Vidzeme (; Old Latvian orthography: ''Widda-semme'', liv, Vidūmō) is one of the

Historical Latvian Lands Historical Latvian Lands ( lv, Latviešu vēsturiskās zemes) or formerly Cultural regions of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas kultūrvēsturiskie novadi) are several areas within Latvia formally recognised as distinct from the rest of the country. While som ...

. The capital of

Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...

Riga Riga (; lv, Rīga , liv, Rīgõ) is the capital and largest city of Latvia and is home to 605,802 inhabitants which is a third of Latvia's population. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava river where it meets the B ...

, is situated in the southwestern part of the region. Literally meaning "the Middle Land", it is situated in north-central Latvia north of the

Daugava River The Daugava ( ltg, Daugova; german: Düna) or Western Dvina (russian: Западная Двина, translit=Západnaya Dviná; be, Заходняя Дзвіна; et, Väina; fi, Väinäjoki) is a large river rising in the Valdai Hills of Russ ...

. Sometimes in

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

, it was also known as ''Livland'', the German form from Latin ''Livonia'', though it comprises only a small part of Medieval Livonia and about half (the Latvian part) of Swedish Livonia. Most of the region's inhabitants are

Latvians Latvians ( lv, latvieši) are a Baltic ethnic group and nation native to Latvia and the immediate geographical region, the Baltics. They are occasionally also referred to as Letts, especially in older bibliography. Latvians share a common La ...

(85%), thus Vidzeme is the most ethnically Latvian region in the country. The historic

Governorate of Livonia The Governorate of Livonia, also known as the Livonia Governorate, was a Baltic governorate of the Russian Empire, now divided between Latvia and Estonia. Geography The shape of the province is a fairly rectangular in shape, with a maximum ...

is also larger than Vidzeme, since it corresponds roughly to Swedish Livonia.

History

In ancient times, the territory of Vidzeme was inhabited by

Latgalians Latgalians (, nds, Letti, Lethi, modern ; variant translations also include Latgallians, Lettigalls or Lettigallians) were an ancient Baltic tribe. They likely spoke the Latvian language, which probably became the '' lingua franca'' in present ...

and Livs (near the coast of the Gulf of Riga and along the lower reaches of the

Daugava The Daugava ( ltg, Daugova; german: Düna) or Western Dvina (russian: Западная Двина, translit=Západnaya Dviná; be, Заходняя Дзвіна; et, Väina; fi, Väinäjoki) is a large river rising in the Valdai Hills of Russ ...

and Gauja rivers). Until the German conquest in the 13th century the Daugava, which now forms the south-east border of Vidzeme, was the boundary between the lands of the Livs and Latgalians on the right bank and those of the

Semigallians Semigallians ( Latvian ''Zemgaļi''; lt, Žiemgaliai, also ''Zemgalians, Semigalls, Semigalians'') were the Baltic tribe that lived in the southcentral part of contemporary Latvia and northern Lithuania. They are noted for their long resistan ...

and

Selonians The Selonians ( lv, sēļi; lt, sėliai, from liv, sälli – "highlanders") were a tribe of Baltic peoples. They lived until the 15th century in Selonia, located in southeastern Latvia and northeastern Lithuania. They eventually merged wi ...

on the left bank of the river. The most notable Latgalian region in today's Vidzeme was Tālava. After the

Livonian War The Livonian War (1558–1583) was the Russian invasion of Old Livonia, and the prolonged series of military conflicts that followed, in which Tsar Ivan the Terrible of Russia (Muscovy) unsuccessfully fought for control of the region (pre ...

, part of the Livonian Confederation on the right bank of the Daugava river and the

Patrimony of Riga Patrimony may refer to: Law * Patrimony, or property, the total of all personal and real entitlements, including movable and immovable property, belonging to a real person or a juristic person * Patrimony, or inheritance, a right or estate inh ...

was ceded to the

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi- confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Poland and Lithuania ...

, and the

Duchy of Livonia The Duchy of Livonia ( or ; lt, Livonijos kunigaikštystė; la, Ducatus Ultradunensis; et, Liivimaa hertsogkond; lv, Pārdaugavas hercogiste; german: Herzogtum Livland), also referred to as Polish Livonia or Livonia ( pl, link=no, Inflanty) ...

(the left bank forming the

Duchy of Courland and Semigalia The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia ( la, Ducatus Curlandiæ et Semigalliæ; german: Herzogtum Kurland und Semgallen; lv, Kurzemes un Zemgales hercogiste; lt, Kuršo ir Žiemgalos kunigaikštystė; pl, Księstwo Kurlandii i Semigalii) was ...

). After the Polish-Swedish War concluded by the

Truce of Altmark __NOTOC__ The six-year Truce of Altmark (or Treaty of Stary Targ, pl, Rozejm w Altmarku, sv, Stillståndet i Altmark) was signed on 16 (O.S.)/26 (N.S.) September 1629 in the village of Altmark ( Stary Targ), in Poland, by the Polish–Lithuan ...

in 1629, Sweden acquired the western part of the Duchy of Livonia roughly as far as the Aiviekste River, since then forming Vidzeme's eastern border. During the course of the

Great Northern War The Great Northern War (1700–1721) was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swed ...

