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The lands of the Rīga archbishopric
The Rīga archbishopric was established in 1255 by Roman
Pope Alexander IV. The Rīga bishopric was elevated to
the status of an archbishopric, and its properties were
confirmed. The territory was divided into two parts. The
Liv district was made up of Liv territories in and around
Turaida, Idumeja and Metsepole. The Latvian district was
made up of Lettigalian lands around Jersika, Tālava,
Atzele, Imera and Koknese.
The archbishopric was made up of domain lands, the lands
of the councillors, and leased lands.
The domain lands belonged to the archbishop and were the
location of churches, castles and towns. During the Middle
Ages, the archbishop often toured his properties, as other
rulers did. The archbishop managed the lands, led court
hearings and concluded or renewed agreements with his
vassals. The domain lands were governed on an everyday
basis by chief judges who were appointed by the archbishop.
The most important castles and residences for the bishops
and archbishops of Rīga during the 13th century were the
so-called bishop’s farm in Rīga, along with the castles at
Turaida and Koknese. During the 14th to the 16th century,
the archbishop often spent time at his residences in Limbaži
and Rauna.
Koknese and Limbaži were the cities of the Rīga archbi-
shopric. Rīga was so rich and powerful that it did not
always bow before the archbishop. His power was also
limited by the German Order’s desire to rule Rīga. The
Salaspils Agreement of 1452 assigned two major lords
for the city – the Rīga archbishop and the Livonian master
of the German Order.
The lands of the councillors were meant to support the lives
of the councillors.
The leased regions were leased out to vassals of the arch-
bishop, and they made up the largest area of land. Vassals
built stone castles and even established towns. One town
that was established by the vassals in the Rīga archbishopric
is the town of Straupe. It was in the Liv district of the
archbishopric, and it was leased by the Rosen family.
Boundaries in the Middle Ages were not as strictly drawn
as is the case today. They were described in documents,
and boundary rocks were installed in some locations. The
boundary rocks of the archbishop of Rīga were marked with
a cross and the bishop’s staff.
The digital programme “Medieval Stone Castles in Latvia”
offers a look at stone castles that were built in the territory
of present-day Latvia between the 13th and the 16th century.
The programme offers information about each castle’s oldest
name, location, building period and major events during its
existence. The map was produced by Andris Caune, who is
an archaeologist and castle specialist and a full member of
the Latvian Academy of Sciences, and by Dr Ieva Ose, who
is also an archaeologist, castle specialist and full member of
the Academy of Sciences.
The digital programme “Medieval Stone
Castles in Latvia”
The ancient dance group “Ballare” at the Turaida Castle, 2005
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