Anno of Treiden is the earliest Liv leader of the Gauja whom Henry names.
In Meinhard's last years (before 1196) he warned the bishop of the Livs' plan and advised him to turn back (I.11), a sign that he stood close to the mission. In 1200, after Albert's arrival, the bishop 'demanded hostages from Anno and Caupo and the elders of the land' (IV.4), naming him first. On 1 January 1200 he is the best-attested leading man of Treiden, though what he holds (a fort, a village, a kin-group) is not recorded.
Who he is
- Name
- Anno of Treiden
- Title
- elder (senior) of the Livs of Treiden
- Since
- Named in Meinhard's time, before 1196 (Henry I.11), and again in 1200 (IV.4)
- Born
- not pinned
- Family
- Not recorded.
- Confidence
- medium
Henry of Livonia (Brundage tr.) I.11 and IV.4.
What it holds
- A leading voice among the elders of Treiden (province Treiden); his own fort or village is not recorded
How it was acquired
By standing among the elders of his land; nothing is known of his family.
Allies and rivals
Friendly to Meinhard's mission in the 1190s; named beside Caupo in 1200. His view of the 1198 rising and the 1199 expulsion of the clergy is not recorded.
How things stand that morning
An elder of the Treiden Livs, free and in his own land. Whether he was baptized is not pinned.
Wealth
Not recorded: land, cattle and a share in the Gauja's trade.
Military
His following among the Treiden levies. No numbers.
Threats
- Albert's crusade and its demand for hostages (1200)
- Rivals among the Treiden elders
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.
- 1200, after Albert's arrival (Henry IV.4)Called with Caupo and the other elders to a feast, shut in a house and made to hand over boys of the land as hostages, who are taken to Germany.Depends on: Albert's expedition succeeding. Stopped by: Anno refusing the summons; a Liv victory.
Places of note
- Turaida: hillfort of the Treiden Livs
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Two mentions in Henry; nothing else is known of him.
On the map: Shown at Turaida; his own holding is not recorded, so no area is drawn.
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.