Krustpils Castle
Encyclopedia
Krustpils Castle is a castle in Jēkabpils
, Latvia
. It is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Latvia
. In 1359 Livonian order
has taken seven castles belonging to Riga Archbishopric - Krustpils among them.
During the Livonian war
in 1559 the castle was devastated. When Livonian state was dissolved, Krustpils became a property of the king of Poland
. Stephen Báthory
of Poland granted a large area including Krustpils to general Nikolai von Korff (1555–1618). Family of Korffs possessed the castle until Latvian agrarian reforms in 1920.
As Krustpils castle became a residence of landlord, it gradually lost its medieval character. In 18th century castle got representative look, some Baroque
elements were added to exterior of the castle.
Krustpils castle together with other buildings of complex was transferred to Latvian army after 1920. Here was located Latgale artillery regiment. During the Second World War here was located infirmary of German army
. Hospital
of Red Army
was placed here after August 1944.
During the Soviet times in the castle there were located regiments of Soviet army - 16th regiment of long-range intelligence aviation and main storehouses of 15th air regiment. For 50 years the premises were not managed and were close to be considered as ruins
.
After 1991 there is ongoing active investigation and renewal of the castle.
Jekabpils
Jēkabpils is a city in Selonia, Latvia roughly halfway between Riga and Daugavpils. The Daugava River runs through the town, and the ancient valley, branches, and islands of the river are considered picturesque...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
. It is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Latvia
History
Most likely the castle is built between 1255 and 1297 as a castle of Riga ArchbishopricArchbishop of Riga
The Archbishopric of Riga was an archbishopric in Medieval Livonia, a subject to the Holy See. It was established in 1186 as the bishopric of Livonia at Üxküll, then after moving to Riga it became the bishopric of Riga in 1202 and was elevated to an archbishopric in 1255.- Archbishops of Riga :The...
. In 1359 Livonian order
Livonian Order
The Livonian Order was an autonomous Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1435–1561. After being defeated by Samogitians in the 1236 Battle of Schaulen , the remnants of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword were incorporated into the Teutonic Knights...
has taken seven castles belonging to Riga Archbishopric - Krustpils among them.
During the Livonian war
Livonian War
The Livonian War was fought for control of Old Livonia in the territory of present-day Estonia and Latvia when the Tsardom of Russia faced a varying coalition of Denmark–Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Union of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland.During the period 1558–1578,...
in 1559 the castle was devastated. When Livonian state was dissolved, Krustpils became a property of the king of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Stephen Báthory
Stephen Báthory
Stephen Báthory may refer to several noblemen of Hungarian descent:* Stephen III Báthory , Palatine of Hungary* Stephen V Báthory , judge of the Royal Court and Prince of Transylvania...
of Poland granted a large area including Krustpils to general Nikolai von Korff (1555–1618). Family of Korffs possessed the castle until Latvian agrarian reforms in 1920.
As Krustpils castle became a residence of landlord, it gradually lost its medieval character. In 18th century castle got representative look, some Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
elements were added to exterior of the castle.
Krustpils castle together with other buildings of complex was transferred to Latvian army after 1920. Here was located Latgale artillery regiment. During the Second World War here was located infirmary of German army
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
. Hospital
Military hospital
Military hospital is a hospital, which is generally located on a military base and is reserved for the use of military personnel, their dependents or other authorized users....
of Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
was placed here after August 1944.
During the Soviet times in the castle there were located regiments of Soviet army - 16th regiment of long-range intelligence aviation and main storehouses of 15th air regiment. For 50 years the premises were not managed and were close to be considered as ruins
Ruins
Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction...
.
After 1991 there is ongoing active investigation and renewal of the castle.