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Ungannians
Ugaunians or Ugannians (; ), referred to as Chudes by the earliest Russian chronicles, were a historic Finnic people inhabiting the southern Estonian Ugandi County (; also ''Ugania'', ''Ugaunia'') that is now Tartu, Põlva, Võru and Valga counties of Estonia. The name and the territory In modern Estonian literature, the province of Ugaunia is called ''Ugandi'' or ''Ugala''. The name ''Ugandi'' is derived by associating Ugaunia with the name of ''Uandimägi'' hill near Otepää. In Latvian, the country of Estonia is still called ''Igaunija'' after Ugaunians, their ancient neighbors. The power center of Ugaunians is believed to have been in the fortified stronghold of Otepää ( South Estonian for "bear's head"; , ) in present-day Linnamägi Hill in the town of Otepää. The hill was indeed shaped like a head of a bear. The bear was probably a holy animal for Ugaunians. Another important Ugaunian stronghold was Tarbatu by the river Emajõgi (literally, "Mother River"). ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 97,759 (as of 2024). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of Riga, Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the two largest lakes in Estonia, Lake Võrtsjärv and Lake Peipus. From the 13th century until the end of the 19th century, Tartu was known in most of the world by variants of its historical name Dorpat. Tartu, the largest urban centre of southern Estonia, is often considered the "intellectual capital city" of the country, especially as it is home to the nation's oldest and most renowned university, the University of Tartu (founded in 1632). Tartu also houses the Supreme Court of Estonia, the Ministry of Education and Research (Estonia), Ministry of Education and Research, the Estonian National Museum, and the oldest Estonian-language theatre, Vanemuine. It is also the birthplace of the Estonian Song Festivals. Tartu was designated as the E ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Livonian Crusade
The Livonian crusade consists of the various military Crusade, Christianisation campaigns in medieval Livonia – modern Latvia and Estonia – during the Pope, Papal-sanctioned Northern Crusades in the 12th–13th century. Overview Historical sources The main source of information on the Livonian crusade is the ''Livonian Chronicle of Henry'', written in 1229 by Henry of Latvia (''Henricus de Lettis''). In his chronicle, the author notes that he penned it down at the urging of his lords and companions, including his former teacher bishop Albert of Riga, who receives much praise throughout the text, that is internally divided according to the years of Albert's episcopate. James A. Brundage (1972) posited that Albert commissioned Henry to write the ''Livonian Chronicle'' in the mid-1220s in order to glorify Albert's achievements, as well as to briefly summarise unresolved issues to the newly appointed papal legate, William of Modena. Henry wrote that the papacy's use of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tarbatu
Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 97,759 (as of 2024). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of Riga, Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the two largest lakes in Estonia, Lake Võrtsjärv and Lake Peipus. From the 13th century until the end of the 19th century, Tartu was known in most of the world by variants of its historical name Dorpat. Tartu, the largest urban centre of southern Estonia, is often considered the "intellectual capital city" of the country, especially as it is home to the nation's oldest and most renowned university, the University of Tartu (founded in 1632). Tartu also houses the Supreme Court of Estonia, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Estonian National Museum, and the oldest Estonian-language theatre, Vanemuine. It is also the birthplace of the Estonian Song Festivals. Tartu was designated as the European Capital of Culture in 2024. Names an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Viljandi County
Viljandi County ( or ''Viljandimaa''; ) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is located in southern Estonia bordering Pärnu, Järva, Jõgeva, Tartu and Valga counties as well as Latvia. History Viljandimaa, under the German name of ''Kreis Fellin'', was an important centre of commerce and power in the Middle Ages. Today, there are numerous castle ruins there dating from that time. Soomaa National Park is a national park located partially within Viljandi County, Estonia. Soomaa ("land of bogs") protects 390 km2, and is a Ramsar site of protected wetlands. The park was created in 1993. Retrieved 25 January 2016. County government The Viljandi[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Principality Of Polotsk
The Principality of Polotsk (obsolete spelling: ''Polock''; ; ), also known as the Duchy of Polotsk or Polotskian Rus', was a medieval principality. The origin and date of the establishment of the state are uncertain. Chronicles of Kievan Rus' mention Polotsk being conquered by Vladimir the Great, and thereafter it became associated with Kievan Rus' and its ruling Rurik dynasty. The principality was supposedly established around the town of Polotsk (now in Belarus) by the tribal union of Krivichs. In the second half of the 10th century, Polotsk was governed by its own dynasty; its first ruler mentioned in the chronicles was the semi-legendary Rogvolod (?–978), better known as the father of Rogneda. The principality was heavily involved in several succession crises of the 11th–12th centuries and a war with the Novgorod Land. By the 13th century, it was integrated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. At the time of its greatest extent, the principality stretched over large p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Livonian Brothers Of The Sword
The Livonian Brothers of the Sword (; ) was a Catholic Church, Catholic Military order (monastic society), military order established in 1202 during the Livonian Crusade by Albert of Riga, Albert, the third bishop of Riga (or possibly by Theoderich von Treydend). Pope Pope Innocent III, Innocent III sanctioned the establishment in 1204 for the second time. The membership of the Crusades, crusading Military order (religious society), order comprised warrior monk, warrior monks, mostly from northern Germany, who fought Baltic peoples, Baltic and Baltic Finnic peoples, Finnic Paganism, pagans in the area of modern-day Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Alternative names of the Order include Christ Knights, Swordbrothers, Sword Brethren, Order of the Brothers of the Sword, and The Militia of Christ of Livonia. The seal reads: ''+MAGISTRI ETFRM (et fratrum) MILICIE CRI (Christi) DE LIVONIA''. Following their defeat by the Samogitians and Semigallians in the Battle of Saule in 1236, the s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Latvians
