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44-723: On October 14–17, 1917, Latvian organizations and politicians met in Petrograd and agreed to create a Council that would include 3 representatives from Vidzeme , 3 from Latgale , 3 from Kurzeme , 2 from the Refugee Support Central Committee, 1 from the Baltic Refugee Organization, 2 from Iskolat , 2 from the Soldiers' Union, 1 from the Latvian Farmers' Union , 1 from left-wing parties and 1 from right-wing of

88-598: A Roman Catholic (65.8% of the population in 2011), while Lutheranism has been more common in other regions of Latvia . One of the most important Catholic spiritual centers in Latvia is located in Aglona . Built in 1780, Basilica of the Assumption of Aglona that is one of the eight international shrines recognized by the Holy See , historically has been a popular destination for

132-443: A length of 120 kilometres. Other major rivers of the region are Rēzekne (116 km) and Malta (105 km). The highest point of Latgale is Lielais Liepukalns , 289.8 meters high. Latgale region historically had its cultural differences in comparison to the rest of Latvia, such as religion, traditions, and language. Due to the influence of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , the population of Latgale has remained predominantly

176-625: A meeting with Meierovics recognized de facto Latvian independence and National Council as its government. Despite the achievement of de facto recognition from the United Kingdom, the occupying Germany refused to recognize it and preferred to deal with the Social Democrat-dominated Democratic bloc. To resolve this impasse, the National Council and Democratic bloc united in a new Tautas padome (People's Council). With

220-581: A part of the Latvian Soviet autonomy of Iskolat and a part of the Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic on 17 December 1918. In January 1920, a joint force of Latvian and Polish armies defeated the Soviet 15th Army in the battle of Daugavpils which lead to the resignation of the government of Soviet Latvia on 13 January and Latvian-Russian cease-fire on 1 February 1920. After signing of

264-814: A period of Russification was begun, during which the Latgalian language (written in Latin script) was forbidden. This ban was lifted in 1904, and a period of Latgalian reawakening began. Two years later, Latgalian politician Francis Trasuns was elected as a member of the State Duma of the Russian Empire . After the First Latgale Latvians Congress in 1917, it was decided that Dvinsky , Lyutsinsky and Rezhitsky Uyezds , populated mostly by Latvians should be transferred to Governorate of Livonia . It became

308-543: A popular plebiscite." National Council established 7 departments: Voldemārs Zāmuēls was elected chairman of National Council with Kārlis Pauļuks, J. Rubulis and J. Palcmanis as co-chairs. On December 19, 1917 (Old Style), January 1, 1918, the Bolshevik dominated Iskolat , which was also located in Valka, moved to ban the National Council, and it relocated to Petrograd. Between January 15–18 (Old Style), 28-31, 1918 (New Style),

352-414: A vessel for bringing food to the field), bļūda (bowl) and kryuze , were used in the local households for everyday use for several centuries. In 20th century, Latgalian ceramicists started to create decorative wares, such as candlesticks and decorative plates. Latgalian ceramics rose to the international prominence, when Andrejs Paulāns and Polikarps Vilcāns works were awarded with a Gold Medal at

396-593: Is a standardised form of local varieties of High Latvian dialect. Originally the territory of what is now Latgale was populated by the Eastern Baltic Latgalian tribe. During the 10th–12th centuries two principalities, Jersika and Atzele , existed on the territory of modern Latgale and Eastern Vidzeme . In addition Latgalians inhabited parts of modern Pskov Oblast in Russia and Vitebsk Region in Belarus. In

440-572: Is attended by representatives from Vidzeme, Latgale and Courland land councils, Latvian soldier national union, Latgalian soldiers, Latvian refugee support Central committee, Baltic refugee support committee, Latgalian refugee support committee, Latvian Farmers' Union, Latvian National Democratic Party, Latvian Democrat Party, Latvian Radical Party and Latvian Cooperative Congress. Left-wing Vidzeme land council representatives and Social Democratic Menshevik faction participated as observers only. Some delegates wanted to proclaim independence right away, but it

484-414: Is for Finns and Ukrainians. But we don't even have that power which they have." On January 30 (New Style), 1918 National Council with 23 votes against 1 adopted a proclamation in which it advocated the creation of an independent, democratic Latvian republic, protested against any division of ethnic Latvian lands and protested against any peace treaties that ignore rights of national self-determination. On

