Semigallians
Encyclopedia
Semigallians were the Baltic
tribe that lived in the southcentral part of contemporary Latvia
and northern Lithuania
. They are noted for their long resistance (1219-1290) against the German crusaders
and Teutonic Knights
during the Northern Crusades
.
Semigallians had close linguistic and cultural ties with Samogitians
.
Semigallians were involved in battles with Swedish vikings
over control of the lower part of the Daugava waterway
. In Gesta Danorum
the Danish chronicler Saxo Grammaticus
wrote that viking Starkad
crushed Curonians
, all the tribes Esthonia breeds, and peoples of Semgala. When Rurikid successors of varangians
tried to subjugate Semigallians they heavily defeated invading army of Polotsk led by Prince Rogvolod Vseslavich in 1106. Ancient chronicles claim that 9000 of their soldiers were killed.
According to the Livonian Chronicle of Henry
Semigallians formed an alliance
with bishop Albert of Riga against rebellious Livonians before 1203 and received military support to hold back Lithuanian attacks in 1205. In 1207 Semigallian duke Viestards
helped christened Livonian chief Caupo
to conquer back his Turaida castle
from pagan rebels.
In 1219 Semigallian-German alliance was canceled after crusader invasion in Semigallia. Duke Viestards
promptly formed an alliance with Lithuanians and Curonians. In 1228 Semigallians and Curonians
attacked Daugavgrīva
monastery, the main crusader stronghold at the Daugava river delta. Crusaders took revenge and invaded Semigallia. Semigallians in their turn pillaged land around Aizkraukle
hillfort.
In 1236 Semigallians attacked crusaders retreating to Riga after the Battle of Saule killing many of them.
After regular attacks, the Livonian Order partly subdued the Semigallians in 1254.
In 1270 Lithuanian Grand Duke Traidenis
together with Semigallians attacked Livonia and Saaremaa
. During the Battle of Karuse
on the frozen gulf of Riga
the Livonian Order was defeated and its master Otto von Lutterberg
killed.
In 1287 around 1400 Semigallians attacked crusader stronghold in Ikšķile
and plundered nearby lands. As they returned to Semigallia they were caught by order's forces and great battle begun near Garoza river. Crusader forces were besieged and heavily defeated. More then 40 knights were killed including the master of Livonian order Willekin von Endorp and unknown number of crusader allies. It was the last Semigallian victory over groving forces of the Livonian Order.
In 1279 Grand Duke Traidenis of Lithuania supported Semigallian revolt against Livonian order
led by duke Nameisis.
In 1280ties Livonian Order started massive campaign against Semigallians included burning their fields and thus causing famine.
Semigallians continued their resistance until 1290, when they burned their last castle in Sidrabene and a large number of Semigallians (Rhymed Chronicle claim 100 000) migrated to Lithuania and once there continued to fight against the Germans
.
, yet one weak in comparison to the power of the Semigallian nobles.
One of the most notable Semigallian leaders was duke Viestards
(Viesturs). Upon uniting hostile Semigallian clans into a single state in early 13th century, Viestards formed an alliance with the German crusaders to defeat his enemies on the outside. After the crusaders broke the treaty and invaded his lands, he allied with Lithuanians
, resulting in the near annihilation of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword in the Battle of Saule in 1236.
Duke Nameitis (Namejs, Nameisis), another renowned Semigallian leader, united Semigallian and Lithuanian tribes for a retaliatory counterattack on Teutonic Knights
at Riga
in 1279 and in Prussia
after 1281. Main sources for his activities are Livländische Reimchronik and Das Zeugenverhör des Franciscus de Moliano (1312). What is known with certainty, however, is that by the end of 1270s, a new powerful leader had emerged who achieved several major victories over German crusaders in Zemgale and East Prussia.
Balts
The Balts or Baltic peoples , defined as speakers of one of the Baltic languages, a branch of the Indo-European language family, are descended from a group of Indo-European tribes who settled the area between the Jutland peninsula in the west and Moscow, Oka and Volga rivers basins in the east...
tribe that lived in the southcentral part of contemporary Latvia
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...
and northern 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...
. They are noted for their long resistance (1219-1290) against the German crusaders
Crusaders
The Crusaders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch that competes in the Super Rugby competition. They are the most successful team in Super Rugby history with seven titles...
and Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
during the Northern Crusades
Northern Crusades
The Northern Crusades or Baltic Crusades were crusades undertaken by the Christian kings of Denmark and Sweden, the German Livonian and Teutonic military orders, and their allies against the pagan peoples of Northern Europe around the southern and eastern shores of the Baltic Sea...
.
Semigallians had close linguistic and cultural ties with Samogitians
Samogitians
Samogitians are a part of the Lithuanian ethnicity inhabiting the region of Samogitia in Lithuania. Many speak the Samogitian dialect of the Lithuanian language.-History:...
