Latvija07 Jan 1795 - 1917 Part of Russian Empire05 Jul 1917 Autonomy granted for Livonia and Courland20 Nov 1917 Bolshevik forces take the Baltic region29 Dec 1917 Autonomous Latvian Soviet within Russia03 Sep 1917 - 26 Nov 1919 German occupation, starting in Riga18 Nov 1918 Latvia independent (recognised by Russia in 1920)25 Nov 1918 - 26 Nov 1919 German and allied occupation17 Dec 1918 - 13 Jan 1920 Latvian Soviet Republic declared in opposition07 Nov 1922 - 21 Jul 1940 Republic of Latvia17 Jun 1940 Soviet Occupation21 Jul 1940 Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic05 Aug 1940 Incorporated into the USSR (not internationally recognised)23 Jun 1941 - 1944 Part of German Ostland17 Jul 1944 - 08 May 1945 Reincorporated into the USSR19 Mar 1945 Autonomous state of Latvia declared under Germany07 May 1945 Independence declared08 May 1945 Last German troops surrender28 Jul 1989 Declaration of State sovereignty04 May 1990 - Republic of Latvia04 May 1990 - 21 Aug 1991 Transitional period21 Aug 1991 Independence declared (recognised by USSR 06 Sep 1991)01 May 2004 Accession to the EUCapital: Riga.Language: Latvian, Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Polish, Lithuanian.Religion: No religion 63.7%, Lutheran, Orthodox.National Anthem: "Dievs, Sveti Latviju!" ("God Bless Latvia!").National Motto: Tevzemei un Brivibai (Fatherland and Freedom).National Day: Independence day, 18 November (1918).Currency: Euro (Lat 1922-40, 1993-2013).Presidents18 Nov 1918 - 14 Mar 1927 Janis Cakste ......................................... 1859-192714 Mar - 08 Apr 1927 Pauls Kalnins ........................................ 1872-1945(acting)08 Apr 1927 - 08 Apr 1930 Gustavs Zegnals ...................................... 1871-193911 Apr 1930 - 11 Apr 1936 Alberts Kviesis ...................................... 1881-194411 Apr 1936 - 21 Jun 1940 Karlis Vilhelm Augusts Ulmanis ....................... 1877-1941 LSZ21 Jun - 25 Aug 1940 Augusts Kirhenšteins ................................. 1872-1963 LSZ08 May 1990 - 08 Jul 1993 Anatolijs Valerjan Gorbuns ........................... 1942-08 Jul 1993 - 08 Jul 1999 Guntis Ulmanis ....................................... 1939- LSZ08 Jul 1999 - 08 Jul 2007 Dr Vaira Vike-Frieberga .............................. 1937-08 Jul 2007 - 08 Jul 2011 Dr Valdis Zatlers .................................... 1956-08 Jul 2011 - Andris Berzinš ....................................... 1944- LSZPrime Ministers17 Nov 1918 - 16 Apr 1919 Karlis Vilhelm Augusts Ulmanis (1st Time)26 Apr - 11 May 1919 Oskars Borkovskis .................................... 1872-1945 LSZ11 May - 29 Jun 1919 Andrievs Niedra ...................................... 1871-1942 LSZ30 Jun 1919 - 17 Jun 1921 Karlis Vilhelm Augusts Ulmanis (2nd Time)17 Jun 1921 - 25 Jan 1923 Zigfridis Anna Meierovics ............................ 1887-1925 LSZ(1st Time)25 Jan - 26 Jun 1923 Janis Pauluks ........................................ 1865-1937 LSZ26 Jun 1923 - 25 Jan 1924 Zigfridis Anna Meierovics (2nd Time)25 Jan - 16 Dec 1924 Voldemars Zamuels .................................... 1872-194816 Dec 1924 - 23 Dec 1925 Hugo Celminš ......................................... 1877-1941 LSZ(1st Time)23 Dec 1925 - 04 May 1926 Karlis Vilhelm Augusts Ulmanis (3rd Time)04 May - 17 Dec 1926 Artur Alberings ...................................... 1876-1934 LSZ17 Dec 1926 - 21 Jan 1928 Marners Skujenieks ................................... 1886-1941 LSZ(1st Time)21 Jan - 01 Dec 1928 Peteris Juraševskis .................................. 