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{{Short description|Castle ruins in Latvia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name=Koknese Castle
|native_name=Kokneses pils
|partof=
|location= [[Vidzeme]], [[Koknese municipality]], [[Latvia]]
|image=12 Kokneses-pils-no-pret-kr-29sep07.jpg
|caption=
|image2=
|caption2=
|map_type = Latvia
|map_size =
|map_alt =
|map_caption =
|type=Castle
|coordinates= {{coord|56|38|17|N|25|25|3|E|region:LV_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|code=
|built={{Start date|1209}}
|builder=[[Albert of Riga]]
|materials=
|height=
|used={{Age|1209|1701}} years
|fate=Demolished in 1701
|condition=Ruins
|ownership=
|open_to_public=
|controlledby=
|garrison=
|current_commander=
|commanders=
|occupants=
|battles=
|events=
|module = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |zoom=16 |coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
}}
'''Koknese Castle''' ({{lang-lv|Kokneses pils}}, {{lang-de|Burg Kokenhusen}}) is a complex in [[Koknese]], [[Latvia]], dating from the 13th century. The [[castle]] was situated on a high bluff overlooking the [[Daugava River|Daugava]] river valley. In 1965 a hydroelectric dam was built downriver, creating a reservoir that partially submerged the castle and flooded the surrounding valley.<ref name=Koknese>{{cite web |publisher=Kokneses novada pašvaldība |title=Ruins of the Koknese Castle |url=http://www.koknese.lv/?s=18&l=eng |date=10 January 2011 |access-date=4 May 2015}}</ref>
==
Before the arrival of the [[Teutonic Knights]], Koknese was the site of a wooden hill fort inhabited by the [[Balts]]. In 1209 Bishop [[Albert of Riga]] ordered the construction of a stone castle at the site, naming it ''Kokenhusen''. For the first 50 years of its existence, Koknese was solely used as a defensive fort, but by 1277, Koknese had enough population to receive [[city rights]]. Koknese also became a member of the [[Hanseatic League]] thanks to its strategic location on the [[Daugava River|Daugava]] trade route.
The castle was heavily contested between [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Polish]], [[Swedish Empire|Swedish]] and [[Russian Empire|Russian]] forces in the 16th and 17th centuries. It changed hands many times, while the native inhabitants endured periodic slaughter, capture, and famine. In 1701, during the [[Great Northern War]], Koknese was finally blown up by retreating forces to avoid the strategic castle falling into advancing Russian hands. The castle was never rebuilt after this and was left unattended for 200 years before being turned into a tourist attraction by the USSR.
The town around Koknese began to reappear in the 19th century, after serfdom was abolished and a railroad station was built in the village, facilitating movement to the area. In 1900, a park was established around the castle ruins, and Koknese became a popular summer resort. The area was known for its scenic waterfalls, cliffs, and look-outs. In 1965, the Soviet government built [[Pļaviņas Hydro Power Plant]] in the town of [[Aizkraukle]]. The reservoir flooded the entire length of the Daugava to [[Pļaviņas]]. Koknese Castle, once sitting atop a high bluff, was placed at the river's edge, while the scenic Daugava valley was submerged.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Turlajs |editor-first=Jānis |title=Latvijas Ceļvedis |trans-title=Latvia Travel Guide |language=lv |edition=2nd |place=Riga, Latvia |publisher=Jāņa Sēta |date=2007 |page=152}}</ref>
== Bailiffs (Vogt) of Koknese (Kokenhusen) ==
[[Bailiff]]s ([[Advocatus|Vogt]]) of Koknese (Kokenhusen):
