Latvia, a country on the move again

After seven centuries of foreign domination, Latvia is once again independent and transforming herself into an economically vigorous democracy, ready for the challenges of the 21st century.

SEVEN TURBULENT CENTURIES

Although the country's history goes back 3,000 years, the people who lived in the five main regions of Latgale, Zemgale, Kurzeme, the Liv land and Selija, had no central government, though they were successful traders. But "crusading" Teutonic Knights of the Sword conquered them, founding Riga in 1201. From then until World War 1 Germans, Russians, Poles and Swedes fought for control of the territory and Latvian culture was suppressed. The predominant influences were Russian and German, with a 90-year interlude of beneficent rule under King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, which ended when he was defeated by Peter the Great in 1701. The Russian Czars appointed governors, but actually ruled through the German nobility, treating Latvians as serfs.

INDEPENDENCE WON, LOST AND WON AGAIN

The end of World War 1 sparked a fiercely fought War of Independence, ending with recognition in 1920. During the inter-war years Latvia rebuilt her economy, reforming agriculture, industrialising, and extending higher education. But the outbreak of World War 2 threw her back into the old power struggle. In turn the Soviet Union and Hitler inflicted terror and mass deportations. After the war the country became a Soviet Socialist Republic. Farms were collectivised. The national flag and anthem were banned. The collapse of the Soviet Union enabled Latvia to regain independence on August 21, 1991. The cost has been high. The whole economy has to be restructured. But the rewards in enterprise, human values and freedom are there for every visitor to see.

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