1887-194501 Dec 1928 - 24 Mar 1931 Hugo Celminš (2nd Time)24 Mar - 05 Dec 1931 Karlis Vilhelm Augusts Ulmanis (4th Time)05 Mar 1931 - 23 Mar 1933 Marners Skujenieks (2nd Time)23 Mar 1933 - 17 Mar 1934 Adolfs Blodnieks ..................................... 1889-196217 Mar 1934 - 19 Jun 1940 Karlis Vilhelm Augusts Ulmanis (5th Time)01 Jul - 07 Jul 1941 Bernhards Einbergs ................................... 1893-194520 Feb - 03 May 1945 Rudolfs Bangerskis ................................... 1878-195803 May - 08 May 1945 Roberts Osis ......................................... 1900-197307 May 1990 - 03 Aug 1993 Ivars Godmanis ....................................... 1951-(1st Time)03 Aug 1993 - 19 Sep 1994 Valdis Birkavs ....................................... 1942- LC19 Sep 1994 - 21 Dec 1995 Maris Gailis ......................................... 1951- LC21 Dec 1995 - 07 Aug 1997 Andris Škele ......................................... 1958-(1st Time)07 Aug 1997 - 26 Nov 1998 Guntars Krasts ....................................... 1957- NS26 Nov 1998 - 16 Jul 1999 Vilis Krištopans ..................................... 1954- LC16 Jul 1999 - 05 May 2000 Andris Škele (2nd Time) PLL05 May 2000 - 07 Nov 2002 Andris Berzinš ....................................... 1951- LC07 Nov 2002 - 09 Mar 2004 Einars Repše ......................................... 1961- JL08 Mar - 02 Dec 2004 Indulis Emsis ........................................ 1952- ZZS02 Dec 2004 - 20 Dec 2007 Aigars Kalvitis ...................................... 1966- PLL20 Dec 2007 - 12 Mar 2009 Ivars Godmanis (2nd Time)12 Mar 2009 - 22 Jan 2014 Valdis Dombrovkis .................................... 1971- JL22 Jan 2014 - Laimodota Straujuma .................................. 1951- VPJL=Jaunais liaks (New Era Party, Conservative, dissolved 2011)LC=Latvijas Celš (Latvian Way, Conservative)NS=Nacionalinis susivienijimas (Right-wing, Nationalist).PLL=Par Labu Latviju! (For a Good Latvia, Conservative-Liberalism).SC=Saskanas Centrs (Harmony Centre, Social Democratic, Minority rights).V=Vienotiba (Unity, Conservative, pro-western).VP=Vienotiba Partija (Unity Party, former JL)ZZS=Zalo un Zemniecku Savienba (Union of Greens and Farmers, former LZS).
- Latvian SSR 1940-1990
Courland and Semigallia
Courland 1918 C.S 1562-1795 Courland Semigallia
864 - 1230 Principality of Kouronia1200 - 1281 Principality of Semigallia12 May 1237 To the Teutonic Order1414 Teutonic Order fully autonomous05 Mar 1562 - 26 Apr 1795 Duchy of Courland a fief of LithuaniaAug 1701 - Sep 1709 Swedish occupation28 Mar 1795 Courland approves annexation to Russian Empire01 Feb 1797 Limited autonomy26 Apr 1795 Courland and Semigallia annexed by Russian Empire08 Oct 1800 - Nov 1917 Administered as part of the Baltic Provinces20 Jul - 20 Dec 1812 French occupationOct 1915 - 1919 German occupation05 Jul 1917 Autonomy granted by the Russian provisional government03 Mar 1918 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk determines Courland no longerunder Russian sovereignty08 Mar 1918 Duchy of Courland restored by the Baltic German elite18 Nov 1918 Part of Latvia thereafter< span>Princes of Kouronia864-894 Lokeris, Prince of Kouronia1181-1203? Vasilko1190-1200 Vesike1181-1206 Vyacheslav of Lettigalia1201-1214 Talivaldis of Letts1203-1236 Vsevolod1220-1230 LamikisPrinces of Semigallia1200-1232 Versthard1232-1256 Sabe1257-1281 NameisisLand-Masters of the Swordbrothers Order1207 - 1209 Vinno von Rohrbach1209 - 22 Sep 1236 Volkwin von Naumburg zu Winterstätten22 Sep 1236 - 12 May 1237 RutgerLand-Masters of Teutonic Order12 May 1237 - 05 Mar 1562 See here.Dukes of Courland17 Sep 1559 - 17 May 1587 Kettler, Gothards .................................... 