Livonian Confederation

Livonian Confederation Confederation of ecclesiastic states ← 1228 – 1560 20px →   20px → Coat of arms of Livonian Confederation Coat of arms Location of Livonian Confederation Capital Walk Language(s) Low German Religion Roman Catholicism Political structure Confederation Legislature Landtag Historical era Middle Ages  - Conquest of Estonia 1208–27  - Established 1228  - Reval (Tallinn) gains Lübeck Rights 1248  - Reval joins Hanseatic League late 13th century  - Landtag formed 1419  - Livonian War 1558–82  - Wilno Pact 1560  - Kingdom of Livonia 1570–78

The Livonian Confederation was a loosely organized confederation in present day Estonia and Latvia ruled by the Order of Teutonic Knights of Livonia and which existed from 1228 to the 1560s. It contained five small states: the Livonian Order, Archbishopric of Riga, Bishopric of Dorpat, Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek, and Bishopric of Courland.

This division was created by Papal Legate William of Modena in 1228 as a compromise between the church and the powerful Livonian Order, both factions led by Germans, after the German knights had conquered and subdued the territories of several indigenous tribes: Finnic-speaking Estonians and Livs, and Baltic-speaking Latgalians, Selonians, Semigallians and Curonians. In theory, one-third of the land was to be controlled by the Order and the remaining two-thirds by the church. But in reality, most of Livonia's territory was controlled by the Order, and conflicts between the Order, the bishops, and the powerful Hanseatic cities were common throughout the existence of the Confederation. To solve internal disputes, the Livonian Diet or Landtag was formed in 1419. The city of Walk was chosen as the site of the Diet. The Diet was composed of members of the Livonian Order, Livonian Bishops, vassals and city representatives.

All five states of the Livonian Confederation ceased to exist during the Livonian War (1558–82). The Livonian Order was dissolved by the Wilno Pact in 1561. The following year, the Livonian Diet decided to ask protection from Sigismund II of Poland (Zygmunt II August) and the Grand Duke of Lithuania. With the end of government by the last Archbishop of Riga William of Brandenburg, Riga became a Free Imperial City and the rest of the territory was split between the Lithuanian vassal states Duchy of Courland and Semigallia and the Duchy of Livonia.

Livonia as shown on the map of 1573
of Joann Portantius

See also

• Kingdom of Livonia
• Üxküll (Ikšķile)
• Northern Crusades

Template:History Timeline of Estonia

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de:Livländische Konföderation et:Vana-Liivimaa fr:Confédération Livonienne it:Confederazione della Livonia lv:Livonijas Konfederācija hu:Ó-Livónia nl:Lijflandse Confederatie pl:Konfederacja Inflancka pt:Confederação da Livônia ru:Ливонская конфедерация tr:Livonya Konfederasyonu

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