.
History
During the Viking AgeViking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
Semigallians were involved in battles with Swedish vikings
Semi-legendary kings of Sweden
The semi-legendary kings of Sweden are the long line of Swedish kings who preceded Eric the Victorious, according to sources such as the Norse Sagas, Beowulf, Rimbert, Adam of Bremen and Saxo Grammaticus, but who are of disputed historicity because many of them appear in more or less unreliable...
over control of the lower part of the Daugava waterway
Trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks
The trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks was a trade route that connected Scandinavia, Kievan Rus' and the Byzantine Empire. The route allowed traders along the route to establish a direct prosperous trade with Byzantium, and prompted some of them to settle in the territories of...
. In Gesta Danorum
Gesta Danorum
Gesta Danorum is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus . It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and is an essential source for the nation's early history...
the Danish chronicler Saxo Grammaticus
Saxo Grammaticus
Saxo Grammaticus also known as Saxo cognomine Longus was a Danish historian, thought to have been a secular clerk or secretary to Absalon, Archbishop of Lund, foremost advisor to Valdemar I of Denmark. He is the author of the first full history of Denmark.- Life :The Jutland Chronicle gives...
wrote that viking Starkad
Starkad
Starkad, Old Norse: Starkaðr or Störkuðr, Latin: Starcaterus, and during the late Middle Ages, also known as Starkodder, was a legendary hero in Norse mythology....
crushed Curonians
Curonians
The Curonians or Kurs were a Baltic tribe living on the shores of the Baltic sea in what are now the western parts of Latvia and Lithuania from the 5th to the 16th centuries, when they merged with other Baltic tribes. They gave their name to the region of Courland , and they spoke the Old...
, all the tribes Esthonia breeds, and peoples of Semgala. When Rurikid successors of varangians
Varangians
The Varangians or Varyags , sometimes referred to as Variagians, were people from the Baltic region, most often associated with Vikings, who from the 9th to 11th centuries ventured eastwards and southwards along the rivers of Eastern Europe, through what is now Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.According...
tried to subjugate Semigallians they heavily defeated invading army of Polotsk led by Prince Rogvolod Vseslavich in 1106. Ancient chronicles claim that 9000 of their soldiers were killed.
According to the Livonian Chronicle of Henry
Chronicle of Henry of Livonia
The Livonian Chronicle of Henry is a document describing historic events in Livonia and surrounding areas from 1180 to 1227. Apart from the few references in the Primary Chronicle compiled in Kievan Rus' in the twelfth century, it is the oldest known written document about the history of these...
Semigallians formed an alliance
Alliance
An alliance is an agreement or friendship between two or more parties, made in order to advance common goals and to secure common interests.See also military alliance and business alliance.-International relations:...
with bishop Albert of Riga against rebellious Livonians before 1203 and received military support to hold back Lithuanian attacks in 1205. In 1207 Semigallian duke Viestards
Viestards
Viestards was one of the greatest Semigallian dukes in the 13th century, referred to as King Vester . His capital was Tērvete. During the first decades of the 13th century he was allied with the Livonian Brothers of the Sword against Lithuanians, who looted Semigallia on several occasions...
helped christened Livonian chief Caupo
Caupo of Turaida
Caupo of Turaida, or Kaupo was a leader of the Finnic-speaking Livonian people in the beginning of the 13th century, in what is now Latvia. He is sometimes called 'King of Livonia', Chronicle of Henry of Livonia calls him quasi rex, 'like a king'.He was the first prominent Livonian to be christened...
to conquer back his Turaida castle
Turaida Castle
Turaida Castle is a recently reconstructed medieval castle in Turaida, in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, on the opposite bank of the Gauja River from Sigulda....
from pagan rebels.
In 1219 Semigallian-German alliance was canceled after crusader invasion in Semigallia. Duke Viestards
Viestards
Viestards was one of the greatest Semigallian dukes in the 13th century, referred to as King Vester . His capital was Tērvete. During the first decades of the 13th century he was allied with the Livonian Brothers of the Sword against Lithuanians, who looted Semigallia on several occasions...
promptly formed an alliance with Lithuanians and Curonians. In 1228 Semigallians and Curonians
Curonians
The Curonians or Kurs were a Baltic tribe living on the shores of the Baltic sea in what are now the western parts of Latvia and Lithuania from the 5th to the 16th centuries, when they merged with other Baltic tribes. They gave their name to the region of Courland , and they spoke the Old...
attacked Daugavgrīva
Daugavgriva
Daugavgrīva is a neighbourhood in North West Riga, Latvia on the left bank of Daugava river. In this neighbourhood there is located Swedish built strong fortress on the Daugava River's left bank, commanding it's mouth.-Fortress:...
monastery, the main crusader stronghold at the Daugava river delta. Crusaders took revenge and invaded Semigallia. Semigallians in their turn pillaged land around Aizkraukle
Aizkraukle
Aizkraukle is a town in Vidzeme region in Latvia, the administrative centre of Aizkraukle municipality on the right bank of the Daugava River.-History:Aizkraukle before the World War I was formerly known by its German name of Ascheraden...
hillfort.