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528-627: Is known as The land of lakes due to large number of lakes in the region. The biggest lake in Latgale and second biggest in Latvia is Lake Rāzna in Rēzekne Municipality . Its area is 57.81 km . Lake Drīdzis , located in the Krāslava Municipality is the deepest lake in Latvia with a maximum depth of 65.1 meters. Dubna is the longest river in Latgale and 8th longest river in Latvia with

572-744: Is one of the Historical Latvian Lands . It is the easternmost region of the country and lies north of the Daugava River . While most of Latvia is historically Lutheran , Latgale is predominantly Roman Catholic : 65.3% according to a 2011 survey. After the Counter-Reformation it was the northernmost predominantly Catholic province or region in Europe. There is a considerable Eastern Orthodox minority (23.8%), of which 13.8% are Russian Orthodox Christians and 10.0% are Old Believers . As of 2020,

616-690: The Daugava River . Sometimes in German , it was also known as Livland , the German form from Latin Livonia , though it comprises only a small part of Medieval Livonia and about half (the Latvian part) of Swedish Livonia . Most of the region's inhabitants are Latvians (85%), thus Vidzeme is the most ethnically Latvian region in the country. The historic Governorate of Livonia is also larger than Vidzeme, since it corresponds roughly to Swedish Livonia . In ancient times,

660-735: The King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Stephen Báthory in Truce of Yam-Zapolsky on 15 January 1582. In 1621 most of the Duchy of Livonia was ceded to the Swedish Empire , but part of the Duchy including Latgale remained under Polish-Lithuanian control. This became known as the Inflanty Voivodeship . The creation of Polish Inflanty is the birth of the region we now know of as Latgale. During this period

704-579: The Latvian Social Democrats , as well as 1 from Eser , Radical Democrat and National Democrat parties each, thus making sure that all Latvian political factions were represented. At this point no representatives from Baltic German , Jewish , Russian or Polish minorities were included. The first session met between November 29 and December 2, 1917 (November 16–19 Old Style) in Valka. Bolshevik controlled parties and left-wing Social Democrats decided to abstain from participation. The First session

748-599: The Latvian–Soviet Peace Treaty , parts of the Vitebsk Governorate and Pskov Governorate were incorporated into the new Republic of Latvia. United with other ethnic Latvian territories, as claimed by the declaration of independence (ethnic borders as national borders), they formed the districts of Daugavpils , Ludza , Rēzekne and Jaunlatgale, later Abrene district . During the World War II , Latgale

792-687: The Polish-Swedish War concluded by the Truce of Altmark in 1629, Sweden acquired the western part of the Duchy of Livonia roughly as far as the Aiviekste River , since then forming Vidzeme's eastern border. During the course of the Great Northern War , Swedish Livonia was conquered by the Russian Empire and ceded to Russia at the Treaty of Nystad in 1721. In place of Livonia the Russians created

836-497: The 1937 Paris Exhibition . In early Soviet period, Latgalian ceramicists struggled because of high taxes and being forced to join the kolkhoz's . Since 50's, ceramicists became more respected thanks to the enthusiasm of Gaigalava -born art historian Jānis Pujāts , who organized exhibitions in Latvia and outside its borders that showcased the works of several Latgalian ceramicists. In 1958, Andrejs Paulāns and Polikarps Vilcāns became first Latgalian ceramicists to be recognized as

880-716: The Bolshevik Petrograd became impossible with the start of the Red Terror . This was tragic, as many early Cheka leaders were Latvians, and Red Latvian Riflemen served as Lenin's bodyguards. One of the Latvian Riflemen leaders Frīdrihs Briedis was accused of anti-bolshevik conspiracy and shot in August. After this, all National Council activities continued in Latvia. On October 23, 1918 and again on November 11 United Kingdom, represented by its Foreign Minister Arthur Balfour in

924-547: The Latgalian language was influenced by Polish and developed separately from the Latvian spoken in other parts of Latvia. In 1772, Latgale was annexed by the Russian Empire after the First Partition of Poland . Latgale was incorporated into the Vitebsk Governorate . In 1860, Daugavpils and Rēzekne became a part of the Saint Petersburg–Warsaw railway route. In 1865, as part of Russia's anti-Polish policies,

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968-817: The National Council met in Petrograd . It was opened by the Council Chairman Voldemārs Zāmuēls . Arveds Bergs , Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics and Jāzeps Rancāns were then elected to chair the proceedings in rotating order. Representatives of nine parties and organizations participated in the session: representatives of Vidzeme Land council, Latgale Land council, Kurzeme Land council, Refugee support Central committee, National Soldiers Union, Latvian Farmers' Union, Radical Democratic Party, National Democratic Party, Latvian Democratic Party. Representatives of five professional organizations and ethnic Latvian farming colonies from Russia participated as observers. One of

