History of Riga
Riga is situated at the meeting point of two rivers: the Daugava and Ridzene. The latter was originally known as the River Riga and some believe that the river gave the city its present day name.
The current city was most likely founded during the 12th century AD by German traders who had moved into the region currently occupied by the Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia).
Thus, the history of Riga can be seen to begin as that of a trading post, offering the German settlers an entry point into surrounding areas and the vast expanse of Russia beyond.
Following centuries saw shifts in the fortunes of the city - at various points it was associated with the Hanseatic League and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. During the 17th century the city was forced to survive a siege from invading Russian forces who were partaking in the Russo-Swedish War.
Treaty of Nystad - 1721
The 1721 Treaty of Nystad saw Riga annexed to become part of Russia. This significant event in Latvian history was to have a dramatic change on the city. The transfer of power to Russia brought a transformation in the structure of Riga, seeing the city become an industrial powerhouse. By the beginning of the 20th century it was the third largest industrial city in Russia (dwarfed only by Moscow and St Petersburg).
The First World War brought more changes to Latvia as a whole. Ultimately, the country was to claim independence in 1918, with Riga as its capital. The new-found freedom of Riga was not to last long, however, with the Russian Red Army advancing into the city in 1940, effectively bringing Latvia back under Russian (Soviet) control. A German occupation followed (lasting 4 years), before the Russians reclaimed control in 1944.
Riga after World War II
Life under Soviet rule post-1945 was harsh for many Latvians, with forced exile for many. Similarly, a programme of planned immigration meant that, by the 1970s, just 40% of the population of Latvia was made up of ethnic Latvians.
The country finally regained full independence in 1991, with Riga oncemore becoming the capital city of a fully independent state.
Since then, the city has seen a new revolution - this time, a tourist revolution.