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Latvija
               
Latvia, coat of arms - vector image
 1918-1940, Re-adopted 1990
 
07 Jan 1795 -        1917 Part of Russian Empire
05 Jul 1917               Autonomy granted for  Livonia and Courland
20 Nov 1917               Bolshevik forces take the Baltic region
29 Dec 1917               Autonomous Latvian Soviet within Russia
03 Sep 1917 - 26 Nov 1919 German occupation, starting in Riga
18 Nov 1918               Latvia independent (recognised by Russia in 1920)
25 Nov 1918 - 26 Nov 1919 German and allied occupation
17 Dec 1918 - 13 Jan 1920 Latvian Soviet Republic declared in opposition
07 Nov 1922 - 21 Jul 1940 Republic of Latvia
17 Jun 1940               Soviet Occupation
21 Jul 1940               Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
05 Aug 1940               Incorporated into the USSR (not internationally recognised)
23 Jun 1941 - 1944        Part of German Ostland
17 Jul 1944 - 08 May 1945 Reincorporated into the USSR
19 Mar 1945               Autonomous state of Latvia declared under Germany
07 May 1945               Independence declared
08 May 1945               Last German troops surrender
28 Jul 1989               Declaration of State sovereignty
04 May 1990 -             Republic of Latvia
04 May 1990 - 21 Aug 1991 Transitional period
21 Aug 1991               Independence declared (recognised by USSR 06 Sep 1991)
01 May 2004               Accession to the EU
 
Capital: 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).
 
 
Presidents
18 Nov 1918 - 14 Mar 1927 Janis Cakste ......................................... 1859-1927
14 Mar      - 08 Apr 1927 Pauls Kalnins ........................................ 1872-1945
                          (acting)
08 Apr 1927 - 08 Apr 1930 Gustavs Zegnals ...................................... 1871-1939
11 Apr 1930 - 11 Apr 1936 Alberts Kviesis ...................................... 1881-1944
11 Apr 1936 - 21 Jun 1940 Karlis Vilhelm Augusts Ulmanis ....................... 1877-1941 LSZ
21 Jun      - 25 Aug 1940 Augusts Kirhenšteins ................................. 1872-1963 LSZ
08 May 1990 - 08 Jul 1993 Anatolijs Valerjan Gorbuns ........................... 1942-    
08 Jul 1993 - 08 Jul 1999 Guntis Ulmanis ....................................... 1939-     LSZ
08 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-     LSZ
 
 
Prime Ministers
17 Nov 1918 - 16 Apr 1919 Karlis Vilhelm Augusts Ulmanis (1st Time)
26 Apr      - 11 May 1919 Oskars Borkovskis .................................... 1872-1945 LSZ
11 May      - 29 Jun 1919 Andrievs Niedra ...................................... 1871-1942 LSZ
30 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 LSZ
26 Jun 1923 - 25 Jan 1924 Zigfridis Anna Meierovics (2nd Time)
25 Jan      - 16 Dec 1924 Voldemars Zamuels .................................... 1872-1948
16 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 LSZ
17 Dec 1926 - 21 Jan 1928 Marners Skujenieks ................................... 1886-1941 LSZ
                          (1st Time)
21 Jan      - 01 Dec 1928 Peteris Juraševskis .................................. 1887-1945
01 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 ..................................... 1889-1962
17 Mar 1934 - 19 Jun 1940 Karlis Vilhelm Augusts Ulmanis (5th Time)
01 Jul      - 07 Jul 1941 Bernhards Einbergs ................................... 1893-1945
20 Feb      - 03 May 1945 Rudolfs Bangerskis ................................... 1878-1958
03 May      - 08 May 1945 Roberts Osis ......................................... 1900-1973
07 May 1990 - 03 Aug 1993 Ivars Godmanis ....................................... 1951-
                          (1st Time)
03 Aug 1993 - 19 Sep 1994 Valdis Birkavs ....................................... 1942-     LC
19 Sep 1994 - 21 Dec 1995 Maris Gailis ......................................... 1951-     LC
21 Dec 1995 - 07 Aug 1997 Andris Škele ......................................... 1958-    
                          (1st Time)
07 Aug 1997 - 26 Nov 1998 Guntars Krasts ....................................... 1957-     NS
26 Nov 1998 - 16 Jul 1999 Vilis Krištopans ..................................... 1954-     LC
16 Jul 1999 - 05 May 2000 Andris Škele (2nd Time)                                          PLL
05 May 2000 - 07 Nov 2002 Andris Berzinš ....................................... 1951-     LC
07 Nov 2002 - 09 Mar 2004 Einars Repše ......................................... 1961-     JL
08 Mar      - 02 Dec 2004 Indulis Emsis ........................................ 1952-     ZZS
02 Dec 2004 - 20 Dec 2007 Aigars Kalvitis ...................................... 1966-     PLL
20 Dec 2007 - 12 Mar 2009 Ivars Godmanis (2nd Time)
12 Mar 2009 - 22 Jan 2014 Valdis Dombrovkis .................................... 1971-     JL
22 Jan 2014 -             Laimodota Straujuma .................................. 1951-     VP
 
