Latvia

Latvia officially the Republic of Latvia is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe.

Female Version
As female, Latvia is usually also seen with a beige or pink sweater or dress aswell as with a necklace with a golden colored pendant. She also wears a bow on her head, or the traditional folk dress "Tautastērps".

Male Version
As a male, he is usually seen with a beige or pink sweater or hoodie, at times accompanied by a dark colored jacket, along with dark-colored pants. He can also be seen wearing a flower crown.

Personality
Latvia is seen as very energetic and quite loud at times, but at the same time remains the most active and cheerful in the company. Despite her very attractive appearance, her character is adamant.

Interests
WIP

Flag Meaning
The national flag of Latvia was first used by independent Latvia from 1918 up until Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. During Soviet rule, the flag's use was suppressed. The Latvian government re-adopted the flag on 27 February 1990, which was shortly before the country regained its independence. The modern flag is symbolic of a revered time-honored legend. It is told that the deep red color is representative of the bloodshed by a wounded Latvian military leader, and the white is said to represent the cloth used to wrap his wounds.

Other Symbols
Anthem: The national anthem is called Dievs, svētī Latviju (God bless Latvia), with lyrics and music by Kārlis Baumanis, a member of the Latvian nationalist movement. Officially adopted on June 7, 1920, it was reinstated on February 15, 1990.

Baumanis composed this hymn on the occasion of the first Festival of Song and Dance in 1873, where it was scheduled to premiere. However, the authorities of the Russian empire vetoed it from the official program. It was not until the next edition in 1895 that Latvians were able to hear it for the first time, although the word "Latvia" (Latviju) had to be replaced by "Baltic" (Baltiju) to avoid censorship.

Shield: The emblem of Latvia was designed by graphic artist Rihards Zariyš, combining the national emblem (semicircular sun and three stars) with the emblem of the historical region of the country - a rampant red lion (representing Kursani Asia and Semilia) and a lion of rampant argan (referring to Vidzeme and Latgalia). Its official approval date was July 15, 1921.

Nicknames
Sometimes fanfiction authors and artists change the names of countries or call them similar-sounding common names. Latvia may be called:


 * Latvian
 * Marshmallow
 * Lati
 * Fish
 * Chatterbox
 * Sprotoeater

Origin Of The Language
Latvian language, also called Lettish, Latvian Latviesu Valoda, East Baltic language spoken primarily in Latvia, where it has been the official language since 1918. It belongs to the Baltic branch of the Indo-European family of languages.

Etymology
The name Latvija (which is the Latvian for the English word of Latvia) derives from the name of the ancient Latgalians, which is one of four Indo-European Baltic tribes. Along with Couronians, Selonians, and Semigallians, it formed the ethnic core of modern Latvians along with the Finnic Livonians.

Old Latvia
The early Baltic civilization reached the plains of Latvia in the 3rd century BC. C. C.

At the beginning of our time, today's Latvian territory was called a transit point. The famous "route from the Vikings to the Greeks" mentioned in the ancient chronicles runs from Scandinavia, crosses the Daugava River to Kievan Rus, crosses Latvian territory and continues from there. The Dnieper reached the Black Sea and Constantinople (now Istanbul) from the Byzantine Empire.

This time the ancient Baltos actively participated in the trade route (the amber route). Across the European continent, the coast of Latvia is known as the place where amber is sourced. Before the Middle Ages, amber was more valuable than gold. Latvian amber was widely known even in ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.

In 900, the Baltos were ruled by tribal monarchs. The Baltic culture of four tribes was gradually formed: Kurs, Latvians, Seronians and Semigali (in Latvian: kurši, latgaļi, sēļi and zemgaļi).

The largest tribe are the Latgali, they are the most politically and socially advanced. In 1100 and 1200, the Curonians carried on military activities, which included invasions such as looting and looting, and were called the Baltic Vikings on the west coast of the Baltic Sea. In contrast, Seronians and Semgali are called wealthy and peace-loving farmers.

German Period
The region of Latvia was originally called Livonia, and today the region has been influenced by the German Light Brothers of the Sword since the 13th century.

Due to its superior geographical location, the territory of Latvia has been invaded by larger countries. This situation determines the fate of Latvia and its people.

In the late 1100s, businessmen from Europe returned to visit Latvia. In recent years, German businessmen have come here with missionaries who preach Christianity, hoping to convert Bartos, who is a pagan.

The Baltos did not want to change their religion, they were against Christianity. This news reached the ears of Pope Celesti III who decided to carry out the Baltic Crusade.

The Germans of the Hanseatic League founded Riga in 1201 and it gradually became the most attractive city on the Baltic Sea. With the arrival of the German Crusades, the old monarchy came to an end.