, Swedish Livonia was conquered by the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the List of Russian monarchs, Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended th ...

and ceded to Russia at the

Treaty of Nystad The Treaty of Nystad (russian: Ништадтский мир; fi, Uudenkaupungin rauha; sv, Freden i Nystad; et, Uusikaupunki rahu) was the last peace treaty of the Great Northern War of 1700–1721. It was concluded between the Tsardom of ...

in 1721. In place of Livonia the Russians created the Riga Governorate, but in 1796 the Riga Governorate was renamed the

, administered autonomously by the local German

Baltic nobility Baltic German nobility was a privileged social class in the territories of today's Estonia and Latvia. It existed continuously since the Northern Crusades and the medieval foundation of Terra Mariana. Most of the nobility were Baltic Germans, bu ...

through a feudal . After the end of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

it was split between the newly independent countries of Latvia and Estonia.

Subregions

The territory of the region of Vidzeme is defined by Latvian law as follows:
Latviešu vēsturisko zemju likums * Ādaži Municipality * Cēsis Municipality * Gulbene Municipality *

Limbaži Municipality Limbaži Municipality ( lv, Limbažu novads) is a municipality in Vidzeme, Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2009 by merging Katvari Parish, Limbaži Parish, Pāle Parish, Skulte Parish, Umurga Parish, Vidriži Parish, Viļķene Parish ...

Ropaži Municipality Ropaži Municipality ( lv, Ropažu novads) is a municipality in Vidzeme, Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2005 with the reorganization of Ropaži parish. The administrative centre is Ropaži. The population in 2020 was 6,835. On 1 July 20 ...

* Salaspils Municipality * Saulkrasti Municipality * Sigulda Municipality * Smiltene Municipality *

Valka Municipality Valka Municipality ( lv, Valkas novads; et, Valka piirkond) is a municipality in Vidzeme, Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2009 by merging Valka town, Ērģeme Parish, Kārķi Parish, Valka Parish, Vijciems Parish and Zvārtava Paris ...

Valmiera Municipality Valmiera Municipality ( lv, Valmieras novads) is one of the 35 municipalities established in Latvia in 2021, located approximately west of the national capital Riga. Its first elected municipal council took office on 1 July 2021. Its seat is the ...

* Part of Aiviekste Parish * Part of Aizkraukle Parish * The Part of Aizkraukle on the right bank of the

Bebri Parish Bebri Parish ( lv, Bebru pagasts) is an administrative unit of Aizkraukle Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Repu ...

Irši Parish Irši Parish ( lv, Iršu pagasts) is an administrative unit of Aizkraukle Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republi ...

Klintaine Parish Klintaine Parish ( lv, Klintaines pagasts) is an administrative unit of Aizkraukle Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvi ...

Koknese Parish Koknese Parish ( lv, Kokneses pagasts) is an administrative unit of Aizkraukle Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia. Towns, villages and settlements of Koknese Parish * Atradze * Auliciems * Bilstiņi * Birznieki * Bormaņi * Kaln ...

Koknese Koknese () is a town in Aizkraukle Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, on the right bank of the Daugava River. It has a population of nearly 3,000. According to the provisions of the Administrative divisions of Latvia, 2021 Latvian admi ...

* Part of Pļaviņas *

Skrīveri Parish Skrīveri Parish ( lv, Skrīveru pagasts) is an administrative unit of Aizkraukle Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas ...

Vietalva Parish Vietalva Parish ( lv, Vietalvas pagasts) is an administrative unit of Aizkraukle Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas ...

Alsviķi Parish Alsviķi Parish ( lv, Alsviķu pagasts) is an administrative unit of the Alūksne Municipality, Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, l ...

* Alūksne *

Anna Parish Anna Parish ( lv, Annas pagasts) is an administrative unit of Alūksne Municipality, Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas ...

* Ilzene Parish * Jaunalūksne Parish *

Jaunanna Parish Jaunanna Parish ( lv, Jaunannas pagasts) is an administrative unit of Alūksne Municipality, Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, ...

* Jaunlaicene Parish * Kalncempji Parish * Maliena Parish * Mālupe Parish * Mārkalne Parish * Pededze Parish * Veclaicene Parish * Zeltiņi Parish * Ziemeri Parish * Part of

Baldone Parish Baldone Parish ( lv, Baldones pagasts) is an administrative unit of Ķekava Municipality, Latvia. From 2009 until 2021, it was part of the former Baldone Municipality. It was created in 2010 from the countryside territory of Baldone town. At the b ...

* Baldone * Baloži * Part of

Ķekava Parish Ķekava Parish ( lv, Ķekavas pagasts) is an administrative unit of Ķekava Municipality, Latvia. The administrative center is Ķekava village. Ķekava Parish is defined by Latvian law as belonging partly to the region of Vidzeme and partly to Sem ...

* Arona Parish * Part of

Barkava Parish Barkava Parish ( lv, Barkavas pagasts) is an administrative unit of Madona Municipality, Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latv ...