<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stikane |first=Vija |date=2021-01-01 |title=Bailiffs in the Archbischopric of Riga (1255-1566) |url=https://www.academia.edu/46210284 |journal=Burgen im Ostseeraum und ihr europäischer Kontext. (HRSG. Von Felix Biermann, Christopher Herrmann, Elisabeth Crettaz-Stürzel). Beiträge zur Ur-und Frühgeschichte Mitteleuropas Band 98 Archaeologia Medii Aevi Finlandiae XXVII}}</ref>
* 1295–1312? Johann von Tiesenhausen
* 1340–1342 Woldemar de Wrangel
* 1363 Otto de Rosen
* 1371 Luderus de Stederen
* 1382–1385 Henricus Kruze
* 1417–1426 Georg Gudesleff
* 1428–1434 Odert Orges
* 1436–1437 Otto von Rosen
* 1444 Laurencies
* 1460–1461 Rodolph Persevall
* 1469 Jakob Koskull
* 1473 Robrecht Czeszwegen
* 1477 Jurgen Curszel
* 1479 Andreas von Rosen
* 1493 Hans Ninegal
* 1497–1506 Gert Linde
* 1507–1523 Friedrich von der Broele gen. Plater
* 1528–1545 Godert von Neilen
* 1548–1549 Georg Gartmann
* 1552–1556 Gert von Medem
== Summary ==
By the end of the 13th century, the territory of the Archbishopric of Riga, like that of the other bishoprics of Livonia, had become stable. For nearly three centuries, the Archbishop, along with his cathedral chapter, governed the approximately 400 square kilometer territory. As a secular lord, the Archbishop had the authority to manage the land reserves, establish towns, and mint currency, among other things.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hellman |first=Manfred |title=Livland und das Reich. Das Problem ihrer gegenseitigen Beziehungen |publisher=C.H. Beck |year=1989 |isbn=978-3-76961-554-8 |pages=7–9 |language=de |trans-title=Livonia and the Empire. The problem of their mutual relationships}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Šterns |first=Indriķis |title=Latvijas vēsture. 1290/1500: 1290 - 1500 / Indriķis Šterns |date=1290 |publisher=Daugava |isbn=978-9984-531-50-2 |series=Latvijas vēstures sērija |location=Rīga |pages=19–21 |trans-title=History of Latvia}}</ref>
The representative of the Archbishop in a secular trial was the bailiff or land-bailiff ((Latin: advocatus, German: voget, Stiftvogt, Landvogt etc.).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jähnig |first=Bernhart |title=Verfassung und Verwaltung des Deutschen Ordens und seiner Herrschaft in Livland |date=2011 |publisher=Lit Verlag |isbn=978-3-643-11005-3 |series=Schriften der Baltischen Historischen Kommission |location=Berlin Münster |pages=76 |trans-title=Constitution and administration of the Teutonic Order and its rule in Livonia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stikāne |first=Vija |title=Forschungen zur baltischen Geschichte |url=https://www.hsozkult.de/journal/id/z6ann-108509 |journal=Research on Baltic History Prof. Dr. Mati Laur Tartu University Ajaloo Osakond Lossi 3 EE-50090 |date=10 February 2024 |issue=11 |pages=11–39}}</ref> Generally, land-bailiffs were administrators who collected taxes, claimed duties, and administered the law in a specific territory under the authorization of the spiritual territorial Lord Archbishop of Riga. They were responsible for concluding agreements and organizing the defense of the land. Additionally, they were required for the construction and reconstruction of the Archbishop's castles.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lettis) |first=Henricus (de |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzQdzwEACAAJ |title=Heinrichs Livländische Chronik |publisher=Hahnsche Buchhandlung |year=1955 |isbn=978-3-7752-5079-5 |pages=989 |language=la, de |trans-title=Henry's Livonian Chronicle}}</ref> Bailiffs were vassals, appointed for a certain period.
