Viestards

Viestards ( also Viesthard, Vesthardus, Viesturs) was one of the greatest Semigallian dukes in the 13th century, referred to as King Vester (Old High German: konic Vesters). His capital was Tērvete. During the first decades of the 13th century he was allied with the Livonian Brothers of the Sword against Lithuanians, who looted Semigallia on several occasions. In 1205, joint forces defeated Lithuanians and killed duke Žvelgaitis.

In 1219 Viestards came into conflict with German bishop Albert when German crusaders placed their garrison in Semigallian castle of Mežotne. Viestards unsuccessfully attacked Mežotne but managed to defeat the reinforcement of crusaders coming on Lielupe river after that crusaders left Mežotne. Viestards became an enemy of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword and made an alliance with his neighbors, the Samogitians. Together they fought against the crusaders. Viestards died in 1230, but the Semigallians still were not conquered until the end of the 13th century. Viestards never accepted Christianity and accepted only one monk in Semigallia as a preacher.

The Order of Viesturs (Vesthardus Rex) was founded in 1938 to commemorate the spirit of independence of the people of ancient Latvia.

References

• Turnbull, Stephen (2004). Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights (2): The Stone Castles of Latvia and Estonia 1185-1560. Osprey Publishing. p. 9. ISBN 1841767123.
• "Order of Viesturs". Chancery of the President of Latvia. Retrieved 2007-05-29.