1517-158717 May 1587 - 16 Aug 1642 Kettler, Fridrihis ................................... 1569-161221 May 1596 - 04 May 1616 Kettler, Vilhelm ..................................... 1574-164016 Aug 1642 - 31 Dec 1681 Kettler, Jekabs ...................................... 1610-168201 Jan 1681 - 22 Jan 1698 Kettler, Fridrihs Kazimirs ........................... 1650-169822 Jan 1698 - 21 Jan 1711 Kettler, Fridrihs Vilhelms ........................... 1692-171121 Jan 1711 - 04 May 1737 Kettler, Ferdinands .................................. 1655-173713 Jul 1737 - 20 Nov 1740 von Biron, Ernsts Johans ............................. 1690-1772(1st Time)20 Nov 1740 - 16 Nov 1758 Christoph Friedrich von der Osten .................... 1697-1759(Regent)27 Jun - 06 Dec 1741 Welf, Ludwig Ernsts .................................. 1718-178816 Nov 1758 - 21 Feb 1763 Wettin, Karlis ....................................... 1733-179621 Feb 1763 - 25 Nov 1769 von Biron, Ernsts Johans (2nd Time)25 Nov 1769 - 28 Mar 1795 von Biron, Peteris ................................... 1724-180008 Mar - 18 Nov 1918 Hohenzollern, Wilhelm II ............................. 1859-1941Chairmen of the Land Council of Courland10 May - Nov 1917 Karlis Pauluks ....................................... 1870-194508 Mar - 08 Nov 1918 Alexander Immanuel, Baron von Rahden-Maihof .......... 1859-1920__________________________________________________________________________________________Dondangen1585 - 1795 Lordship of Dondangen1639 Union with Pilten26 Apr 1795 Annexed by Russia as part of PiltenLords
17 Jun 1585 - 1588 Martin Berzowicz
1588 - 1610 Levin von Bülow
1610 - 1652 Friedrich von Bülow
1652 - 1656 Anna Sibylla von Maydell
(1st time)
1656 - 30 Jul 1670 Otto Ernst von Maydell
30 Jul 1670 - 1687 Anna Sibylla von Maydell
(2nd time)
1687 - 21 Jun 1711 Dietrich von Maydell
21 Jun 1711 - 1718 Ewald von der Osten-Sacken
1718 - 06 Aug 1731 Johann Ulrich von der Osten-Sacken
06 Aug 1731 - 31 Dec 1794 Karl Graf von der Osten-Sacken
31 Dec 1794 - 26 Apr 1795 Christiane Charlotte Sophie Freiinvon Dieskau ......................................... 1733-1811__________________________________________________________________________________________Pilten (Piltene)1234-1560 Bishopic of Courland1520 Principality of the Holy Roman Empire20 May 1560 Sold to Denmark20 Apr 1585 Sold to Poland-Lithuania03 May 1660 - 1717 In Personal union with Courland1717 - 26 Apr 1795 Restored to Poland Lithuania26 Apr 1795 Annexed by Russia02 Mar 1818 Incorporated into Courland11 Nov 1918 To Latvia thereafterBishops of Courland
1232 - 1234 Balduin Alnast
1234 - 1236/37 Engelbrecht
1237 - 1250 ....
03 Mar 1251 - 05 Mar 1263 Heinrich I von Lützelburg
05 Mar 1263 - 1298 Edmund von Werth
1300 - 1311 Burchard
05 Mar 1322 - 1326 Paul I
11 Oct 1328 - 1331 Johannes I
1332 - 05 Jun 1353 Johannes II
14 Mar 1354 - 1359 Ludolf
25 Jan 1360 - 1371 Jakob
08 Jun 1371 - 1398 Otto
12 Jun 1399 - 1404 Rutger von Brüggenei
12 Jan 1405 - 17 Nov 1424 Gottschalk Schutte
1424 - 1425 Dietrich Tanke
15 Jan 1425 - 28 Nov 1456 Johannes III Tiergart
20 Jun 1457 - 09 Jul 1473 Paul II Einwald
09 Jul 1473 - 31 Jan 1500 Martin Lewitz
04 May 1500 - 04 Nov 1500 Michael Sculteti
12 Feb 1501 - Dec 1523 Heinrich II Basedow
02 Mar 1524 - Dec 1539 Hermann II Ronneberg
16 Jul 1540 - Apr 1560 Johannes IV von Münchhausen
May 1560 - 28 Feb 1583 Magnus Herzog von HolsteinPrinces03 May 1660 - 1717 The Dukes of Courland1717 - 26 Apr 1795 The Kings of PolandOberhauptleute
1562 - 1574 Heinrich Wolf von Lüdinghausen
1574 - 1585 ....
