Jelgava Gymnasium
Encyclopedia
Jelgava Gymnasium or Academia Petrina is the oldest higher educational establishment in Latvia
. It was established in Jelgava
, capital of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia
, by Duke Peter von Biron
in 1775. After the partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Jelgava became part of the Russian Empire
and the gymnasium unsuccessfully petitioned to become a university. Nevertheless, it became an important cultural hub not only for Latvians, but also Lithuania
ns. During World War I, the school was evacuated to Taganrog
in Rostov Oblast
while its 42,000-volume was burned by troops of Pavel Bermondt-Avalov. During World War II, the historical school building was almost completely destroyed, therefore it was reestablished in new premises. It now functions as a regular high school .
and Alberts Kviesis
, Lithuanian President Antanas Smetona
, Polish President Stanisław Wojciechowski, Lithuanian Prime Ministers Ernestas Galvanauskas
and Mykolas Sleževičius
, Latvian folklorist Krišjānis Barons
, Latvian philologist Kārlis Mīlenbahs
, Latvian poet Aspazija
and Lithuanian writer Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė
.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
. It was established in Jelgava
Jelgava
-Sports:The city's main football team, FK Jelgava, plays in the Latvian Higher League and won the 2009/2010 Latvian Football Cup.- Notable people :*August Johann Gottfried Bielenstein - linguist, folklorist, ethnographer...
, capital of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia
Duchy of Courland and Semigallia
The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia is the name of a duchy in the Baltic region that existed from 1562 to 1569 as a vassal state of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and from 1569...
, by Duke Peter von Biron
Peter von Biron
Peter von Biron was the last Duke of Courland from 1769 to 1795.Peter was born in Jelgava as the son of Ernst Johann von Biron, future Duke of Courland, and his wife Benigna von Trotha. When 16 years old, he was forced to follow his family into the Siberian exile. In 1769, Peter was given the...
in 1775. After the partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Jelgava became part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and the gymnasium unsuccessfully petitioned to become a university. Nevertheless, it became an important cultural hub not only for Latvians, but also Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
ns. During World War I, the school was evacuated to Taganrog
Taganrog
Taganrog is a seaport city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, located on the north shore of Taganrog Bay , several kilometers west of the mouth of the Don River. Population: -History of Taganrog:...
in Rostov Oblast
Rostov Oblast
Rostov Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , located in the Southern Federal District. Rostov Oblast has an area of and a population of making it the sixth most populous federal subject in Russia...
while its 42,000-volume was burned by troops of Pavel Bermondt-Avalov. During World War II, the historical school building was almost completely destroyed, therefore it was reestablished in new premises. It now functions as a regular high school .
Famous students
The students at the gymnasium included Latvian Presidents Jānis ČaksteJanis Cakste
Jānis Čakste was a Latvian politician and lawyer who served as the first head of independent Latvian state as the Chairman of Tautas Padome , the Speaker of the Constitutional Assembly , and as the first President of Latvia .- Youth :Čakste was born in the...
and Alberts Kviesis
Alberts Kviesis
Alberts Kviesis was a Latvian politician and the third President of Latvia.Alberts Kviesis was born in Kalnamuiža parish. Having received his primary education from his parents, he thereafter finished the Jelgava Gymnasium and from 1902 studied law at the Tartu University, from where he...
, Lithuanian President Antanas Smetona
Antanas Smetona
Antanas Smetona was one of the most important Lithuanian political figures between World War I and World War II. He served as the first President of Lithuania from April 4, 1919 to June 19, 1920. He again served as the last President of the country from December 19, 1926 to June 15, 1940, before...
, Polish President Stanisław Wojciechowski, Lithuanian Prime Ministers Ernestas Galvanauskas
Ernestas Galvanauskas
Ernestas Galvanauskas was a Lithuanian engineer, politician and one the founders of the Lithuanian Peasants' Union...
and Mykolas Sleževičius
Mykolas Sleževicius
Mykolas Sleževičius was a Lithuanian lawyer, political figure, and journalist, who served as Prime Minister of Lithuania on two occasions.- Early life :...
, Latvian folklorist Krišjānis Barons
Krišjanis Barons
Krišjānis Barons is known as the "father of the dainas" thanks largely to his systematization of the Latvian folk songs and his labour in preparing their texts for publication in Latvju dainas. His portrait appears on the 100-lat banknote, the only human face of a living person on modern Latvian...
, Latvian philologist Kārlis Mīlenbahs
Karlis Milenbahs
Kārlis Mīlenbahs was the first native speaker of Latvian to devote his career to linguistics...
, Latvian poet Aspazija
Aspazija
Aspazija was the pen name of Elza Pliekšāne , a Latvian poet and playwright. Aspazija is the Latvian transliteration of Aspasia.- Biography :...
and Lithuanian writer Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė
Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė
Gabrielė Petkevičaitė was a Lithuanian writer and activist. Her pen name Bitė eventually became part of her last name.-Biography:...
.