Riga (City and capital)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a city and capital of the republic of Latvia on the Dwina river (crossed here by a bridge of boats and a railway bridge), 7 miles iles from the mouth of the river, and 350 S. W. of Petrograd, via Pskoff. The old town has narrow streets and mediæval houses and stores; but the suburbs are laid out in broad streets with handsome buildings. The chief edifices are the cathedral, built in 1204, burned down in 1547, but rebuilt; St. Peter's Church (1406), with a steeple 460 feet high; the castle of the old Knights of the Sword, built 1494-1515, the former residence of the grand-master of the order; and several old guild houses and Hanseatic halls. It is the seat of an archbishop of the Greek Church. Prior to the World War its industries were rapidly growing; they turned out cottons, BARREL HAND GUARD STRIKER BOLT CARTRIDGE STOCK machines, tobacco, corks, spirits, oils, metal wares, glass, paper, flax, jute, and oilcloth, and employed nearly 12,000 people. Riga was founded in 1201 by Albert, Bishop of Livonia, and soon became a first-rate commercial town, and member of the Hanseatic League. It belonged to Poland from 1561, and in 1621 in 1710 was finally annexed to Russia. Riga was taken by Gustavus Adolphus, and suffered damage from attacks during the World War (1914-1918) and was captured by the Germans. See WORLD WAR. On the establishment of the Republic of Latvia (q. v.) in 1919, Riga became its capital. Pop. about 335,000.