterminated.

1941 - 1942 : the Latvian nationalists (group of Arajs) removed 26.000 Latvian Jews.

1943 - 1944 : 15th and the 19th divisions Waffen S were made of Latvians.

In 1944, the USSR " libère" Latvia.

Post-war period

1945 : Nearly 200.000 inhabitants take refuge with the the United States, with the Canada, in Germany or Australia, and of the hundreds of thousands are off-set by Stalin in Siberia. In spite of the resistance armed with the forests of Courlande, the country is standardized little by little.

The years of post-war period are one period of disorders and approximately 120.000 Latvians are off-set towards the goulags of Siberia.

Economic, political and cultural alignment on the Soviet model becomes complete.

1945 - 1990 : During the period when Latvia was a member of the Soviet Union, the country is industrialized thanks to the Soviet investments. The large companies and the ports are created. But the exodus and the deportations led to a deficiency in labor which will be replaced by a majority of Russians. Rīga becomes the fourth larger pole of education in the USSR.

Following the Perestroika, parties are formed in Latvia with like line of sight the independence of the country. Among which: Tautas Fronte (the Popular front), Latvijas Nacionālās Neatkarības Kustība (the Movement of national independence of Latvia) and Pilsoņu Kongress (the Congress of the citizens)

August 23rd 1989 : A human large chain is created through the three Baltic States (of Vilnius to Tallin while passing by Rīga) for the fiftieth birthday of the pact germano-Soviet (Molotov-Ribbentrop pact).

May 4th 1990 : the Supreme Soviet of Latvia and its president Anatolijs Gorbunovs proclaim the return to independence after one transitional period.

Whereas the USSR tries to take again control by the force, the coup d'etat of 1991 in Moscow precipitates the events.

August 21st 1990: the transitional period is raised.

January 20th 1991 : Day of the barricades, declaration of independence.

The second independence

September 6th 1991 : independence is recognized by the international community.

August 31st 1994 : complete withdrawal of the Russian troops

June 17th 1999 : Mrs. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, after 45 years spent to Canada, is elected president of the Republic of Latvia. June 20th 2003 : Mrs. Vike-Freiberga is re-elected president of the Republic of Latvia for a four years mandate.

April 2nd 2004 : Adhesion with NATO

May 1st 2004 : Latvia joined the European Union. May 31st 2007 : The Parliament elects Valdis Zatlers, surgeon 52 year old, chair republic, which succeeds Vaira Vike-Freiberga

See too

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