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32-574: The name of Semigallia appears in contemporary records as Seimgala , Zimgola and Sem [ e ] gallen . The -gal[l] element means "border", while the first syllable corresponds to ziem ("north") or zem ("low"). So the Semigallians were the "people of the northern borderlands" or "people of the low borderlands", i.e. the lower parts of the Mūša and Lielupe river valleys. During the Viking Age ,

64-526: A noblewoman and wife of Prince Christopher Lieven , Russian ambassador to London called "Sibylle of the European Diplomacy" was buried in the family cemetery near the palace. Dorothea von Medem , Countess of Courland was born there in 1761. [REDACTED] Media related to Mežotne at Wikimedia Commons 56°26′N 24°03′E  /  56.433°N 24.050°E  / 56.433; 24.050 This Semigallia location article

96-751: A vassal duchy of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , until the Third Partition of Poland in 1795. The Semigallian language belongs to the Eastern Baltic language group. It was spoken in the northern part of Lithuania and the southern regions of Latvia. It is believed to have been extinct by the 16th century. Part of the Semigallians assimilated into the Latvians, and another part into the Lithuanians. The name Semigallia

128-632: Is a town in Latvia 10 km west of Bauska and 40 km south of the capital of Latvia, Riga . It lies in the historical region of Zemgale on the left bank of the Lielupe river near the Lithuanian border. An ancient Semigallian castle mound is located near Mežotne. Mežotne Palace was the former Lieven family estate and now serves as the main residence of Freemasonry Grand Lodge of Latvia . Countess, later Princess Dorothea von Lieven ,

160-534: Is an unconfirmed theory that the Semigallians were one of the first Baltic tribes to establish a monarchy , 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 the early 13th century, Viestards formed an alliance with the German crusaders to defeat his enemies on

192-677: Is known with certainty, however, is that by the end of the 1270s, a new powerful leader had emerged who achieved several major victories over German crusaders in Zemgale and East Prussia. Semigallia Semigallia is one of the Historical Latvian Lands located to the south of the Daugava and to the north of the Saule region of Samogitia . The territory is split between Latvia and Lithuania , previously inhabited by

224-746: 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 a crusader stronghold in Ikšķile and plundered nearby lands. As they returned to Semigallia they were caught by the Order's forces, and the great battle began near the Garoza river ( Battle of Garoza ). The crusader forces were besieged and badly defeated. More than 40 knights were killed, including

256-585: The Semigallian Baltic tribe. 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 . The name of Semigallia appears in sources such as Seimgala , Zimgola and Sem [ e ] gallen . The -gal[l] element means 'border' or 'end', while the first syllable corresponds to ziem ('north'). Thus,

288-452: The coat of arms of Latvia , Semigallia is represented along with Courland ( Kurzeme ), due to the historical connection between the two regions. Semigallia borders other historical Baltic regions such as Vidzeme (the southern part of former Swedish Livonia ) to the northeast, Lithuanian Samogitia to the south, Courland to the west and Selonia to the east as well as the Gulf of Riga to

320-753: The 9th and 13th centuries, Semigallian's territory reduced even more. Samogitians took lands in the southwest. Meanwhile, the former Semigallian territory in the east was principality of Koknese . The neighbouring tribes were the Livonians in the north, the Latgalians in the northeast, the Selonians in the east, the Aukštaitians in the south, the Samogitians in the southwest, and the Curonians in

352-599: The Livonian Order and Lithuania. Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas titled himself Duke of Semigallia (Gedeminne Dei gratia Letphanorum Ruthenorumque rex, princeps et dux Semigallie) in letters to the Pope. The Semigallian language was spoken in the region until around the 16th century. Northern part of the ancient Semigallia is located in Latvia, southern part of it - in Lithuania. Within present day Latvia, Semigallia has

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384-591: The Semigallian duke Viestards ( Latin : dux Semigallorum ) helped the christened Livonian chief Caupo conquer back his Turaida castle from pagan rebels. In 1219, the Semigallian-German alliance was canceled after a crusader invasion in Semigallia. Duke Viestards promptly formed an alliance with Lithuanians and Curonians. In 1228, Semigallians and Curonians attacked the Daugavgrīva monastery,

416-634: The 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 the Viking Starkad crushed the Curonians , all the tribes of Estonia , and the peoples of Semgala. When the Rurikid successors of the Varangians tried to subjugate the Semigallians, the latter defeated

448-410: The Semigallians were the "people of the northern borderlands" (i.e. the lower parts of the Mūša and Lielupe river valleys). Between the 1st and the 4th century the cultural area of Semigallian reached its maximum size. In the north, the territory spread the Gulf of Riga and included a more extensive area of the coast. In the west, the boundary was marked by the streams Ežerupis and Vadakstis . In