In the 11th century a feudal union was established under German rule, which was called Livonia. Livonia includes present-day Estonia and Latvia. In 1282, Riga and later Cēsis, Limbaži, Koknese and Valmiera were included in the Hanseatic League. Since then, Riga has become a major attraction between East and West, the center of the eastern Baltic Sea, and an important cultural connection to the West.

Latvia Under The Rule Of Sweden And Poland
The 16th century was a period of great change for Latvians, famous for the reforms after the Livonian War (1558-1583) and the fall of Livonia, which was handed over to the Polish-Lithuanian Federation. The Lutheran faith is accepted in Kurzeme, Zemgale and Vidzeme, but the Catholic faith continues to dominate in Latgale. The Duchy of Kuran from 1561 to 1795 was part of Poland (a republic of two nations). The Principality of Kuran, once part of Livonia, experienced an economic explosion in the 17th century. He established two colonies. One colony was located on an island at the mouth of the Gambia River. They called it Isla San Andrés, where Jacob Ketterer, Duke of Kuran, established a fortress at Fort Jacob. , Called Mighty Jacob. Jacob Island was renamed James Island after being transferred to England.

But in the Polish-Swedish War (1600-1629), Riga was occupied by Sweden in 1621. This city became the largest and most developed city in Sweden. During this period, Vidzeme was called the "Swedish Bread Box" because it provided wheat for the Swedish Empire. The rest of Latvia remained Polish until 1793, when the Polish Second Division (Duchy of Kuran) became part of the Russian Empire.

The consolidation of the Latvian nation began in 1600, when the Kurs, Latvians, Seleniums, Semgalians and Livonians (Fino Uruguay in Latvia: lībieši or līvi) came together, transformed into a developed and culturally unified country.

Turbulence Between The Great Powers Of Russia And Germany
After being conquered by the Polish-Lithuanian Federation in the 18th and 19th centuries, Russia gained control of Latvia and its surroundings.

On January 15, 1918, Russia was devastated by the Revolution and the First World War. The Latvian nationalists announced the establishment of a republic, but the German army controlled the area. After Germany signed the Compiègne Armistice Agreement, the Latvians declared Latvia's independence on November 18, 1918.

However, Germany, with the support of its allies, demanded that some Germanic armed groups remain on Latvian territory, undermining the plan for a truly independent Latvian state, the purpose of which was to protect the Baltic Sea from the Russian Bolsheviks. They have occupied the eastern part of Latvia, including Riga.

Subsequently, the German army Baltische Landeswehr (Baltische Landeswehr) started a dual struggle with the Russian Bolsheviks and the Baltic nationalists. The Estonians, with the help of the Latvian nationalists, defeated them at the Battle of Winden.

At the Battle of Daugavpils, the Polish army supported Lithuania against the Red Army and achieved a decisive victory. On August 20, 1920, Soviet Russia will recognize the independence of Latvia.

This period of independence has been short since 1939, shortly after the Soviet Union invaded Poland. Under pressure from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, the Soviet Union demanded the establishment of military bases on its territory. The government of Latvia was incorporated on October 5 of the same year. On June 16, 1940, while Germany was conquering France, the Soviet Union invaded Latvia.

President Kārlis Ulmanis was arrested on her way to the Turkmenistan prison and died in 1941. On August 5, Latvia joined the Soviet Union on behalf of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic, thus beginning the "Year of Terror". This aggression was carried out in accordance with the "Soviet-German Agreement" ("Ribentrop Molotov Agreement") of August 23, 1939.

On July 10, 1941, the German army completely occupied Latvia. Lithuania and Estonia were jointly administered by Reichskommissariat Ostland. The Germans launched a campaign against Jews, Gypsies and "communists." Many Lithuanians were recruited by the German army to fight on the Russian front (15th SS Grenadier Division).

Conquest Of The Soviet Union In World War II
When the direction of the war was reversed, the Soviets marched into Latvia and conquered Riga on October 13, 1944. Many units of the 5th North German Army unit could not evacuate in time and were trapped in the Kuran Islands, forming Curonian sandbags. Then Kuran was full of German and Latvian soldiers and civilians who feared Soviet repression. Hitler never authorized the evacuation of Kurand. On May 9, 1945, Kurand's Army Group surrendered. However, around 150,000 Latvians fled to Germany and Sweden by boat.

In 1944, when the Soviet military forces arrived in the area, there was fierce fighting between Germany and the Soviet army in Latvia, which ended in another German defeat. During the war, both German and Soviet forces recruited Latvians as troops, increasing the loss of "national life resources". In 1944, parts of Latvia came back under the control of the Soviet Union, and the Latvian guerrillas began fighting with other occupiers - the Soviet Union. 160,000 Latvians fled to Germany and Sweden. The first years after the war were characterized by the sadness and grim fate of the Latvian nation. On March 25, 1949, 43,000 rural residents ("Kurak") and Latvian patriots ("Nationalists") were deported to Siberia during the repression in the three Baltic states, in Moscow. Planned and approved. January 29, 1949. A total of 120,000 Latvians were imprisoned or deported to Soviet concentration camps (Gulag). Some managed to escape arrest and joined the guerrillas.

