LATVIA - A POTTED HISTORY

For those looking for a quick, neat, concise history of Latvia, you need look no further...

6th century AD:

First inhabited by East Baltic Tribes

1201

Riga founded by Bishop Albert of Livonia, as part of the newly established German state of Livonia: the area had previously been conquered by Teutonic knights.

Middle Ages:

Becomes key regional trade city and Hanseatic port

1561:

Conquered by Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

1601:

Invaded & conquered by King Gustav Adolphus of Sweden

1710:

Russian Tsarist troops drive out the Swedes and take control of Latvia later they allowed the German traders to run the city (for a hefty price of course)

18th century:

Riga becomes key Russia-Great Britain trade route, later developing reputation as the cultural and industrial centre of the region.

1914::

Word War I brings German troops marching into Riga for intense street fighting against the Russian and Latvian troops. Eventually Riga surrenders to the Germans.

1918-1940:

First period of true independence.

1940:

"Absorbed" into Soviet Union

1941-1944:

Terrible days as Latvians were in turn purged, deported to Siberia or executed by both the Russian and German invading troops.

1944-1991:

Soviet rule

20th Jan 1991:

5 demonstrators are killed as Soviet troops shoot at civilians on the streets around the Old Town: bullet holes can still be seen in the Latvian Radio building and monuments to the dead lie in the Parks

21st August 1991:

Declaration of Independence.

2001:

Riga celebrates its 800th anniversary.

May 2002:

Cultural success, as Latvia wins the Eurovision Song Contest
(in Riga, the following year when Jemini scored "nu points" in Riga)

1st May 2004:

Latvia joins the EU