The Livs of Ascheraden hold the hillfort at Aizkraukle and the right bank from Skrīveri up to the Pērse, where the land of Koknese begins.
They are the Livs nearest to the Rus' princes of the Daugava and to the Lithuanian war roads. In 1204 they joined the Lithuanians in raiding Riga (Henry VIII.1); soon after they made peace, gave hostages and promised baptism (VIII.9, 1204-1205). On 1 January 1200 it is a free Liv land paying tribute to Polotsk.
Who holds it
- Name
- None named for 1200
- Title
- the elders of Ascheraden
- Since
- not applicable
- Born
- not applicable
- Family
- No elder is named in the sources read.
- Confidence
- low
Henry of Livonia (Brundage tr.); see sources.
Overlord
Tribute to the prince of Polotsk, paid by the Daugava Livs in Meinhard's time (Henry I.3) and demanded by force in 1203 (VII.7); whether it was paid in 1199 is not pinned.
What it holds
- Aizkraukle hillfort (town record Ascheraden)
- Liv villages of the right bank
How things stand that morning
Free Liv land under its elders, next to Koknese.
Wealth
Farming and the river road.
Military
Hillfort; village levies. No numbers.
Threats
- Bishop Albert's crusade (sails during 1200)
- Lithuanian winter raids
- Semigallian attacks across the river
- Polotsk's tribute demands
Law and courts
Elders of the land and its fort, with the assembled free men, decide war, peace and disputes by custom; oaths and peace are sealed by pagan rite. No written law.
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
In 1200
- During 1200 (nothing dated for this land)No event in this land is recorded for 1200.
Later, on the likely course
- 1204-1205 (later)Raids Riga with the Lithuanians, then makes peace and gives hostages (Henry VIII).
Places of note
- Aizkraukle: Liv hillfort; position approximate
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Henry names the fort only from 1204; bounds not recorded.
On the map: Right bank between Skrīveri and the Pērse; bounds are a guess.
Primary sources for The Livs
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- The Livonian Chronicle of Henry, Henry of Livonia (1225 to 1227). The chief source for the Baltic mission. Read online
- Chronicle of the Slavs, by Arnold of Lübeck, Arnold of Lübeck (about 1209 to 1210). Arnold continues Helmold and writes from Lübeck, close to Danish, Welf and Baltic affairs. Read online
- The Registers of Pope Innocent III for 1199 to 1201, Innocent III and the papal chancery (22 February 1199 to 21 February 1201). The pope's outgoing letters for the year, in his chancery's own copy, touching nearly every realm in the atlas. Read online
- Charter book of Livonia, Estonia and Courland, volume 1, 1093 to 1300 (documents of 1093 to 1300, edited 1853). The documents of the Livonian mission: Innocent III's bull of 5 October 1199 calling for a crusade to protect the Livonian church, the privileges for Bishop Albert, Archbishop Hartwig of Bremen's acts for the see of Üxküll, and the later charters that settle who held what on the Düna.
- Charter books of Lübeck and of Hamburg (documents to 1226 (Lübeck vol. 1) and to 1300 (Hamburg vol. 1)). The charters of the two north German towns and of the archbishops of Bremen and Hamburg. Read online
- The law of the Gotlanders; The saga of the Gotlanders (Guta lag about 1220, Guta saga about 1220 to 1275; manuscript of about 1350). The law and the short history of the self-governing island. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.