 
 
JL=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).
 

 
Courland and Semigallia
File:Księstwo Kurlandii i Semigalii COA.svg
Courland 1918
C.S 1562-1795
Coat of Arms of Kurzeme.svg
     Courland
File:Coat of Arms of Zemgale.svg
    Semigallia
864 - 1230                Principality of Kouronia
1200 - 1281               Principality of Semigallia
12 May 1237               To the Teutonic Order
       1414               Teutonic Order fully autonomous
05 Mar 1562 - 26 Apr 1795 Duchy of Courland a fief of Lithuania
   Aug 1701 -    Sep 1709 Swedish occupation
28 Mar 1795               Courland approves annexation to Russian Empire
01 Feb 1797               Limited autonomy
26 Apr 1795               Courland and Semigallia annexed by Russian Empire
08 Oct 1800 -    Nov 1917 Administered as part of the Baltic Provinces
20 Jul      - 20 Dec 1812 French occupation
   Oct 1915 - 1919        German occupation
05 Jul 1917               Autonomy granted by the Russian provisional government
03 Mar 1918               Treaty of Brest-Litovsk determines Courland no longer
                           under Russian sovereignty
08 Mar 1918               Duchy of Courland restored by the Baltic German elite
18 Nov 1918               Part of Latvia thereafter
 
Princes of Kouronia
864-894 Lokeris, Prince of Kouronia
1181-1203? Vasilko
1190-1200 Vesike
1181-1206 Vyacheslav of Lettigalia
1201-1214 Talivaldis of Letts
1203-1236 Vsevolod
1220-1230 Lamikis
Princes of Semigallia
1200-1232 Versthard
1232-1256 Sabe
1257-1281 Nameisis
 
Land-Masters of the Swordbrothers Order
       1207 -        1209 Vinno von Rohrbach
       1209 - 22 Sep 1236 Volkwin von Naumburg zu Winterstätten
22 Sep 1236 - 12 May 1237 Rutger
Land-Masters of Teutonic Order
12 May 1237 - 05 Mar 1562 See here.
Dukes of Courland
17 Sep 1559 - 17 May 1587 Kettler, Gothards .................................... 1517-1587
17 May 1587 - 16 Aug 1642 Kettler, Fridrihis ................................... 1569-1612
21 May 1596 - 04 May 1616 Kettler, Vilhelm ..................................... 1574-1640
16 Aug 1642 - 31 Dec 1681 Kettler, Jekabs ...................................... 1610-1682
01 Jan 1681 - 22 Jan 1698 Kettler, Fridrihs Kazimirs ........................... 1650-1698
22 Jan 1698 - 21 Jan 1711 Kettler, Fridrihs Vilhelms ........................... 1692-1711
21 Jan 1711 - 04 May 1737 Kettler, Ferdinands .................................. 1655-1737
13 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 .................................. 1718-1788
16 Nov 1758 - 21 Feb 1763 Wettin, Karlis ....................................... 1733-1796
21 Feb 1763 - 25 Nov 1769 von Biron, Ernsts Johans (2nd Time)
25 Nov 1769 - 28 Mar 1795 von Biron, Peteris ................................... 1724-1800
08 Mar      - 18 Nov 1918 Hohenzollern, Wilhelm II ............................. 1859-1941
 
