Historical Latvian Lands (Latvian: Latviešu vēsturiskās zemes) or formerly Cultural regions of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas kultūrvēsturiskie novadi) are several areas within Latvia formally recognised as distinct from the rest of the country. These are: Kurzeme (Courland), Zemgale, Latgale, Vidzeme, and Sēlija (Selonia). While some of these regions are seen purely as culturally distinct, others have historically been parts of different countries and have been used to divide the country for administrative and other purposes.
Map of the Historical Latvian Lands with cities and towns (since 2021)
On 16 June 2021, the Saeima adopted the Historical Latvian Lands Law [lv] which aims to create the necessary preconditions for strengthening the common identity of the population and for the preservation and sustainable development of the cultural and historical environment and cultural spaces of the historical Latvian lands. The Law assigns each parish and town in Latvia to one of the five historical Latvian regions: Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, Zemgale, and Sēlija. The state city of Riga, a Baltic metropolis, is a historical part of Vidzeme and the special identity and the particularities of the cultural and historical environment of Riga should be supported and promoted.[1][2]
Semigallia (Latvian: Zemgale) is the central part of Latvia. Zemgale is bounded by Kurzeme in the west, the Gulf of Riga, the Daugava river and Vidzeme in the north, Selonia in the east and the Lithuanian border in the south. It consists of the city of Jelgava and the municipalities of Ķekava, Bauska, Dobele, Jelgava and Tukums. Traditional Semigallia also includes the northern part of Šiauliai County in Lithuania.
Selonia (Latvian: Sēlija, Augšzeme) is often considered a part of Semigallia. Selonia comprises the eastern part of the 1939 province of Semigallia, roughly corresponding to parts of the former Aizkraukle, Daugavpils and Jēkabpils districts south of Daugava river. Traditional Selonia also includes a portion of north east Lithuania. Named after the Selonians.
Five Historical Latvian Lands with cities and towns (before 2021)
In some cases, Kurzeme, Sēlija and Zemgale are combined into one region. This reflects the political division of Latvia between 1629 and 1917, when Kurzeme and Zemgale were together, first as the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, then as the Courland Governorate in the Russian Empire while Vidzeme and Latgale as parts of the Duchy of Livonia were politically separate, both from Courland and one from another since the 17 century. From this perspective, there are three regions: Kurzeme (including Zemgale and Sēlija), Vidzeme and Latgale. Such division is no longer commonly used but it can be seen in the coat of arms of Latvia and the Monument of Freedom in Riga both of which contain three stars: for Kurzeme, Vidzeme and Latgale, which were united into Latvia in 1918.
historical, latvian, lands, latvian, latviešu, vēsturiskās, zemes, formerly, cultural, regions, latvia, latvian, latvijas, kultūrvēsturiskie, novadi, several, areas, within, latvia, formally, recognised, distinct, from, rest, country, these, kurzeme, courland,. Historical Latvian Lands Latvian Latviesu vesturiskas zemes or formerly Cultural regions of Latvia Latvian Latvijas kulturvesturiskie novadi are several areas within Latvia formally recognised as distinct from the rest of the country These are Kurzeme Courland Zemgale Latgale Vidzeme and Selija Selonia While some of these regions are seen purely as culturally distinct others have historically been parts of different countries and have been used to divide the country for administrative and other purposes Map of the Historical Latvian Lands with cities and towns since 2021 On 16 June 2021 the Saeima adopted the Historical Latvian Lands Law lv which aims to create the necessary preconditions for strengthening the common identity of the population and for the preservation and sustainable development of the cultural and historical environment and cultural spaces of the historical Latvian lands The Law assigns each parish and town in Latvia to one of the five historical Latvian regions Vidzeme Latgale Kurzeme Zemgale and Selija The state city of Riga a Baltic metropolis is a historical part of