In the Archbishopric of Riga, there were multiple bailiffs simultaneously working in their respective administrative territories. The territorial changes in the administrative districts of the Riga bishopric between 1201 and 1253/1255 document the organization of land administration in areas inhabited by Livonians, starting from 1207. Initially, the boundaries of administrative districts were based on pre-existing territorial divisions established before the conquest of crusaders. As new castles were constructed, they became the administrative centers. During the 13th to 15th centuries, the bailiffs' districts in Ydumea<ref>{{Cite book |last=Selart |first=Anti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ofSHqxeh5bsC&q=Livland+Und+Die+Rus+Im+13.+Jahrhundert |title=Livland und die Rus' im 13. Jahrhundert |date=2007 |publisher=Böhlau Verlag Köln Weimar |isbn=978-3-412-16006-7 |pages=106 |language=de}}</ref> and Lielvārde (Lenewarden) ceased to exist. However, for a brief period in the 15th century, Rauna (Ronneburg) emerged as a bailiwick.
The stone castle of Turaida (also known as Treyden, Thoreida, and built in 1214) maintained its position as the center of the bailiwick for an extended period until the secularization of the Archbishopric in 1566.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hartmann |first=Stefan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4vL9fznIFI8C&q=Herzog+Albrecht+von+Preu%C3%9Fen+und+Livland+%281565%E2%80%931570%29%3A |title=Herzog Albrecht von Preußen und Livland, 1560-1564: Regesten aus dem herzoglichen Briefarchiv und den ostpreußischen Folianten |publisher=Böhlau |isbn=978-3-412-20081-7 |edition=1st |series=Veröffentlichungen aus den Archiven Preussischer Kulturbesitz |location=Köln |publication-date=January 1, 2008 |at=3400/1 |language=de |trans-title=Duke Albrecht of Prussia and Livonia (1565–1570)}}</ref> The origins of the Turaida bailiwick can be traced back to the early 13th century when this territory was part of the Livonian-inhabited Bishopric of Riga. In the first half of the 16th century, the bailiwick expanded to include some of the Latvian-inhabited castle districts. Koknese (also known as Kokenhusen and built since 1209) is mentioned as a bailiwick at the end of the 13th century and maintained its status as the center of the bailiwick until the Coadjutors' war of 1556-1557.
The seals of the Turaida and Koknese bailiffs, which were issued under the authorization of the Archbishop, featured a heraldic symbol of the Archbishopric of Riga - a long bishop's cross and a staff with inscriptions: "sigillum advocati toreiden"<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schirren |first=Carl |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HwrczgEACAAJ&q=Verzeichniss+livl%C3%A4ndischer+Geschichts-Quellen+in+schwedischen+Archiven+und+Bibliotheken |title=Verzeichniss livländischer Geschichts-Quellen in schwedischen Archiven und Bibliotheken |publisher=Gläser |year=1861 |at=pp. no. 108, Brieflade IV, 82 |language=de |trans-title=List of Livonian historical sources in Swedish archives and libraries}}</ref> and "sigillum advocati kokenhůszen."<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hilderbrand |first1=Hermann |title=LIV-Estund-Kurl Ndisches Urkundenbuch, Volume 7... |last2=Schwartz |first2=Philipp |last3=Bunge |first3=Friedrich Georg Von |date=2011-11-03 |publisher=Nabu Press |isbn=978-1-271-07088-6 |at=pp. no. 733, p. 524 |language=German}}</ref> These seals acknowledged the bailiffs' work and authority in the 15th/16th century.
However, the aristocracy that governed the bailiwick as an inheritable fief did not emerge from the Riga archbishopric. Instead, some vassal families, such as the von Rosen and von Tiesenhausen families, began to form a community in the 13th-14th century, with their fief possessions and bailiwicks eventually becoming the foundation for the [[Baltic Germans|Baltic German]] aristocracy which lasted nearly 8 centuries [[October Revolution|Bolshevik Revolution]] in 1917, [[Latvia]] declared independence soon after.
The powerful ecclesiastical lords of [[Livonia]] sought to curtail the influence of the secular [[Teutonic Order|knights]] in their territories, and they were successful in the Archbishopric of Riga. The position of land-bailiff was particularly esteemed in the 14th century, when the Archbishops of Riga had conflicts with the [[Teutonic Order]] and often resided outside of Livonia. The use of fiefs for service allowed the bailiffs to significantly increase their wealth and prestige, ensuring a steady income and strengthening their position.