Chairmen of the Land Council of Courland
10 May      -    Nov 1917 Karlis Pauluks ....................................... 1870-1945
08 Mar      - 08 Nov 1918 Alexander Immanuel, Baron von Rahden-Maihof .......... 1859-1920
__________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Dondangen
 
1585 - 1795               Lordship of Dondangen
1639                      Union with Pilten
26 Apr 1795               Annexed by Russia as part of Pilten
 
Lords
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 Freiin
                           von Dieskau ......................................... 1733-1811
__________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Pilten (Piltene)
 
Piltene (Latvia), coat of arms - vector image
 
1234-1560                 Bishopic of Courland
1520                      Principality of the Holy Roman Empire
20 May 1560               Sold to Denmark
20 Apr 1585               Sold to Poland-Lithuania
03 May 1660 - 1717        In Personal union with Courland
       1717 - 26 Apr 1795 Restored to Poland Lithuania
26 Apr 1795               Annexed by Russia
02 Mar 1818               Incorporated into Courland
11 Nov 1918               To Latvia thereafter
 
Bishops 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 Holstein
Princes
03 May 1660 -        1717 The Dukes of Courland
       1717 - 26 Apr 1795 The Kings of Poland
Oberhauptleute
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 Vacant
 
Präsidenten 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
Zakon Kawalerów Mieczowych COA.svg
Livonian Brothers 
Livonia 1207-1561 
File:Coat of Arms of Vidzeme.svg
      Vidzeme
File:Coat of Arms of Latgale.svg
      Latagle
 
11.. - 1244               Principalities of Letagle and Letts
1201                      Bishopic of Livonia
1207                      Archbishop of Riga takes title of Prince of Livonia
12 May 1237               Swordbrothers of Livonia incorporated into Teutonic Order
       1420               Livonian Confederation established
       1561 -        1660 Swedish and Russian controll
05 Mar 1562 - 14 Jan 1582 Riga a Free Imperial City
05 Mar 1562 - 26 Sep 1629 In Personal Union with Lithuania
       1570 - 1578        Czar Ivan IV of Russia installs Magnus of Holstein as king of Livonia
30 Mat 1630               Under Swedish controll, except the city of Riga
15 Jul 1710               Riga falls to Russian forces
08 Aug 1713               Livonia governorate formes
10 Sep 1721               Swedish Livonia ceded to Russia
30 Sep 1773               Polish Livonia annexed to Russia with the First Partition of Poland
14 Jul 1783               Autonomy abollished
28 Nov 1796               Limited local autonomy restored
05 Jul 1917               Local autonomy granted by Russia
03 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 region
21 Nov 1917 - 22 Feb 1918 United Latvian Workers, Soldiers and Peasants Soviet at Volka
03 Mar 1918               Russia renounces sovereinty at Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
12 Apr 1918               Duchy of Livonia a client of the German Empire
18 Nov 1918               Part of Latvia thereafter 
 
Princes 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 Talivaldis
Bishops 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 Brandenburg
Princes of Livonia
30 May 1630 -        1660 The Kings of Sweden
15 Jul 1710 - 15 Mar 1917 The Emperors of Russia
King of Livonia
10 Jun 1570 -    Jan 1578 Oldemberg, Magnus, Duke of Holstein
Duke of Livonia
12 Apr      - 08 Nov 1918 Adolf Pilar von Pilchau .............................. 1851-1925
                          (regent)
08 Nov      - 28 Nov 1918 Mecklenburg, Adolf Friedrich Albrecht Heinrich ....... 1873-1969

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