Zemgale

Also known as Semigalia, Semigallia

Semigallia is one of the Historical Latvian Lands located to the south of the Daugava and to the north of the Saule region of Samogitia. The territory is split between Latvia and Lithuania, previously inhabited by the Semigallian Baltic tribe. They are noted for their long resistance (1219–1290) against the German crusaders and Teutonic Knights during the Northern Crusades. Semigallians had close linguistic and cultural ties with Samogitians.

Key facts

Settlement.name: Semigallia
Settlement.native_name: Zemgale
Settlement.image_map: Zemgale location Latvia.svg
Settlement.map_caption: Location of Semigallia in Latvia.
Settlement.image_flag: Official flag of Zemgale.svg
Settlement.image_shield: Coat_of_arms_of_Zemgale.svg
Settlement.subdivision_type: Country
Settlement.subdivision_name: Latvia, Lithuania
Settlement.seat: Jelgava
Settlement.seat_type: Largest city
Settlement.population_density_km2: auto
Settlement.timezone: EET

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Article

12 sections

Contents

Name
Territory
1st–4th centuries
5th–9th centuries
9th–13th centuries
1561–1795
Language
History
Present
Notes
References
Further reading

==Name== thumb|Mervala (Mervallastenen) runic stone in Sweden on which Semigallia (Simkala) is mentioned. Near lake Mälaren The name of Semigallia appears in sources such as Seimgala, Zimgola and Sem[e]gallen. The -gal[l] element means 'border' or 'end', while the first syllable corresponds to ziem ('north'). Thus, the Semigallians were the "people of the northern borderlands" (i.e. the lower parts of the Mūša and Lielupe river valleys).