The hillfort at Gaujiena whose later castle (Adsel) carries the name of the land of Atzele, on the frontier toward Ugandi and Pskov.
Who holds it
- Name
- None named
- Title
- the elders of Atzele
- Since
- not applicable
- Born
- not applicable
- Confidence
- low
See sources.
Lord in 1200
The elders of Atzele.
How things stand that morning
A free Latgalian fort on the Pskov frontier.
Charter
None: an unwritten customary community.
Council
The elders of the land; no town council.
Communities
Latgalians.
Fairs and markets
None recorded.
Militia
The men of the fort and its villages.
Walls and castle
Earth and timber hillfort; the German castle is later.
Trade and crafts
Farming, furs.
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.
- During 1200 (nothing dated)Nothing is recorded at this place for 1200.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Identification through the later castle name; position approximate.
Primary sources for The Latgalians
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
- 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.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.