Latgalians

The term Latgale as a popular name may refer to the inhabitants of Latgale region ( Latvian: Latgale ) in eastern Latvia in general, on the ethnic Latvian inhabitants of this region in particular, in the narrowest sense, relate only to the Latgalian speaking persons, or the old Baltic tribe called.

In Latvian latgalieši called ( Latgalian: latgalīši ) ethnic Latvians from Latgalians while Latgali ( Latgalian: Latgali ) denotes the strain. The terms are however confused in colloquial Latvian Latgale and some nationalists argue for the use of the term Latgali to today Latgalian speakers to distinguish as a separate people or cultural group.

The old Latgale

The old Latgale lived ( Latvian: Kurzeme ) in the central and eastern parts of Latvia, Vidzeme and Latgale in the region (in Latvian: Latgale ). Political divisions led to the fact that Livonia and Latgale 1562-1917 developed differently.

The modern Latgale

During the first independence of Latvia from 1918 to 1940 Latgale was the only territory of Latvia, where there were strong regional parties. The idea of ​​political autonomy Latgale was popular, but was never reached. Although Latvian governments mainly promoted a common culture of Latvia, Latgale was the language of official and educational language in use.

In the Soviet times the Latgale Culture and language was suppressed, negated and prohibited only after re- independence were new this unfold again and with them a Latgale identity.

Some Latgale consider themselves as a distinct ethnic group, as well as the Catholic minority of Suiti in Courland. However, the majority sees itself as belonging to the Latvians. Exact figures on there is not, as the Latvian government does not list the Latgale as a distinct group in their censuses.

• Baltic tribe
• Latvia