In the post-war period, Latvia was forced to adopt Soviet production methods and eliminated the economic infrastructure developed in the 1920s and 1930s. Rural areas were forced to collectivize. Workers, administrative personnel, military personnel and their families have arrived from Russia and other Soviet republics. In 1959, some 400,000 people arrived from other Soviet republics and the Latvian ethnic population dropped to 62%. Latvia has started to implement a comprehensive bilingual program to restrict the use of Latvian and favor Russian. All minority schools (Jews, Poles, Belarusians, Estonians, Lithuanians) are closed, leaving only two languages ​​of instruction: Latvian and Russian. Russian is taught alongside Russian literature, Russian music, and Soviet history (actually Russian history).

On March 5, 1953, Joseph Stalin, his successor Nikita Khrushchev, died. The so-called Khrushchev Thaw period began, but the Latvian communists led by Edwards Berklaws tried to achieve a certain degree of autonomy for the Republic and protect the rapidly deteriorating situation of the Latvian language. After Khrushchev's visit to Latvia in 1959, the national communists were stripped of their posts and Berklavs was deported back to Russia.

As Latvia still maintains a well-developed infrastructure and experts in education, Moscow decided to locate some of the most advanced factories of the Soviet Union in Latvia. New industries have been established in Latvia, including the main RAF machinery plant in Jergava, the power plant in Riga, Daugavpils, Valmiera and Olaine Chemical plant and oil and food processing plant. However, there are not enough people to manage the newly built factory. To expand industrial production, more immigrants from other Soviet republics were transferred to the country, significantly reducing the proportion of Latvians.

In 1989, Latvians made up about 52% (1,387,757) of the total population, compared to 77% (1,467,035) before WWII. In 2005, there were 1,357,099 Latvians and the actual nominal number has decreased. But proportionally, the Latvian ethnic group already represents about 60% of the total population of Latvia (2,375,000).

The End Of The Soviet Era
In 1988, the Latvian Independence Movement (LNNK) demanded freedom of the press, an end to the "Russification" of the country, and the establishment of independent parties.

In 1989, despite resistance from Moscow, the Congress of the Latvian Popular Front (LFT) won the elections and economic and political independence was approved.

Under the auspices of Guntis Ulmanis, economic liberalization began in 1993 and caused a severe unemployment crisis that is irreparable. Despite the large-scale privatization of state-owned companies, political and economic turmoil continued until 1995, when Soviet communist reforms (such as glásnost) stimulated the Latvian independence movement, and Latvia regained its independence in August 1991 after the call "Movement of Latvia". . Sing the revolution.

In 1990, the Congress of the former Soviet Union officially recognized the independence of the Baltic Republic. It was later accepted as a member of the United Nations and joined NATO in 2004.

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Latvian society faced ethnic tensions, which were exacerbated by the country's ethnic diversity and the strong influence of Russia.

Latvia Joins The European Union
As Lithuania and Estonia have already done, the referendum was joined by Latvians in the European Union on September 20, 2003 (69.6% of Latvians, approximately 1.4 million). The official time of entry is May 2004. On January 1, 2014, it became the eighteenth country in the euro zone.

Organizations And Affiliations

 * European Union (EU)
 * Baltic States
 * United Nations (UN)

Government
The government of Latvia is the central government of Latvia. The Constitution of Latvia (Satversme) describes the country as a parliamentary republic, represented by a unicameral parliament (Saeima) and the Latvian Council of Ministers, which is the executive branch of the government of Latvia.

Since the beginning of 2000, cabinet meetings in Latvia have been open to the public. In June 2013, the government of Latvia became one of the first countries in Europe to offer live cabinet meetings. The current cabinet is Laimdota Straujuma's second cabinet since November 5, 2014.

Diplomacy
WIP

Public Views (Optional)
WIP

Geography
Latvia lies in Northern Europe on the east coast of the Baltic Sea. Latvia has a total area of 64,559km2.

Latvia shares land borders with Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, and Belarus. It has a maritime border with Sweden.

Family

 * Russia – Step-Parent
 * Poland — Step-Sibling
 * Norway — Cousin
 * Denmark — Cousin
 * Finland — Cousin
 * Iceland — Cousin
 * Sweden — Cousin
 * Hungary — Nibling

Friends

 * Lithuania
 * Estonia
 * Poland
 * Germany
 * Ukraine
 * USA
 * Finland
 * Sweden
 * Norway
 * Denmark

Neutral
Russia

Enemies

 * Belarus
 * North Korea
 * USSR
 * Third Reich

Opinions
WIP

Trivia
WIP