480-2149: The Semigallians, which included burning their fields and thus causing famine. The Semigallians continued their resistance until 1290, when they burned their last castle in Sidrabene, and a large number of Semigallians. The Rhymed Chronicle claims 100,000 migrated to Lithuania and once there continued to fight against the Germans. Bauska district Čapāni, Drenģeri-Čunkāni, Dumpji, Jumpravmuiža, Lielbertuši, Mežotne hillfort, Podiņi, Siliņi, Zeltiņi, Ziedoņskola Dobele district Atvases, Auce , Bāļas-Šķērstaiņi, Cibēni, Dobele hillfort, Gailīši, Grīnerti, Guntiņas, Īles mežniecība, Jāņogānas, Kaijukrogs, Ķūri, Lielogļi, Lozberģi, Oši, Skare, Tērvete hillfort Jelgava district Ciemalde, Diduļi, Eži, Gaideļi-Viduči, Kakužēni, Kalnaplāteri, Kraujas, Ķēķi, Mazgrauži, Pudžas, Rijnieki, Vilces parks Saldus district Griezes dzirnavas, Kerkliņi, Priedīši, Rūsīši-Debeši Tukums district Mutstrauti, Zante Riga district Pļavniekkalns Pasvalys district Ąžuolpamūšė hillfort , Berklainiai, Daujėnai, Kyburtai, Meldiniai, Noriai, Pamiškiai, Pamūšė, Skrebotiškis, Smilgeliai, Šakarniai, Vaidžiūnai Akmenė district Balsiai, Papilė hillfort, Pavirvytė-Gudai, Šapnagiai, Viekšniai Joniškis district Budraičiai, Daugalaičiai, Daunorava, Dvareliškiai, Ivoškiai, Jauneikiai, Joniškis , Kalnelis ( Sidabrė hillfort), Lieporai, Linkaičiai , Linksmėnai, Martyniškiai, Rudiškiai , Rukuižiai, Slėpsniai, Spirakiai, Stungiai, Žagarė ( Raktuvė hillfort) Pakruojis district Aukštadvaris, Dargužiai, Degesiai, Diržiai, Dovainiškis, Karašilis, Karpiškiai, Kauksnujai, Lauksodis, Liesai, Linkavičiai, Linksmučiai, Linkuva , Pakruojis , Paliečiai, Pamūšis, Pašvitinys , Peleniškiai, Petroniai, Plaučiškai, Sakališkiai, Stačiūnai, Šukioniai, Vėbariai, Žeimelis Šiauliai district Daugėlaičiai, Gibaičiai, Jakštaičiai, Jurgaičiai hillfort ( Hill of Crosses ), Kaupriai, Kybartiškė, Mažeikiai, Norušaičiai, Norvaišiai, Račiai, Ringuvėnai, Valdomai, Visdergiai There

512-493: The battle of Aizkraukle, the final Semigallian uprising started, led by Duke Nameisis . Nameisis acknowledged himself a vassal of Lithuanian Grand Duke Traidenis . In 1281, Nameisis, along with many of his compatriots, withdrew to Lithuania and, in the same year, took part in battles led by Traidenis against the Teutonic Order. In 1287, the Battle of Garoza was won by the Semigallians. Semigallia remained split between

544-512: The east, the territory crossed Dauguva and included part of its right bank. The southern boundary was marked by Mūša river . Semigallians, Samogitians, Selonians and Latgalians constituted one cultural area. Between the 5th and 9th centuries, the territory occupied by Semigallians was reduced. They occupied a smaller area of the coast on the Gulf of Riga in the north and didn't reach the Daugava in

576-476: The first half of the 13th century, settlements along the Daugava river were quite often attacked by the Lithuanians. The Livonian Order , which had begun conquering eastern Semigallia around the same period, made an alliance with the Semigallians and the Latgalians against the Lithuanians. In the winter of 1205, an army of Semigallians led by Viestards attacked the forces of Lithuanian Duke Žvelgaitis , who

608-642: The invading army of Polotsk led by Prince Rogvolod Vseslavich in 1106. Russian chronicles claim that 9,000 Russian soldiers were killed. At the start of German conquests Semigallian lands were divided in Upmale, Dobele, Spārnene, Dobe, Rakte, Silene and Tērvete chieftaincies. 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,

640-705: The main crusader stronghold at the Daugava river delta. The crusaders took revenge and invaded Semigallia. The Semigallians, in turn, pillaged land around the 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, the Lithuanian Grand Duke Traidenis , together with Semigallians, attacked Livonia and Saaremaa . During