1012-640: The People's Artists of the Latvian SSR . Ceramics remains one of the trademarks of Latgale and has a great legacy in the region. Established in 1976, Latgale Ceramics Studio in Rēzekne was renamed to Andrejs Paulāns Folk Applied Art Studio in 1986. One of the streets in the Latgalian town of Preiļi is named in honor of him. In Rainis Museum in Jasmuiža are located the relocated workshop and kiln of Andrejs Paulāns , and

1056-613: The Riga Governorate, but in 1796 the Riga Governorate was renamed the Governorate of Livonia , administered autonomously by the local German Baltic nobility through a feudal Landtag . After the end of World War I it was split between the newly independent countries of Latvia and Estonia. During World War II , the region was occupied by the Soviet Union from 1940, and then by Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1944. The territory of

1100-609: The cultural regions of the Republic of Latvia . The land size of Latgale is 14,547 km and it is bigger than some of the European countries, such as Montenegro , Cyprus and Luxembourg . Latgale is the easternmost region of Latvia and is located north of the Daugava River . It is a landlocked region that has no access to sea or ocean. It shares international borders with Russia and Belarus . The most populated cities in Latgale are Daugavpils (82,046) and Rēzekne (31,216). Latgale

1144-404: The division of Latvia and ignoring its interests. However, the immediate proclaiming of the Latvian state is unwise. A state needs territory, people and power. But we lack the power. Bolsheviks advocate further unity of Latvia with Russia. If we were to declare independence, we would have to organize administrative organs, to create ministries, which Bolsheviks would surely arrest. We see how hard it

1188-669: The first decade of the 13th century the Principality of Jersika , also known as Lettia , was allied with the Principality of Polotsk and Lithuanian dukes against the Bishopric of Livonia , but was defeated in 1209. Part of it was divided between the Bishopric and the Livonian Brothers of the Sword , the remainder became a vassal country. In 1239, after the death of King Visvaldis , the latter

1232-606: The last day situation in Latgale and Bolshevik danger to the ethnic Latvians living in Belarus was discussed. The third session met in Petrograd in smaller numbers and deep secrecy between June 26–28, 1918 after which National Council already called itself as the only legitimate representative of Latvia. It adopted resolution in which it announced that cooperation with German occupation forces should be minimal, limited to practical issues only, and that further and more active contacts with Western Allies should be pursued. Further meetings in

1276-741: The left bank of the river. The most notable Latgalian region in today's Vidzeme was Tālava . After the Livonian War , part of the Livonian Confederation on the right bank of the Daugava river and the Patrimony of Riga was ceded to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , and the Duchy of Livonia (the left bank forming the Duchy of Courland and Semigalia ). Afterwards, the region was invaded by Sweden in 1600 , 1617 and 1621 . After

1320-691: The more important reports was delivered by the Foreign Affairs Committee which had established contact with foreign embassies. Sweden had expressed indifference to Latvian independence, while France had expressed support for it. The ongoing German-Bolshevik Treaty of Brest-Litovsk negotiations mean the worst-case scenario of annexation and cultural dominance. The only future lies with the Western Allies. Meierovics said: "We have to stand our line and demand Latvian independence. We have to review our relationship with Germans. We have to protest against

1364-469: The newly built castle of Daugavpils . Latgalian territories remained a part of Livonian confederation until the Livonian War . During this war, Latgale was annexed by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1559–1562), which in 1569 was incorporated into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . Ivan IV of Russia annexed Latgale in 1577, but renounced his claims to Livonia after the successful Livonian campaign of

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1408-529: The pilgrims. Thousands of pilgrims from Latvia and abroad visit Aglona every year on 15 August, to attend the feast day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Aglona has been twice visited by a Roman pontiff . Pope John Paul II visited Aglona in 1993 and Pope Francis in 2018. The region of Latgale historically has been the most prolific producer of ceramic wares. Archeological investigations have shown that Latgalians were well acquitted with

1452-460: The pottery craft in the period of early medieval state of Jersika . Most of the types of wares of Latgalian ceramics, such as vuoraunīks (a pot for cooking), madaunīks (a pot for honey storage), sloinīks (a pot for storing fruit preserves ), stuodiņs (a pot for storing sour cream ), ļaks (a vessel for storage of oil), pīna pūds (a pot for storing cow's milk ), kazeļnīks (a pot for goat milk storage), puorūss (lit. "over-handle",

