Livonian people

The Livs ( rarely also Livonen or Livonier ) are one belonging to the Finno -Ugric language family, with about 230 members almost extinct folk. Today Liven live on the coast of northern Kurzeme, mainly in the village of Kolka. Livonia is named after the extinct since the Middle Ages eastern Liven ( Gauja Livs ).

Designation

The proper name of the Livs was marked in the period before the Second World War by two different names. While the West Liven, located in the coastal area of ​​the present-day counties Talsi and Ventspils, known as rāndalizt (German coastal residents ) called, the settled in Riga and Limbaži counties Liven kalmied (German Fischer). After the Second World War but also probably influenced foreign influences came līvõd names and līvlizt on. The etymology of the name used today as Liven is therefore probably due to the begun in the 12th and 13th centuries of foreign rule.

History

The Livs were first mentioned by name in the Primary Chronicle (12th century) and also in the Livonian Chronicle of Henry of Latvia ( 13th century). Notably, first settlements on the coastal areas of the eastern and western Gulf of Riga. About Liv settlements in the northern Kurland was first reported in the 14th century. Their number is estimated for this period 15000-28000. The occurrence livischer trunks gets the science 's view back to the 3rd millennium BC.

Between the 12th and 16th century Livonia was a major nation, would have become not so fast a naval power without their wood and hemp England. Livonia was eventually divided between Estonia and Latvia. Until 1561 the Teutonic Order state was the core of the Livonian Federation. One of the four associations able Baltic nobleman still bears the name Livonian knights.

In 2006 there were still 14 villages and settlements of the Livs. Be statistically recorded and called Liven in their passport less than 200 residents of Latvia. It is estimated that there about 1000 Liven live in Latvia.

In Mazirbe is a Livonian culture house with the green-white- blue flag. Since 1989, the Livs celebrate the first Sunday of August, the end of oppression of national minorities in the former Soviet Union.

Language

The language is called Liv Liv and is considered nearly extinct. There are around 30 people who speak Livonian on a language level, which allows conversations worldwide. Only half of these speakers is considered as descended from Liv and Liv. Mother-tongue language proficiency of the Livonian have five people who are over 70 years old.

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