672-486: The master of the Livonian Order Willekin von Endorp , and an unknown number of crusader allies. It was the last Semigallian victory over the growing forces of the Livonian Order. In 1279, after the Battle of Aizkraukle , Grand Duke Traidenis of Lithuania supported a Semigallian revolt against the Livonian Order led by duke Nameisis . In the 1280s, the Livonian Order started a massive campaign against

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704-556: The north. The geography of Semigallia consists mostly of plains and some hills. The Lielupe is the most important river after the Daugava. The major town is Jelgava ( German : Mitau ), the former capital of the united Duchy of Courland and Semigallia . The territory of the Semigallia region in Latvia is defined by law as follows: Jelgava city, Bauska Municipality , Dobele Municipality , Jelgava Municipality , part of Baldone Parish , Baldone city, Daugmale Parish , part of Ķekava Parish , part of Babīte Parish , Birzgale Parish ,

736-739: The northeast. In the 5th century, in the Lielupe river basin, a separate Semigallian tribe had formed. Their territory reached the Venta river in the west, the Baltic Sea in the north including the mouth of the river Lielupė, the Lėvuo and Mūša river basins in the East, and the northern borders of the Šiauliai and Panevėžys districts in present-day Lithuania in the south. They inhabited Žagarė , Pakruojis , Pasvalys , Linkuva and Joniškis . Between

768-726: 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 Nameisis (Namejs, Nameitis), 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

800-552: The part of Ķegums city on the left bank of the Daugava , Tome Parish , part of Olaine Parish , Jaunauce Parish , Ruba Parish , Vadakste Parish , Džūkste Parish , Jaunpils Parish , Lestene Parish and Slampe Parish . In Lithuania, Semigallia ( Žiemgala ) is considered a historically and culturally Baltic region. Žiemgala is part of Aukštaitija ; its main centres are Joniškis, Pakruojis, Žeimelis , Linkuva and Pasvalys. The museum of Semigallia opened in 1958 in Žeimelis. Me%C5%BEotne Mežotne ( German : Mesothen )

832-541: The status of one of five historical and cultural regions of Latvia . The region takes its name from the Baltic people known as Semigallians . Since the 13th century, Selonia has been included as part of Semigallia, and comprises the eastern part of the current electoral district of Zemgale. It takes its name from the Selonian Baltic tribe. Traditional Selonia also includes a portion of northeastern Lithuania. On

864-549: The west. The centre of western Semigallia was Tērvete , while the centre of eastern Semigallia was Mežotne , which was destroyed in 1220 by the Livonian Order . Six Semigallian lands were known in the first half of the 13th century: Dobene, Dobele, Silene, Spārnene, Tērvete, Upmale, Žagare. Following the collapse of the Livonian Confederation , most of Semigallia belonged to the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia ,

896-548: The winter ice pack in the Gulf of Riga to reach Oesel Island . Also, this territory kept the Livonian Branch of the Teutonic Order separated from the Prussian Branch . Castles played an important role in the strategy of the Livonian Order to expand into the Semigallian territory. They followed the line of rivers and some of them were established on native fortification sites. In 1250, the whole of Semigallia

928-464: Was conquered by the Livonian Order. Four years later, they split this territory between themselves and the Bishopric of Riga . In 1258, the Semigallians rebelled and managed to temporarily liberate themselves. In 1265, the Livonian Order began construction of Jelgava castle (Mithow, Mytowe). In 1272, Semigallia finally succumbed to the Livonian Order. In 1279, after the victory of the Lithuanians in

960-500: Was defeated. In 1220, Mežotne , the centre of eastern Semigallia was destroyed by the Livonian Order. In 1236, Semigallians participated in the decisive Battle of Saule along with Lithuanians against the Livonian Order. In the same year, an uprising started in eastern Semigallia. For the Livonian Order, Semigallia was a strategic territory. Lithuanians passed through Semigallia to raid settlements in Livonia, and they took advantage of

992-594: Was mentioned for the first time in Scandinavian sources. The Danish chronicle Annales Ryenses mentions that Danish Vikings conquered "the whole of Prussia , Semigallia and many other lands" around 870. The Yngvars saga , in the 11th century, mentions Semigallians (Seimgaler) as tribute payers to Sweden. The Mervala stone in Sweden contains runic inscriptions which read: Which, in English, translates as: In

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1024-633: Was returning from a war against Estonia with booty and Estonian slaves . His troops were caught unaware while crossing waist-high snowdrifts. Žvelgaitis was killed by a javelin thrown by the German Theodore Schilling. 1,200 Lithuanian knights perished; the Estonian slaves were slaughtered as well, in retribution for "past crimes" against the Livonians. In 1208, Viestards led a united Semigallian and crusader army into Lithuania but

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