Principality of Jersika

Jersika or Gerzike ( Gerseka, Gercike, Berzika ) was the political, military and cultural center of an eponymous Greek Orthodox kingdom in the Middle Ages, which was referred to as " Latvia " ( terram, quae Lettia dicitur ). As Jersika is in the historical sources (1203-1375) refers to a castle and a city on the Daugava. They are located approximately 10 km south of Līvāni, 165 km from Riga in Latgale.

Jersika at the beginning of the 13th century

At the beginning of the 13th century was Jersika in tributärer function of the Grand Duke in Polotsk, as well as the Principality of Koknese and the Livonian territories at the mouth of Daugava.

The campaign against Jersika

The Bishop Albert of Livonia (1199-1229) policy was aimed at securing the German and Gotland merchants the freedom to travel to Russia. To achieve this, he had his political power necessarily expand the kingdom of Jersika.

The expedition against the allied Jersika and Lithuanians was conducted by the Livonian Order, 1203-1209. In the fall of 1209 a campaign against Jersika took place, in which the army of the bishop occupied the fortress and plundered the city and castle and burned. The Queen of Jersika was captured.

Jersika as a vassal state of the Crusaders

After this defeat King Visvaldis 1209 was forced to accept the dictated peace of the Bishop of Livonia. He had to be hereditary kingdom give the bishop and got only a portion was left at the Greek Orthodox faith, as a fief back. It was a feudum oblatum. Three flags were used in this case as investiture symbols. The personal subjection of the king took the form of commendation. By the deeds of gift of 1224 and in 1230 the king lost further territories in favor of the German knights and the Catholic Church. A document of 1239 bezeigt the end of the Kingdom of Jersika.