1496-506: The proclamation of Latvian independence on November 18, 1918 by Tautas padome, the National Council relinquished its authority to Tautas padome and its representatives joined it. Some politicians from the National Council and later historians have claimed that December 2, 1917 or January 30, 1918 declarations should really be considered the Latvian Independence declarations, instead of the much later November 18, 1918 declaration, which

1540-532: The region are lower than in other parts of the country. Historically, several different forms of the name Latgalia have been used. Since 2004, use of the Latgalian language has been the subject of a major sociolinguistic/ethnolinguistic poll and study, conducted by the Rēzekne Augstskola and the Centre d'Étude Linguistiques Pour l'Europe. As of 2011 97,600 people in the region spoke Latgalian language , which

1584-418: The region of Vidzeme is defined by Latvian law as follows: Latgale Latgale ( Latgalian : Latgola ; Latvian : Latgale ; Russian : Латгалия , romanized :  Latgaliya ; Polish : Łatgalia ; German : Lettgallen ; Belarusian : Латгалія , romanized :  Lathalija ; Belarusian Latin : Łathalija ; Latin : Lettgallia ), also known as Latgalia or Latgallia ,

1628-526: The region's population was 255,968. The region has a large population of ethnic Russians , especially in Daugavpils , the largest city in the region and the location of the region's only public university , the University of Daugavpils . Many of the Russians who lived in Latgale before Soviet rule are Old Believers . Rēzekne , often called the heart of Latgale, Krāslava , and Ludza are other large towns in

1672-698: The region, which also has a Belarusian minority. There is also a significant Polish minority . As part of the Polotsk and Vitebsk guberniyas, the region was part of the Pale of Settlement and had a very large Jewish population – but many of the Jews were killed in WW2 and most of the remainder emigrated. Other than in Daugavpils , the Baltic German presence in Latgale was less sizable than in other regions of Latvia. Average incomes in

1716-606: The territory of Vidzeme was inhabited by Latgalians and Livs (near the coast of the Gulf of Riga and along the lower reaches of the Daugava and Gauja rivers). Until the German conquest in the 13th century the Daugava, which now forms the south-east border of Vidzeme, was the boundary between the lands of the Livs and Latgalians on the right bank and those of the Semigallians and Selonians on

1760-548: Was a result of political compromise between the National Council and the Democratic bloc. Vidzeme Vidzeme ( pronounced [ˈvid̪͡z̪eme] ; Old Latvian orthography : Widda-semme , Livonian : Vidūmō ) is one of the Historical Latvian Lands . The capital of Latvia , Riga , is situated in the southwestern part of the region. Literally meaning "the Middle Land", it is situated in north-central Latvia north of

1804-510: Was addressed to the "Russian revolutionary democracy" and proclaimed the unification of all Latvian-inhabited lands. This meant that Latgale is to be united with the Latvian-inhabited lands of Governorate of Livonia and Courland Governorate . The second one was addressed to "foreign countries and nations" proclaiming Latvia's autonomy. "Latvia, which includes Vidzeme, Kurzeme and Latgale is an autonomous state unit, its internal and external system will be decided by its Constitutional Assembly and

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1848-420: Was first occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940 and by the Nazi Germany in 1941. In 1944, at the beginning of the second occupation of Latvia by the Soviet Union, the eastern municipalities of the Abrene district including Abrene were incorporated into the Russian SFSR . Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the restoration of Latvian independence in 1991, Latgale regained its status of one of

1892-483: Was incorporated into the territory of the Livonian Order . In 1242, after defeat in the Battle of the Ice , eastern Latgale ( Lotygola ) temporarily passed to the Novgorod Republic . In 1263, Livonian knights started to build the Wolkenburg castle as the seat of an order convent near the Rāzna lake (today within the Rāzna National Park ). It became the oldest order stronghold of the Latgale region. In 1277, Grand duke Traidenis of Lithuania unsuccessfully besieged

1936-438: Was opposed by Farmers' Union delegates. The compromise decision was made that the exact status of the Latvian state shall be decided by a future Constitutional Assembly. On November 19 delegates sent three congratulatory telegrams - to the Ukrainian Central Rada , the Nationalities' Congress in Kyiv and the Parliament of Finland . More importantly, on November 19 session National Council adopted two resolutions. The first one

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