Latvians () are a Baltic ethnic group and nation native to Latvia and the immediate geographical region, the Baltics. They are occasionally also referred to as Letts, especially in older bibliography. Latvians share a common Latvian language, culture, history and ancestry. History A Balto-Finnic-speaking tribe known as the Livs settled among the northern coast of modern day Latvia. The Germanic settlers derived their name for the natives from the term Liv. They referred to all the natives as "Letts" and the nation as "Lettland", naming their colony Livonia or Livland. The Latin form, ''Livonia'', gradually referred to the whole territory of modern-day Latvia as well as southern Estonia, which had fallen under Germanic influence. Latvians and Lithuanians are the only surviving members of the Baltic branch of the Indo-European family. Culture Influences Latvians share a common language and have a unique culture with traditions, holidays, customs and arts. The culture a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Daugava River
The Daugava ( ), also known as the Western Dvina or the Väina River, is a large river rising in the Valdai Hills of Russia that flows through Belarus and Latvia into the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea. The Daugava rises close to the source of the Volga. It is in length, of which are in Latvia and in Russia. It is a westward-flowing river, tracing out a great south-bending curve as it passes through northern Belarus. The city of Ķekava is located 6 miles south of the west bank of the river. Latvia's capital, Riga, bridges the river's estuary four times. Built on both riverbanks, the city centre is from the river's mouth and is a significant port. Etymology According to Max Vasmer's ''Etymological Dictionary'', the toponym Dvina cannot stem from a Uralic language; instead, it possibly comes from an Indo-European word which used to mean 'river' or 'stream'. The name ''Dvina'' strongly resembles '' Danuvius'' which is itself derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''*dānu' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pskov Republic
The Pskov Republic () was a city-state in northwestern Russia. It is traditionally considered to have won its formal independence from the Novgorod Republic in 1348. Its capital city was Pskov and its territory was roughly equivalent to modern-day Pskov Oblast. History Origins After the disintegration of Kievan Rus' in the 12th century, the city of Pskov and its dependent territory became part of the Novgorod Republic, but it continued to enjoy self-government under the supervision of a ''posadnik'', or chief executive, that was appointed by Novgorod. Pskov had the status of a borough (), but was given the unique right to have boroughs of its own, with Izborsk being the most ancient among them. The first period of self-declared independence lasted from 1228 to 1242, ending when the city was temporarily annexed by the Livonian Order. After being liberated by Aleksandr Nevsky, the city pledged its fealty to the grand prince and Novgorod. Due to Pskov's leading role in the strug ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Novgorod Republic
The Novgorod Republic () was a medieval state that existed from the 12th to 15th centuries in northern Russia, stretching from the Gulf of Finland in the west to the northern Ural Mountains in the east. Its capital was the city of Novgorod. The republic prospered as the easternmost trading post of the Hanseatic League, and its people were much influenced by the culture of the Byzantines, with the Novgorod school of icon painting producing many fine works. Novgorod won its independence in 1136 after the Novgorodians deposed their prince and the Novgorod ''veche'' began to elect and dismiss princes at its own will. The ''veche'' also elected the '' posadnik'', who was the chief executive of the city, and the archbishop of Novgorod, subject to approval by the Russian metropolitan. The '' tysyatsky'' was also elected by the ''veche'', who was originally the military commander, and served the interests of the common people. Novgorodian nobles known as boyars dominated the ''vech ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harjumaa (ancient County)
Harjumaa (; ) (1200 hides), was a historical county in Ancient Estonia until the early 13th century. Its territory roughly corresponds to modern-day Rapla County with the town of Rapla as the capital. According to the ''Livonian Chronicle of Henry'', Raikila was the main village of Harjumaa, where annual gatherings of the surrounding tribes took place. Despite the name, the present-day Harju County covers only a small portion of the historical Harjumaa land, with most of its current territory corresponding to the ancient county of Revala. History Between the 10th and 12th centuries, one of the largest trading centers in Haarjumaa was the Varbola Stronghold (). The first crusade to Haarjumaa occurred in the summer of 1216, initiated by the crusaders of Riga. It involved Livonians, Latgalians, and the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, led by Master Volkwin. To secure a truce, Volkwin demanded that the inhabitants of Varbola accept Christianity and release their prisoners. Par ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oeselians
Oeselians or Osilians is a historical name for the people who prior to the Northern Crusades in the 13th century lived in the Estonian island of Saaremaa ( Ösel) – the Baltic Sea island was also referred as ''Oeselia'' or ''Osilia'' in written records dating from around that time. In Viking Age literature, the inhabitants were often included under the name "Vikings from Estonia", as written by Saxo Grammaticus in the late 12th century. The earliest known use of the word in the ( Latinised) form of "Oeselians" in writing was by Henry of Livonia in the 13th century. The inhabitants of Saaremaa (Ösel) are also mentioned in a number of historic written sources dating from the Estonian Viking Age. On the eve of Northern Crusades, the people then residing in Saaremaa were described in the '' Livonian Rhymed Chronicle'': "The ''Oeselians'', neighbors to the ''Kurs'' ( Curonians), are surrounded by the sea and never fear strong armies as their strength is in their ships. In summe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
