Hillforts and Castles in the Daugava Valley

There are around 40 hillforts with artificial fortifications inhabited along the Daugava valley since the Bronze Age and up to the beginning of medieval period of Livonia in early 13th century. Hillforts are located near fords and rapids that allowed crossing the river with less effort. Advantages of steep riverbanks and plateaus enforced with some artificial additions like ground walls and wooden fortifications made the hillforts into local centers of military, administrative and economic power. The most significant center of this type in the lower Daugava region around 1200 was the Daugmale hillfort some 30 km upstream from the Gulf of Riga. Its geographical position allowed inhabitants of Daugmale gain control over the trade system of Daugava River creating a wide settlement of artisans and merchants of the late prehistoric period. The hordes of Arab coins (9th – 12th century) discovered here, as well as some unique artefacts of Scandinavian origin shows the role of Daugmale in cross-regional communication network around Eastern Baltic during this period.

Emergence of medieval confederation of Livonia (13th – late 16th century) caused significant changes in the local society and brought in new technologies of warfare and building. There were 16 stone-constructed castles built in the Daugava valley from late 12th until 14th century including; some of them were reconstructed in 15th century with the appearance of gunpowder artillery. Most of the mediaeval castles were built on previous hillforts, or close to them thus keeping the settlement pattern without major changes. The castles of Livonia belonged both to the Archbishop of Riga and to the Livonian Order and their vassals. The castle of Koknese had a special importance because of the town founded nearby (15th – 17th century) once a member of the Hanseatic League of trade cities across Northern Europe. Livonian castles were still in use until the Great Northern War (1700-1721) when most of them were destroyed for military reasons by foreign troops fighting on the territory of Latvia then.