People or land · The Livs · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Holme

The Livs of Holme live round an island in the Daugava (Mārtiņsala, now under the reservoir) and on the banks near Salaspils.

Meinhard built them a stone castle with a church on the island about 1186; Henry says the people of Holme cheated him by promising baptism and then profiting from the fort (I.7). In 1198 Berthold's army made first for 'the fort of Holm, which stands in the middle of the river' (II.4), and after the battle about fifty Livs were baptized at Holme on the first day (II.7). When the peace broke the clergy fled from Üxküll to Holme, and after Lent 1199 they left for Saxony (II.9-10).

On 1 January 1200 the Livs of Holme hold their villages and, in effect, the empty stone castle.

Who holds it

Name
None named for 1200
Title
the elders of Holme
Since
not applicable
Born
not applicable
Family
Ako of Holme, whom Henry's later chapters (not read in this run) make the leader of the Liv rising of 1206, is named only then; whether he led in 1200 is not pinned.
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

  • The island fort and Meinhard's stone castle and church (town record Holme; the Church map writes the castle as contested, Üxküll)
  • Liv villages round Salaspils

How things stand that morning

Free Liv land; the castle church stands empty of clergy; no one holds the castle for the bishop that can be shown.

Wealth

Farming, fishing, the river traffic past the island.

Military

The island fort with Meinhard's stone wall; 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

  1. 1200 (Henry IV.2)Albert's fleet passes Holme; his men are besieged at Holme and live on stored grain until the Frisians burn the Liv crops and the Livs renew the peace.Depends on: Albert's expedition. Stopped by: A failure to raise the expedition.

Later, on the likely course

  1. 1202 (later)The Semigallians burn the church at Holme and besiege its fort (Henry VI.7).Depends on: The Semigallian feud with the Livs.
  2. 1203 (later)The king of Polotsk attacks Holme and is driven off by German crossbowmen (Henry VII.7).Depends on: Polotsk's tribute claim.

Places of note

  • Holme: island fort with Meinhard's castle and church; position approximate

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Henry I.7, II.4-10, IV, VI-VII; bounds not recorded.

On the map: A small block round Salaspils on both banks; 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.

Sources and studies

  1. Henry of Livonia, Chronicon Livoniae, tr. J. A. Brundage, The Chronicle of Henry of Livonia (1961): Books I-III, chapters I-IX read for this record

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.