* Bērzaune Parish *

Cesvaine Parish Cesvaine Parish ( lv, Cesvaines pagasts) is an administrative unit of Madona Municipality, Latvia. It was created in 2010 from the countryside territory of Cesvaine Cesvaine () (german: Seßwegen) ) is a town in Madona Municipality, Vidzeme R ...

Dzelzava Parish Dzelzava Parish ( lv, Dzelzavas pagasts) is an administrative unit of Madona Municipality, Latvia. Gallery Bučauska õigeusu kirik 03.jpg, Bučauska orthodox church Dzelzava mõis 2013.JPG, Dzelzava Manor Dzelzava Manor ( lv, Dzelzavas muiž ...

* Ērgļi Parish *

Indrān Parish Indrān parish ( lv, Indrānu pagasts) is an administrative unit of the Lubāna Municipality, Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg ...

Jumurda Parish Jumurda Parish ( lv, Jumurdas pagasts) is an administrative unit of Madona Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia. At the beginning of 2014, the population of the parish was 298. The administrative center is Jumurda village. Towns, villag ...

* Kalsnava Parish * Lazdona Parish * Liezēre Parish * Lubāna * Ļaudona Parish *

Madona Madona (; german: Modohn) is a town with town rights in the Vidzeme region of Latvia and is the center of the Madona municipality. History The surrounding area of Madona had been populated in earlier times, which is confirmed by discoveries ...

Mārciena Parish Mārciena parish ( lv, Mārcienas pagasts) is an administrative unit of Madona Municipality, Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, ...

* Mētriena Parish * Part of Ošupe Parish *

Prauliena Parish Prauliena parish ( lv, Praulienas pagasts) is an administrative unit of Madona Municipality, Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, ...

* Sarkaņi Parish * Sausnēja Parish * Vestiena Parish * Part of Babīte Parish *

Mārupe Parish Mārupe (german: Marienbach) is a town in and the centre of Mārupe Municipality, Latvia. Mārupe is in practice a suburb of the Latvian capital, Riga, and is the headquarters of the Latvian Bandy Federation. A small river Mārupīte flows thro ...

* Sala Parish *

Ikšķile Ikšķile (; german: Uexküll; liv, Ikškilā; et, Üksküla; also known as ''Üxküll'') is a town in Latvia, in Ogre Municipality. It was the first capital of the Roman Catholic Bishopric of Livonia, known by the German name of Üxküll ...

* Jumprava Parish *

Krape Parish Krape Parish ( lv, Krapes pagasts) is an administrative unit of Ogre Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, l ...

* The part of Ķegums city of the right bank of the

* Ķeipene Parish *

Laubere Parish Laubere Parish ( lv, Lauberes pagasts) is an administrative unit of Ogre Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika ...

Lēdmane Parish Lēdmane Parish ( lv, Lēdmanes pagasts) is an administrative unit of Ogre Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia. History The current territory of Lēdmane was formed by many centuries as a part of Lielvārde county. The first archaeolo ...

Lielvārde Parish Lielvārde Parish ( lv, Lielvārdes pagasts) is an administrative unit of Ogre Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia. It was created in 2010 from the countryside territory of Lielvārde Lielvārde (; german: Lennewarden), population 5885, ...

Madliena Parish Madliena Parish ( lv, Madlienas pagasts) is an administrative unit of Ogre Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republi ...

Mazozoli Parish Mazozoli Parish ( lv, Mazozolu pagasts) is an administrative unit of Ogre Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republi ...

Meņģele Parish Meņģele Parish ( lv, Meņģeles pagasts) is an administrative unit of Ogre Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Repub ...

Ogre An ogre ( feminine: ogress) is a legendary monster depicted as a large, hideous, man-like being that eats ordinary human beings, especially infants and children. Ogres frequently feature in mythology, folklore, and fiction throughout the wor ...

Ogresgals Parish Ogresgals Parish is an administrative unit of Ogre Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latv ...

* Rembate Parish *

Suntaži Parish Suntaži Parish ( lv, Suntažu pagasts) is an administrative unit of Ogre Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republik ...

Taurupe Parish Taurupe Parish ( lv, Taurupes pagasts) is an administrative unit of Ogre Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republi ...

* Tīnūži Parish * Part of

Olaine Parish Olaine Parish ( lv, Olaine pagasts) is an administrative unit of Olaine Municipality, Latvia. The territory of Olaine Parish is defined by Latvian law as belonging partly to the Vidzeme region and partly to Semigallia Semigallia, also spelt S ...

Olaine Olaine (; german: Olai) is a city in Olaine Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia. Olaine gained town rights in 1967. The name comes from the Saint Olai Church, built by the Misa river under Swedish rule in the 17th century. An old ceme ...

and

Lapmežciems Parish Lapmežciems Parish ( lv, Lapmežciema novads) is an administrative unit of Tukums Municipality, in the Vidzeme region of Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvi ...

References

External links

Vidzeme Tourism AssociationVidzeme University of Applied Sciences
{{authority control Historical regions in Latvia Livonia Subdivisions of Latvia

History

Subregions

See also

References

External links