1585 - 1603 Johann von Behr-Edwahlen
1603 - 1611 Christoph von Rappe-Telsen
1611 - 1616 The Duke of Courland
1621 - 1633 Hermann von Maydell
1633 - 1667 Otto von Maydell
16.. - 16.. Otto Ernst von Maydell
1698 - 1705 Georg Johann von Keyserlingk
1705 - 1715 Ulrich von Behr
1715 - 1717 Ernst Ewald von Heyking
1717 - 26 Apr 1795 VacantPräsidenten des Landratskollegiums
1667 - 16.. Otto von Maydell
1697 - 1710 Friedrich von der Osten
1710 - 1714 Wilhelm Alexander von Heyking
1714 - 1735 Ulrich von Behr
1735 - 15 Jun 1750 Ernst von Koskull
1750 - 23 Feb 1764 Magnus Ernst von Fircks
1764 - 1779 Johann Ernst von Heyking
1779 - 1782 Friedrich Hermann von Behr .......................... 1729-1807
1782 - 26 Apr 1795 Otto Ulrich von der Osten ........................... 1741-1818
Livonia
Livonian Brothers Livonia 1207-1561 Vidzeme Latagle 11.. - 1244 Principalities of Letagle and Letts1201 Bishopic of Livonia1207 Archbishop of Riga takes title of Prince of Livonia12 May 1237 Swordbrothers of Livonia incorporated into Teutonic Order1420 Livonian Confederation established1561 - 1660 Swedish and Russian controll05 Mar 1562 - 14 Jan 1582 Riga a Free Imperial City05 Mar 1562 - 26 Sep 1629 In Personal Union with Lithuania1570 - 1578 Czar Ivan IV of Russia installs Magnus of Holstein as king of Livonia30 Mat 1630 Under Swedish controll, except the city of Riga15 Jul 1710 Riga falls to Russian forces08 Aug 1713 Livonia governorate formes10 Sep 1721 Swedish Livonia ceded to Russia30 Sep 1773 Polish Livonia annexed to Russia with the First Partition of Poland14 Jul 1783 Autonomy abollished28 Nov 1796 Limited local autonomy restored05 Jul 1917 Local autonomy granted by Russia03 Sep 1917 - 18 Nov 1918 German occupation (in Riga from 1917, whole area by 22 Feb 1918)09 Nov 1917 - 22 Feb 1918 Bolshevik forces occupy the region21 Nov 1917 - 22 Feb 1918 United Latvian Workers, Soldiers and Peasants Soviet at Volka03 Mar 1918 Russia renounces sovereinty at Treaty of Brest-Litovsk12 Apr 1918 Duchy of Livonia a client of the German Empire18 Nov 1918 Part of Latvia thereafterPrinces in Letgale
118. - 1203 Vasilko
118. - 1206 Vyacheslav Borisovich
1203 - 123. Vsevolod
12.. - 1244 Vyachko
Princes of Letts and Livs
11.. - 1200 Vesike
1200 - 1214 TalivaldisBishops of Riga, Princes of Livonia (in Üxküll)
1186 - 11 Oct 1196 St. Meinhard
1196 - 24 Aug 1198 Berthold Schulte
1199 - 1201 Albrecht von Buxhövden
1201 - 17 Jan 1229 Albrecht I von Buxhövden
08 Apr 1231 - Dec 1253 Nikolaus von Nauen
1254 - 20 Jan 1255 Albrecht II Suerbeer
Archbishops of Riga and Princes of Livland
20 Jan 1255 - 1273 Albrecht II Suerbeer
17 May 1274 - 1285 Johannes I von Lünen
10 Jan 1286 - 1294 Johannes II von Vechten
18 Apr 1295 - 1300 Johannes III, Graf von Schwerin
19 Dec 1300 - 11 Apr 1302 Isarno Morlane
11 Apr 1302 - 1304 Jens Grand
21 Mar 1304 - 1340 Friedrich Banner von Pernstein
18 Oct 1341 - 09 Sep 1347 Engelbrecht von Dolen
17 Mar 1348 - 28 Dec 1369 Fromhold von Vyshusen
11 Feb 1370 - 30 Jun 1374 Siegfried von Blomberg
23 Oct 1374 - 24 Sep 1393 Johannes IV von Ziten
08 Apr 1395 - 30 May 1418 Johannes V von Wallenrode
11 Jul 1418 - 14 May 1424 Johannes VI Ambundi
13 Oct 1424 - 05 Apr 1448 Henning Scharpenberg
09 Oct 1448 - 12 Jul 1479 Silvester Stodewäscher
22 Mar 1480 - 20 Dec 1483 Stephan Grube
04 Jun 1484 - 05 Feb 1509 Michael Hildebrand
23 May 1509 - 29 Jun 1524 Casper Linde
29 Jun 1524 - 09 Sep 1527 Johannes VII Blankenfeld
18 Jan 1531 - 11 Aug 1539 Thomas Schöning
07 Sep 1539 - 04 Feb 1563 Wilhelm von Hohenzollern Markgraf
von BrandenburgPrinces of Livonia30 May 1630 - 1660 The Kings of Sweden15 Jul 1710 - 15 Mar 1917 The Emperors of RussiaKing of Livonia10 Jun 1570 - Jan 1578 Oldemberg, Magnus, Duke of HolsteinDuke of Livonia12 Apr - 08 Nov 1918 Adolf Pilar von Pilchau .............................. 1851-1925(regent)08 Nov - 28 Nov 1918 Mecklenburg, Adolf Friedrich Albrecht Heinrich ....... 1873-1969