Vidzeme and the special identity and the particularities of the cultural and historical environment of Riga should be supported and promoted 1 2 Contents 1 Historical Latvian Lands 2 Regional symbols 3 Other ethnocultural regions 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistorical Latvian Lands editThe Latvian nation was formed from the cultures of peoples that inhabited the Historical Latvian Lands Livonians Curonians Latgalians ancient and modern Selonians and Semigalians under the influence of the Baltic German culture 1 The Appendix 1 to the Historical Latvian Lands Law enumerates the cities or city parts and parishes according to the historical lands 1 Courland Latvian Kurzeme Livonian Kuramō the westernmost part of Latvia consisting of the cities of Liepaja and Ventspils and the municipalities of Kuldiga Saldus South Kurzeme Talsi and Ventspils Traditional Courland also includes environs of Klaipeda County and Telsiai County in the northwestern part of Lithuania Semigallia Latvian Zemgale is the central part of Latvia Zemgale is bounded by Kurzeme in the west the Gulf of Riga the Daugava river and Vidzeme in the north Selonia in the east and the Lithuanian border in the south It consists of the city of Jelgava and the municipalities of kekava Bauska Dobele Jelgava and Tukums Traditional Semigallia also includes the northern part of Siauliai County in Lithuania Selonia Latvian Selija Augszeme is often considered a part of Semigallia Selonia comprises the eastern part of the 1939 province of Semigallia roughly corresponding to parts of the former Aizkraukle Daugavpils and Jekabpils districts south of Daugava river Traditional Selonia also includes a portion of north east Lithuania Named after the Selonians Vidzeme Livonian Vidumō meaning Middle land is also known as Livonia or Livland though it comprises only the Latvian part of Swedish Livonia and the city of Riga It roughly corresponds to the former Aluksne Cesis Gulbene Limbazi Madona Valka Valmiera districts and parts of Aizkraukle Ogre and Riga districts north of Daugava river Latgallia Latvian Latgale Latgalian Latgola the part of Livonia still in the hands of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth after the Treaty of Altmark in 1629 then called Polish Livonia or Inflanty Voivodeship It roughly corresponds to Balvi Kraslava Ludza Preili Rezekne districts and parts of Daugavpils and Jekabpils districts north of Daugava river The Latgalian language a dialect of Latvian is based on this territory nbsp Five Historical Latvian Lands with cities and towns before 2021 In some cases Kurzeme Selija and Zemgale are combined into one region This reflects the political division of Latvia between 1629 and 1917 when Kurzeme and Zemgale were together first as the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia then as the Courland Governorate in the Russian Empire while Vidzeme and Latgale as parts of the Duchy of Livonia were politically separate both from Courland and one from another since the 17 century From this perspective there are three regions Kurzeme including Zemgale and Selija Vidzeme and Latgale Such division is no longer commonly used but it can be seen in the coat of arms of Latvia and the Monument of Freedom in Riga both of which contain three stars for Kurzeme Vidzeme and Latgale which were united into Latvia in 1918 Regional symbols edit nbsp Coat of arms of Courland nbsp Coat of arms of Semigallia nbsp Coat of arms of Selonia nbsp Coat of arms of Vidzeme nbsp Coat of arms of Latgallia nbsp Historical flag of Courland nbsp Flag of Selonia nbsp Flag of Latgallia nbsp Flag of ZemgaleOther ethnocultural regions edit nbsp Map of Latvian dialectsSeveral other smaller ethnocultural regions are identified in Latvia Maliena lv Piebalga lv Lejaskurzeme lv Suiti lv parishes Livonian Coast Libiesu krasts Leismale lv and Vidiena lv 3 See also editAdministrative divisions of Latvia Planning regions of Latvia Statistical regions of LatviaReferences edit a b c Latviesu vesturisko zemju likums Historical Latvian Lands Law the official text of the Law Saeima adopts the Historical Latvian Lands Law 16 06 2021 Latvijas Kulturvesturiskais iedalijums Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Historical Latvian Lands amp oldid 1184078994, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
