Livonia Russians in Latvia

1 livonia

1.1 trade
1.2 regional power struggles
1.3 consolidation under russian rule
1.4 latvian national awakening , russification
1.5 decline , end of empire
1.6 demographics

livonia

koknese taken livonian brothers of sword in 1208 , jersika in 1209 , later both incorporated terra mariana (livonia).

early trade

east slavic presence remained, merchants in cities; trading ties muscovy , other parts of russia preserved well. merchants of novgorod republic established trade relations hanseatic league, of riga member, , merchants through riga merchant guild. nevertheless, russian prospects profit remained limited in german-dominated trade league, including economic blockades preventing novgorod trading livonia. circumstances changed in 1392, when under nyborg agreement , agreed german , russian merchants enjoy freedom of movement. russian trade contributed development of livonia on following century.

regional power struggles

in 1481, ivan iii of russia briefly captured dünaburg castle in southeastern livonia in response livonian attack on north-west russia. during livonian war russian tsar ivan terrible captured several castles , towns in eastern latvia , held of them 4 years.

from second half of seventeenth century religiously repressed old believers russia settled in latgale part of polish-lithuanian commonwealth.

in 17th century, during russo–swedish war initiated alexis of russia, russians seized of eastern latgale, renamed dünaburg borisoglebsk , controlled region 11 years between 1656 , 1667. russia had yield area poland following treaty of andrusovo.

consolidation under russian rule

count sheremetev s capture of riga in great northern war in 1710 completed peter s conquest of swedish livonia. russian trade through latvia began flourish , active russian merchant class began settle in latvia. first russian school in riga founded in 1789. latgale incorporated russian empire after first partition of poland in 1772, kurzeme , zemgale (duchy of courland , semigallia) in 1795.

russian capital invested in trade through baltic countries, including latvia. of profits went toward establishing russian-owned industry. middle of 19th century, developing industry began attract russian workers. influx of russian peasantry had continued, seeking less socially , religiously oppressive conditions within empire owing degree of autonomy accorded baltic provinces, not subject same laws rest of russian empire. while russian nobility established presence, administrative control remained in hands of baltic germans.

latvian national awakening , russification

Рижский Вестник (riga herald) issue no. 22 of march 15, 1869

while russian community in latvia largely extension of russia s ethnic russians, nevertheless began develop sense of community separate russia itself, latvian russians beginning consider 1 of nationalities of latvia. russian social organizations began spring in 1860s, around same time of latvian national awakening. reforms of alexander ii, including abolition of serfdom in 1861 throughout rest of empire, further stimulated rise of national consciousness.

latvia had, in fact, taken lead in regard, serfdom had been abolished in 1819 except latgale, had been incorporated vitebsk guberniya in 1802. first russian newspaper in riga –rossiyskoe ezhenedelnoe izdanie v rige (Российское еженедельное издание в Риге, russian weekly in riga) – founded in 1816. russian daily newspaper rizhskij vestnik (Рижский Вестник, riga herald ), founded in 1869 evgraf vasilyevich cheshikhin (Евграф Васильевич Чешихин) , published until death in 1888, established notion of needs , wants of local russian population . cheshikhin formed russian literary circle (Русский литературный кружок) in riga in 1876. local russians participated in elections town councils , later state duma.

alexander iii s russification policy, implemented upon ascension throne in 1881, aimed @ reducing autonomy of baltic provinces through introduction of russian language in administration, court , education – replacing german or latvian in schooling – , through colonization of latvia russian peasants. colonization successful in latgale, further plans interrupted world war i.

decline , end of empire

at dawn of 20th century russians made notable part of working population in biggest industrial cities. in latvia, in rest of russian empire, situation of factory workers grim. worked on average 11 hours day, 10 on saturday, , under harsh , unsafe conditions. social agitation built on course of several years; when workers protested @ winter palace, police , cossacks attacked procession, killing or wounding hundreds. event marked start of revolution of 1905.

when revolution spread latvia there arguably more focused target. instead of frustration or class struggle, adversary in latvia unambiguously baltic german elite: separate social class of separate ethnicity speaking separate language. 1905 revolution in latvia fundamentally different in rest of russia. peasants of both russian , latvian ethnicity captured small towns , burned dozens of manors. revolution in latvia, however, did not agitate separate russia, nationalists continued believe needed might of imperial russia counter baltic german dominance.

at conclusion of 1905 revolution, nicholas ii, through various concessions, including establishment of representative duma, retained power. although russification policy not withdrawn, baltic german elite once again found in tsar s favor agent maintain control. germans, assisted regiments of russian army, targeted latvians in attempt counter nationalism. russian government, in re-allying ruling elite, sought cement relationship encouraging russian political leaders ally germans against latvians. sentiment of latvian russian community, however, remained ambivalent. majority descendants old believers had fled baltics escape religious persecution – , still regarded tsar deep suspicion, if not outright evil. tended remain neutral in confrontation between baltic germans , nationalist latvians; in doing active commonality of purpose between latvian russians, latvians, , latvian nationalists prior 1905 revolution dissolved. latvian nationalism continued focused against baltic germans, position unchanged until revolution of 1917.

in 1917, in 1905, can again argued latvia particularly prepared revolution. class-consciousness had continued develop , particularly strong in heavily industrialized riga, second-largest port in russia. latvian riflemen particularly active , instrumental, assisting in organizing urban workers , rural peasants, in confiscating estates, , in setting soviets in place of former local councils. this, however, presented new issue latvian nationalists. based on historical special status baltics had enjoyed since peter i, had hoped more autonomy, yet not seceding russia. bolshevism threatened swallow nationalism , became new enemy. new, more ethnic, strident, nationalism, defined throwing off both german , russian influences, accompanied turn against bolshevism. did not, however, target latvian russian population, nor did target influx of russians fled latvia after 1917 escape soviet russia.

demographics

by end of 19th century, there considerably large latvian russian population. according first all-russia census of 1897, totaled 171,000, distributed follows: 77,000 latgale, 68,000 vidzeme, , 26,000 in kurzeme , zemgale. urban population twice of rural, exception of latgale, proportions reversed.

half of russian population of vidzeme, kurzeme , zemgale came nearby provinces of russia. in rēzekne district of latgale, example, 10% of russians had come other provinces. largest number of newcomers came neighbouring provinces of empire – of kaunas, vitebsk , vilnius.

in social structure russians differed other nationalities in latvia. largest social group among them peasants (54%), , made majority of russians in latgale. middle class made 35% , hereditary , personal noblemen (aristocracy) made 8%. far group characteristics concerned, russians latvian poles differed latvians peasants , germans belonged middle class or nobility.