Riga

In 1199, the new (third in a row) Bishop of Livonia, Albert Buxgewden, arrived with a strong detachment at the mouth of the Western Dvina (Daugava) on 23 ships. In 1201 the Crusaders founded the Riga fortress. In modern Riga, from the early times of the Order, there are few monuments left, and those that are now are presented in a rebuilt form. On the street Skarnu, 10/16, the church of St. George, which was part of the first castle of the Order of the Swordsmen in Livonia as a chapel. The first mention of this church dates back to 1208. Before us is a fragment of the first, most ancient castle of the German knights in the region. This castle was called white-stone, and it was built around 1204. The first master of the Order of the Swordsmen, Venno von Rohrbach (1204-1209), began to rule over his Livonian possessions. After the unification of the Teutonic Orders and the Order of the Swordsmen in 1237, the residence of the Livonian master was transferred from Riga to Wenden. In Riga, in two large churches, fragments of buildings from the 13th century have also been preserved. In 1211 the Bishop of Riga Albert Buxgewden founded the Cathedral Dome. It took a long time to build, until 1270, and in the 16th century. it was destroyed twice - during the Reformation in 1524 and during the city fire in 1547. The modern building bears traces of later rebuilding, it mixes the Gothic style, the Romanesque, and the Baroque style. The grave of Bishop Maynard (d. 1196) was moved here from Ishkul.

Tags: castles and fortresses, 13 century, 14 century, 15 century, Teutonic Order (Livonia)