Vidzeme
| Vidzeme (Vidzeme) | ||
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| Country | Latvia | |
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| Population | 251 665 (2003) | |
Vidzeme (Livonian: Vidumō) is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. Literally meaning "the Middle Land" it is situated in north-central Latvia north of the Daugava River. Sometimes in German it is also known as Livland- German form from Latin Livonia, though it comprises only a small part of Medieval Livonia and about half (Latvian part) of Swedish Livonia.
Vidzemes guberņa - Livland Governorate is also bigger than Vidzeme, since it corresponds roughly to Swedish Livonia.
In ancient times the territory of Vidzeme was inhabited by Latgalians and Livs (near the coast of the Gulf of Riga and along the lower reaches of the Daugava 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 and Selonians on the left bank of the river. The most notable Latgalian region in today’s Vidzeme was Tālava.
After the Livonian War part of the Livonian Confederation on the right bank of the Daugava river and the Patrimony of Riga was ceded to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Duchy of Livonia (the left bank forming the Duchy of Courland and Semigalia).
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