An island fort of the Livs in the middle of the Daugava near Salaspils, where Meinhard built a stone castle and church about 1186; Henry says the people of Holme cheated him with false promises of baptism (I.7).
Berthold's army of 1198 made for it first (II.4); about fifty Livs were baptized there after the battle (II.7). The clergy took refuge here in 1198 before leaving the land in 1199. The island is now under the Riga reservoir.
Who holds it
- Name
- None named for 1200
- Title
- the elders of Holme
- Since
- not applicable
- Born
- not applicable
- Confidence
- medium
See sources.
Lord in 1200
The Livs of Holme. The stone castle and church are claimed by the absent bishop (Üxküll).
How things stand that morning
In Liv hands, with no priest.
Charter
None: an unwritten customary community.
Council
The elders of the land; no town council.
Communities
Livs.
Fairs and markets
None recorded.
Militia
The men of the fort and its villages.
Walls and castle
Island fort with Meinhard's stone castle and church.
Trade and crafts
River traffic of the Daugava.
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
- 1200 (Henry IV.2)Albert's men are besieged at Holme by the Livs.Depends on: Albert's expedition.
Later, on the likely course
- 1202-1203 (later)The Semigallians burn the church (1202); the king of Polotsk attacks and is driven off (1203).
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Henry I-II, IV, VI-VII; island position approximate.
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.