Semigallians (Latvian Zemgaļi, also Zemgalians, Semigalls, Semigalians) were the Baltic tribe that lived in the southcentral part of contemporary Latvia and northern Lithuania. They are noted for their long resistance (1219-1290) against the German crusaders and Teutonic Knights during the Northern Crusades. Semigallians had close linguistic and cultural ties with Samogitians.
During the Viking Age Semigallians were involved in battles with Swedish vikings over control of the lower part of the Daugava waterway. In Gesta Danorum the Danish chronicler Saxo Grammaticus wrote that viking Starkad crushed Curonians, all the tribes Esthonia breeds, and peoples of Semgala.[1] When Rurikid successors of varangians tried to subjugate Semigallians they heavily defeated invading army of Polotsk led by Prince Rogvolod Vseslavich in 1106. Ancient chronicles claim that 9000 of their soldiers were killed.[2]
According to the Livonian Chronicle of Henry Semigallians formed an alliance with bishop Albert of Riga against rebellious Livonians before 1203 and received military support to hold back Lithuanian attacks in 1205. In 1207 Semigallian duke Viestards (Latin: dux Semigallorum) helped christened Livonian chief Caupo to conquer back his Turaida castle from pagan rebels.
In 1219 Semigallian-German alliance was canceled after crusader invasion in Semigallia. Duke Viestards promptly formed an alliance with Lithuanians and Curonians. In 1228 Semigallians and Curonians attacked Daugavgrīva monastery, the main crusader stronghold at the Daugava river delta. Crusaders took revenge and invaded Semigallia. Semigallians in their turn pillaged land around Aizkraukle hillfort. In 1236 Semigallians attacked crusaders retreating to Riga after the Battle of Saule killing many of them. After regular attacks, the Livonian Order partly subdued the Semigallians in 1254.
In 1270 Lithuanian Grand Duke Traidenis together with Semigallians attacked Livonia and Saaremaa. During the Battle of Karuse on the frozen gulf of Riga the Livonian Order was defeated and its master Otto von Lutterberg killed. In 1287 around 1400 Semigallians attacked crusader stronghold in Ikšķile and plundered nearby lands. As they returned to Semigallia they were caught by order's forces and great battle begun near Garoza river. Crusader forces were besieged and heavily defeated. More than 40 knights were killed including the master of Livonian order Willekin von Endorp and unknown number of crusader allies. It was the last Semigallian victory over groving forces of the Livonian Order.
In 1279 after the Battle of Aizkraukle Grand Duke Traidenis of Lithuania supported Semigallian revolt against Livonian order led by duke Nameisis. In 1280ties Livonian Order started massive campaign against Semigallians included burning their fields and thus causing famine. Semigallians continued their resistance until 1290, when they burned their last castle in Sidrabene and a large number of Semigallians (Rhymed Chronicle claim 100 000) migrated to Lithuania and once there continued to fight against the Germans.
There is an unconfirmed theory that the Semigallians were one of the first Baltic tribes to establish a monarchy, yet one weak in comparison to the power of the Semigallian nobles.
One of the most notable Semigallian leaders was duke Viestards (Viesturs). Upon uniting hostile Semigallian clans into a single state in early 13th century, Viestards formed an alliance with the German crusaders to defeat his enemies on the outside. After the crusaders broke the treaty and invaded his lands, he allied with Lithuanians, resulting in the near annihilation of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword in the Battle of Saule in 1236.
Duke Nameitis (Namejs, Nameisis), another renowned Semigallian leader, united Semigallian and Lithuanian tribes for a retaliatory counterattack on Teutonic Knights at Riga in 1279 and in Prussia after 1281. Main sources for his activities are Livländische Reimchronik and Das Zeugenverhör des Franciscus de Moliano (1312). What is known with certainty, however, is that by the end of 1270s, a new powerful leader had emerged who achieved several major victories over German crusaders in Zemgale and East Prussia.