Caupo of Turaida

Kaupo Turaida (also Caupo; * unknown; † September 21, 1217 ) was a prince live at the beginning of the 13th century on a partial area of ​​the present-day Latvia. He is sometimes referred to as the King of Liven; The Chronicle of Henry of Latvia calls him " quasi rex " ( king same).

He was the first outstanding Live, which was Christianized. He was probably baptized about 1191 by a priest named Theoderic. He was an ardent defender of Christianity and faithful ally of Albert of Buxhoeveden, Bishop of Livonia, the 1203 him - in 1204 took to Rome by Pope Innocent III. imagine. The Pope was impressed by the converts from paganism tribal chief and presented him with a Bible manuscript. After returning from this trip, his tribe against him, arose and Kaupo was forced in 1212 to support the Livonian Order, in the conquest and destruction of his own castle Turaida. In their place, Bishop Albert two years later for his own purposes a stone castle building, which is still partly preserved or restored.

Kaupo took part in bloody vengeance campaigns against the Estonians and unbaptized militant was killed on Matthäustag 1217 in a battle against the army of the Estonian chief Lembitu. After his son Bertold had previously fallen in 1210 at the Battle of Ümera in contact against the Estonians, he had no male heir and bequeathed his property to the church. Later the family Lieven laid claims because they attributed their descent through the female line to Kaupo.

Its historical role is controversial of Latvians, Estonians and the few remaining Liven today. His name is synonymous with treason and collaboration for many. But there are also voices that see him as a leader with vision, who sought to integrate his people into the Western European culture.

• Born in the 12th century
• Died in 1217
• Man
• Person (Latvian history )
• Person (Livonia)