A fort on a high bank where the Pērse meets the Daugava, about a hundred kilometres up from the sea, with a trading settlement of Latgalians and Selonians and a small Rus' element (archaeology, en.wikipedia).
It is a vassal sub-principality of Polotsk in the late 12th century (de.wikipedia) and the first Rus'-ruled stop for the merchants going upriver. Its land runs along the right bank between the Liv land of Ascheraden and Jersika's lands (realm map part). On 1 January 1200 its prince is not named.
Who holds it
- Name
- Not pinned for 1 January 1200
- Title
- prince of Koknese (Henry's rex de Kukenois), vassal of Polotsk
- Since
- not applicable
- Born
- not applicable
- Confidence
- low
See sources.
Lord in 1200
A Rus' prince under Polotsk, not named for 1 January 1200. Henry first names King Vetseke (Vyachko) of Koknese in 1205 (IX.10), when he asks the bishop for a safe conduct; en.wikipedia's 'ruler c. 1180-1206' is a modern guess, and his origin is unknown (en.wikipedia suggests a local, perhaps Liv, notable who took Orthodoxy and became Polotsk's vassal; de.wikipedia calls him Polotsk's governor, Statthalter).
How things stand that morning
Held by a Rus' prince under Polotsk; name not pinned.
Council
The prince with his retinue; the elders of the Latgalian and Selonian community.
Communities
Latgalians and Selonians, with a few Rus' (archaeology); the prince's retinue; Orthodox and pagan.
Fairs and markets
None recorded.
Militia
The prince's retinue and the men of the fort.
Walls and castle
Earth and timber fort on the bluff over the Daugava; the German stone castle is later (from 1209).
Trade and crafts
The Daugava trade between the Gotland merchants and Polotsk; river tolls likely but not recorded.
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.
- 1205-1208 (later)Vyachko seeks the bishop's safe conduct and offers half his land and fort for help against the Lithuanians (1205); in 1208 the Livs of Lennewarden seize Koknese, Albert restores it and sends him knights and masons, and Vyachko kills them, burns his fort and flees to Rus' (Henry; en.wikipedia).Depends on: The crusade's advance. Stopped by: Polotsk's support.
Where the sources disagree
- en.wikipedia lists Vetseke as ruler from c. 1180; Henry first names him in 1205.
Evidence: Henry from 1205; earlier state from archaeology and modern accounts.
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
- 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
- Principality of Koknese (en.wikipedia)
- Kokenhusen (de.wikipedia)
- Vyachko of Koknese (en.wikipedia)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.