Riga before its birth Years in history
The small Riga River wound like a narrow ribon along marshes and sands and flowed into the Daugava River. Near the river's bend a settlement of Liv merchants and craftsmen was located (in the area of present day Audeju and Kaleju streets in Old Town of Riga). They used to build low houses made of pine or fir logs with straw or reed roofs and basements made of boulders os oak-wood wells. They worked in smithies, built vessels, traded at the Market Square. Foreign merchants who travelled by the Daugava River were frequent visitors there.
A little bit further, close to the Daugava, the second Liv settlement appeared - the fishermen's one (in the area of Marstalu and Brivibas streets).
These two settlements were connected with castles of Livs and Latgals and settlements of craftsmen situeted at the second most important river - the Gauja - by the only ground road - the Sand Road. It followed the path of present-day Brivibas street and turned to Liv settlement near the Powder Tower (image above).
In spring 1200 Pope in his bull declared crusade against Livonia peoples. From that time more and more often foreign ships arrived to the harbour on the Riga River - not with goods but with armoured knights. At last bishop Albert arrived - with knights and squadron of 23 ships. for the whole summer they negotiated with local elders and examined the harbour.
And on one autumn day guets arrived to bishop Albert. They were chiefs of Livs from castles upon the Daugava River and Turaida region who had been christened. When the feast was at its peak the bishop secretly ordered to close all the outer doors and windows. After that he declared to the invited that they were his captives and unless they yielded to his will they would be shackled and sent to exile.
And bishop Albert demanded the land near Riga settlements to be given to him and his people. Having received the promise bishop set chiefs of Livs free. But he took thirty sons of the chiefs as hostages and brought them to Germany.
That was how the building of Riga had been started.
XI-XII cent. The first Latvian settlement appeared on the territory of present-day Riga
1201 Riga was first recorded as a town in the chronicles.
1225 Riga was granted rights of a city.
1236 In the Saules Battle Lithuanians and Zemgals defeated the German Sword Brotherhood Order.
1282 Riga joined the Hanse-a trade and political union of North-German towns.
1297-1330 A war between the Livonian Order and the town of Riga.
1521 The beginning of the Reformation movement in Latvia.
1558-1583 The Livonian War.As a result of the war Riga was incorporated into the Polish-Lithuanian state.
1561-1581 Riga was a free town.
1581-1621 Riga was under the rule of the Polish-Lithuanian state.
1600-1629 The Polish-Swedish War. The city was brought to rack and ruin, people suffered from starvation and plague.
1621 Capitulation of Riga as a result of Polish-Swedish war.
1621-1710 Riga was under the rule of Sweden.
1628 Swedish king Gustav-Adolf declared Riga the second capital of Sweden.
1700-1721 The Great Northern War. Struggle of Russia and its allies with Sweden for access to the Baltic sea.
1710 Riga surrendered to the Russian army of Peterthe Greate.
1721 Vidzeme became part of Russia
1772 Latgale became part of Russia
1782 The first publictheater was opened in Riga.
1795 Riga and the Kurland Dukedom became part of Russia.
1812 The army of Napoleon occupies Kurzeme region,creating a threat to Riga.Governor General Essen gives orders to burn the Riga suburbs down.
1850-1880 The era of awakening.
1857 Dismantling of Riga defence-wall is started.
1868 Riga Latvian Society was established.
1873 The first country-wide Latvian Song Festival.
1905-1907 People's revolution against German nobility and Russian tsarism.
1914-1918 World War I.
Nov 18, 1918 The Republic of Latvia is proclaimed.
Nov 11, 1919 Bermondt troops suffer defeat at Riga.
August 1920 Signing of peace treaty between Latvia and Soviet Russia.
Jan 26, 1921 Latvia was aknowledged de jure.
1934 Peaceful coup d'etat. President Ulmanis established an authoritarian regime.
1936 The Monument of Liberty was completed and unveiled.
Aug 23, 1939 The secret Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was signed.
Jun 17, 1940 Occupation of the territory of Latvia by Soviet troops.
Aug 5, 1940 Latvia was incorporated in the Soviet Union.
Jun 14, 1941 The first mass deportation from Riga to Siberia.
Jul 1, 1941 German troops occupy Riga.
Oct 13, 1944 Troops ofthe Red Army recapture Riga.The Soviet regime has been re-established.
1944 The second mass deportation from Latvia.
Jun 1988 The beginning of the movement to reestablishment the independance of Latvia.
Aug 21, 1991 Latvia declared itself as an independent democratic state.

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