Riga

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Riga, which the Germans call Rigen, and the Inhabitants Riig, is the Capital City of Livonia upon the River Duna, which dischargeth it self a little lower into the Gulf of Riga, part of the Baltick Sea. It was built by Albert III. Bishop of Livonia in 1196; or according to others, by Bertold also Bishop of Livonia in 1186, who there fixed his Episcopal See. This Church was erected into an Archbishoprick in 1215 by Pope Innocent III. and made Metropolitan of all Livonia, Prussia and Curland. The Knights of the Order of Espadon, and afterwards the Grand Master of the Teutonick Order in Prussia divided there the Government and Soveraignty with the Archbishop, untill the change of Religion came. At the same time the War of the Muscovites obliged the Inhabitants of Riga to have recourse to the King of Poland, to whom they voluntarily gave themselves up in 1561. Charles IX. King of Swedeland besieged the Town of Riga in 1605, but he was constrained to raise the Siege then, as also in 1609. His Son Gustavus Adolphus was more fortunate, who took this City in 1621; since that time it has been in the possession of the Swedes. Some years agoe the Muscovites had a design to render themselves Masters of it, but they lost a great part of their Army, and raised the Siege shamefully. The Situation of this City is very agreeable, standing in a great Plain upon the brink of the River Duna, which is a quarter of a League broad in that same place. It is very populous, and considerable because of its Commerce as well with the English as with the Hollanders, and the Hans-Towns of Germany, when the Summer renders the Baltick Sea navigable; and also with the Muscovites when the Ice can bear their Sledges. Provisions there are very cheap, as also Fowl and Venison, for that every body are free to hunt. They are of the Protestant Religion: the Ministers preach in the German Tongue, but for the meaner sort of People they make use of the Sclavonian Language, and in two particular Churches the Curland Speech. The Magistrate also expedites all Deeds, and the like, in the German Tongue. * Meinardus the Apostle of Livonia became the first Bishop of this City in 1186, Bertoldus was his Successor, and turned from the way of Preaching to that of Dragooning, in which he perished by the just Judgment of God in his first fight with the Livonians in 1198: His Successor was Albert of Brandenburgh, a young brisk Soldier, who trusted more to the Sword than the Word, and he walled Riga for a Cittadel of the Livonians in 1200 or thereabout; for he spent two Summers by way of Incursion before he settled. During the time it was under the Poles the state of it is thus described by Guagninus, who lived then in Poland. Riga is the celebrated Capital of Livonia, fortify'd with a strong Wall, Ramparts, and many Towers; it has two Ditches, a Counterscarp, and three rows of Canon, one above another, round about the Town, and a Pallisado on the Counterscarp. It has Ammunition, Victuals, and a good Garrison in it, as well in times of Peace as in War. Gothard Ketler, Duke of Curland, resides (saith he) in the Castle, but he has no Authority over the City, but they pay their Tributes, and yield a willing subjection to the King of Poland, and are govern'd by Magistrates of their own appointment. Russia sends hither Pot-ashes, Timber, Furrs and Corn in vast abundance by the River Dwina, and in exchange, receives back the Merchandice of all the rest of Europe. At the entrance of the River is a strong Castle, called Dunamunt, and another above it called Blokaus, both Garrison'd by the Poles, and for that reason hated by the Citizens. Thus far he. Riga is seated on the Banks of Dwina, four Leagues from the Baltick. It is not great but compact, and very well peopled. Its Buildings are all of Stone or Brick, and it is fortify'd with a good Wall, good Ditches and Ramparts on that side towards Muscovy. Next the River it has a strong Castle, in which resides the Governour General of Livonia, but it's, after all, most regarded for the Commerce which it draws from all parts of the Baltick, the Ships coming up the Dwina to the very Gates of the City. In the Winter by Sledges they trade with Plesco, Novogorod and Musco, and with Curland at all times. Carlisle's Embassie, p. 338. This was the state of the place in 1664. It stands in a Champaign Country, on the N. E. side of the River Struys, p. 116. Riga is 120 miles N. E. of Memel, 250 S. E. of Stockholm, and 320 N. E. of Warsaw. Olearius.