Disputes over Koknese Castle between the territorial lord and the vassals von Tiesenhausen lasted nearly half a century, until 1397, when the castle was eventually gained by the territorial ruler. As a result, the centers of the bailiwicks in the 15th/16th century were stone castles and domains owned by the Archbishop.
The local knighthood, including land bailiffs, played a significant role in the administration and domestic policy of the Archbishopric of Riga. The Archbishop of Riga granted special joint-property rights, known as "Gesamthand Recht," to the most powerful vassal families of the archbishopric, including the von Rosens, who received their fief in 1350/1428 the von Tiesenhausens in 1417, the von Ungerns in 1455 and the von Üxkülls in 1477.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Transéhe-Roseneck |first=Astaf von |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=73N-hoHrgB4C&q=Zur+Geschichte+des+Lehnswesens+in+Livland+Theil+1+Das+Mannlehen |title=Zur Geschichte des Lehnswesens in Livland |date=1903 |publisher=N. Kymmels |pages=258–260 |language=de}}</ref> These fiefs allowed the families to govern large fief districts for several centuries and act as territorial lords, granting fiefs to their sub-vassals and building stone and brick castles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jungingena žēlastība |url=http://old.historia.lv/alfabets/J/ju/jugingen/jugingen.htm |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=old.historia.lv}}</ref>
The former bailiwick of Ydumea saw castles spring up on the properties of the von Rosens: Augstroze (Rosen, Hochrosen, 1350), [[Lielstraupe Castle|Lielstraupe]] (Gross-Roop, before 1310), Rozbeķi (Rosenbeck, ca. 1372–1395), Mazstraupe (Klein-Roop, ca. 1408), Mujāni (Mojahn, ca. 1473–1503), and Nabe (Nabbe, before 1318)
With at least nine family members serving as bailiffs of Turaida and Koknese, the von Rosen family was the most prominent and influential among the vassals in the Livonian district of the Archbishopric of Riga. The Rosen family's origins can be traced back to Theoderich (Theodericus), a brother of [[Albert of Riga|Bishop Albert of Riga]] (Albert von [[Buxhoeveden family|Buxhoeveden]]) (ca. 1165–1229), according to the chronicle of [[Henry of Latvia|Henry of Livonia]], Theoderich married the daughter of Prince Vladimir of Pskow (Woldemarus, ''rex de Plicekowe''),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sterns |first=Indrikis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9JkiAQAAIAAJ |title=Latvijas vēsture: 1180-1290 krustakari |date=2002 |publisher=Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds |isbn=978-9984-601-88-5 |pages=314 |language=lv}}</ref> further solidifying the family's connection to the region. In 1213 Vladimir became the Bailiff of Ydumea instead of his son-in-law Theoderich.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ymera.) |first=Henricus (de |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=okcOAAAAQAAJ&q=xvi+7 |title=Heinrici Chronicon Lyvoniae ex recens. W. Arndt. Ex Monumentis Germaniae historicis recudi fecit G.H. Pertz |date=1874 |pages=XIV:10, XXVIII:8 |language=la}}</ref>
==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:Koknese 1.JPG
File:Koknese 3.JPG
File:Koknese 4.JPG
File:Koknese 6.JPG
File:Koknese Burg Koknese 09.JPG
File:Koknese Burg Koknese Hof 03.JPG
File:Koknese Blick von den Burgruinen auf die Umgebung 1.JPG
File:Kokneses pilsdrupas - panoramio.jpg
</gallery>
== See also ==
*[[Principality of Koknese]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Castles in Latvia}}
[[Category:Koknese]]
[[Category:Castles in Latvia]]
[[Category:Castles of the Livonian Order]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Latvia]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1701]]
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