In 1236 Semigallians attacked crusaders retreating to Riga after the Battle of Saule killing many of them.
After regular attacks, the Livonian Order partly subdued the Semigallians in 1254.
In 1270 Lithuanian Grand Duke Traidenis
Traidenis
Traidenis was the Grand Duke Lithuania from 1270 till 1282. He is the second most prominent, after Mindaugas, Grand Duke of Lithuania in the 13th century. His reign ended a seven-year unrest period after Mindaugas was assassinated in 1263 and firmly established the Grand Duchy as a pagan state...
together with Semigallians attacked Livonia and Saaremaa
Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
. During the Battle of Karuse
Battle of Karuse
Battle of Karuse or Battle on the Ice was fought on February 16, 1270 between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Livonian Order on the frozen Baltic Sea. In 1270 Lithuanians and Semigallians led by Traidenis, Grand Duke of Lithuania from ca. 1269 to 1282, raided Livonia and reached as far as...
on the frozen gulf of Riga
Gulf of Riga
The Gulf of Riga, or Bay of Riga, is a bay of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia. According to C.Michael Hogan, a saline stratification layer is found at a depth of approximately seventy metres....
the Livonian Order was defeated and its master Otto von Lutterberg
Otto von Lutterberg
Otto von Lutterberg was the Ordensmeister of the Livonian Order of the Teutonic Knights from 1266 to 1270, and was in command of the Livonian Order in 1268 when the Knights were heavily defeated by a Russian army at the Battle of Rakvere...
killed.
In 1287 around 1400 Semigallians attacked crusader stronghold in Ikšķile
Ikškile
Ikšķile is a town in Latvia, the administrative centre of Ikšķile municipality. It was the first capital of the catholic bishopric of Livonia, known by the German name of Üxküll. Saint Meinhard, known from the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia, was the first bishop of Üxküll. In 1197 Berthold of...
and plundered nearby lands. As they returned to Semigallia they were caught by order's forces and great battle begun near Garoza river. Crusader forces were besieged and heavily defeated. More then 40 knights were killed including the master of Livonian order Willekin von Endorp and unknown number of crusader allies. It was the last Semigallian victory over groving forces of the Livonian Order.
In 1279 Grand Duke Traidenis of Lithuania supported Semigallian revolt against Livonian order
Livonian Order
The Livonian Order was an autonomous Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1435–1561. After being defeated by Samogitians in the 1236 Battle of Schaulen , the remnants of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword were incorporated into the Teutonic Knights...
led by duke Nameisis.
In 1280ties Livonian Order started massive campaign against Semigallians included burning their fields and thus causing famine.
Semigallians continued their resistance until 1290, when they burned their last castle in Sidrabene and a large number of Semigallians (Rhymed Chronicle claim 100 000) migrated to Lithuania and once there continued to fight against the Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
.
Notable leaders
There is an unconfirmed theory that the Semigallians were one of the first Baltic tribes to establish a monarchyMonarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
, yet one weak in comparison to the power of the Semigallian nobles.
One of the most notable Semigallian leaders was duke Viestards
Viestards
Viestards was one of the greatest Semigallian dukes in the 13th century, referred to as King Vester . His capital was Tērvete. During the first decades of the 13th century he was allied with the Livonian Brothers of the Sword against Lithuanians, who looted Semigallia on several occasions...
(Viesturs). Upon uniting hostile Semigallian clans into a single state in early 13th century, Viestards formed an alliance with the German crusaders to defeat his enemies on the outside. After the crusaders broke the treaty and invaded his lands, he allied with Lithuanians
Lithuanians
Lithuanians are the Baltic ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number around 2,765,600 people. Another million or more make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Russia, United Kingdom and Ireland. Their native language...
, resulting in the near annihilation of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword in the Battle of Saule in 1236.
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
at Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
in 1279 and in Prussia
Prussia (region)
Prussia is a historical region in Central Europe extending from the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea to the Masurian Lake District. It is now divided between Poland, Russia, and Lithuania...
after 1281. Main sources for his activities are Livländische Reimchronik and Das Zeugenverhör des Franciscus de Moliano (1312). What is known with certainty, however, is that by the end of 1270s, a new powerful leader had emerged who achieved several major victories over German crusaders in Zemgale and East Prussia.