Semigallians ( Latvian : Zemgaļi ; Lithuanian : Žiemgaliai ; also Zemgalians , Semigalls or Semigalians ) were the Baltic tribe that lived in the south central 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 .
15-479: Semigallian may refer to: Semigallians , a Baltic tribe Semigallian language , an extinct Baltic language Zemgale , a region in Latvia Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Semigallian . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to
30-579: 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
45-631: 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. Aizkraukle Aizkraukle ( German : Ascheraden ) is a town in the Vidzeme region in Latvia , which is the administrative centre of Aizkraukle Municipality on the right bank of the Daugava River . The population in 2020
60-700: 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 the Battle of Karuse on the frozen gulf of Riga , the Livonian Order
75-668: 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 the invading army of Polotsk led by Prince Rogvolod Vseslavich in 1106. Russian chronicles claim that 9,000 Russian soldiers were killed. At
90-2141: 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
105-460: The builders of the nearby hydroelectric power plant of Pļaviņas . It was originally called Stučka (or " Стучка ", Stuchka and " имени Петра Стучки ", imeni Petra Stuchki in Russian ), for Pēteris Stučka , a Latvian communist . Town status was granted to it in 1967, which is also when it became the administrative center of Stučkas District . In 1990, it was renamed as Aizkraukle, after
120-711: 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, the main crusader stronghold at the Daugava river delta. The crusaders took revenge and invaded Semigallia. The Semigallians, in turn, pillaged land around
135-551: 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 , the Semigallians were involved in battles with Swedish Vikings over control of the lower part of the Daugava waterway . In Gesta Danorum
150-533: The intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Semigallian&oldid=952304482 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Language and nationality disambiguation pages Semigallians The name of Semigallia appears in contemporary records as Seimgala , Zimgola and Sem [ e ] gallen . The -gal[l] element means "border", while
165-476: 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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#1732847543997180-709: 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
195-555: 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, the Semigallian duke Viestards ( Latin : dux Semigallorum ) helped
210-478: Was at 7,018. In the second half of the 14th century, the Livonian Order built the Aizkraukle Castle , a few kilometres downstream from the ancient hillfort of Livs . The ruins of the castle still remain today. Before World War I , the settlement that stood near the site of modern-day Aizkraukle was known by its German name of Ascheraden . The modern town was established in 1961 as a settlement to house
225-550: 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
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