Riga castle

56°57′03″ N., 24°06′02″ E.

Riga Castle was founded in 1330 outside the city walls. It served as the residence of the Livonian Master, yet from time to time it would be moved from the castle to Wenden due to conflicts with the citizens. The residence was finally moved to Wenden under Master Bernd von der Borch in 1481. The castle was destroyed, yet rebuilt by 1515.
Riga castle is associated with an event symbolizing the end of Livonia. In 1583 Magnus, the uncrowned "King of Livonia" died in Piltene Castle in 1583. He was a prince of Denmark and vassal to Ivan the Terrible, and died as vassal to King of Poland Stephen Báthory. The King accommodated his widow Maria Vladimirovna of Staritsa in Riga Castle. In 1573, ten years earlier, Ivan IV gave the 13-year-old Maria in marriage to the 33-year-old "King of Livonia" Magnus. The Czar relied expected that this marriage would "relate" Magnus to the Russian dynasty (the Staritsky were Ivan's near of kin), yet it in this particular case the situation evolved to the contrary: in 1583 Queen Maria Staritskaya could become a political tool for Stephen Báthory (against a backdrop of a potential dynastic crisis in Russia). In 1585, through mediation of the English ambassador Sir Jerome Horsey Maria departed from Riga to Moscow. The circumstances of this departure are somewhat unclear: according to one version, the Russian diplomats reach a secret agreement with Stephen Báthory, according to another version, Maria escaped with the aid of Sir Horsey, etc. In 1588 Maria of Staritsa was forced to take the veil in Russia in order to get rid of her as a potential claimant to Russian throne.
The castle is situated in Pilse square (56° 57′ 03″ N, 24° 06′ 02″ E) in Riga. Due to significant alteration in the 18-20th centuries, it has retained little of its medieval image.

Tags: castles and fortresses, 14 century, 16 century, Teutonic Order (Livonia)