The ruins of northern wing of the castle of Kokenhusen in Koknese, central Latvia. August 31, 2019
Close up of the defensive ditch dividing the castle and its forepart - The ruins of the castle of Kokenhusen, located in today's town of Koknese in central Latvia.
In 1209, Bishop Albert von Bukshoevden ordered the restoration of fortifications replacing an ancient wooden castle inhabited by the Balts. In 1255, Pope Alexander IV approved Kokenhusen as an archbishop's castle. Soon a settlement started to form near the castle and by 1277, Kokenhusen had enough population to receive city rights. The city became a member of the Hanseatic League thanks to its strategic location on the river Daugava trade route. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the castle's administrators were mostly members of the powerful Livonian Tiesenhausen family, Kokenhusen also served as the residence of the archbishops. In 1479, the stronghold was taken over by the Teutonic Order, the church authorities regained the castle in 1486. In 1577 Kokenhusen was occupied by the Russian troops of Ivan the Terrible, but they were quickly removed by Polish-Lithuanian troops. In the 17th century, the castle was repeatedly conquered by both Swedes and Poles. Sweden ruled in Kokenhusen until 1656, when they were expelled by Russian troops, then by 1661, the Swedes again dominated here. In 1701, during the Great Northern War, the Saxon and Polish troops of Augustus II occupied the castle and the city, but not seeing the possibility of effective defense against the approaching Swedes, left the stronghold and blew up its main elements. In 1965, under the Soviet Union, a hydroelectric dam was built downriver, creating a reservoir that partially submerged the castle and flooded the surrounding valley.
The ruins of northern wing of the castle of Kokenhusen in Koknese, central Latvia. August 31, 2019
Close up of the defensive ditch dividing the castle and its forepart - The ruins of the castle of Kokenhusen, located in today's town of Koknese in central Latvia.
In 1209, Bishop Albert von Bukshoevden ordered the restoration of fortifications replacing an ancient wooden castle inhabited by the Balts. In 1255, Pope Alexander IV approved Kokenhusen as an archbishop's castle. Soon a settlement started to form near the castle and by 1277, Kokenhusen had enough population to receive city rights. The city became a member of the Hanseatic League thanks to its strategic location on the river Daugava trade route. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the castle's administrators were mostly members of the powerful Livonian Tiesenhausen family, Kokenhusen also served as the residence of the archbishops. In 1479, the stronghold was taken over by the Teutonic Order, the church authorities regained the castle in 1486. In 1577 Kokenhusen was occupied by the Russian troops of Ivan the Terrible, but they were quickly removed by Polish-Lithuanian troops. In the 17th century, the castle was repeatedly conquered by both Swedes and Poles. Sweden ruled in Kokenhusen until 1656, when they were expelled by Russian troops, then by 1661, the Swedes again dominated here. In 1701, during the Great Northern War, the Saxon and Polish troops of Augustus II occupied the castle and the city, but not seeing the possibility of effective defense against the approaching Swedes, left the stronghold and blew up its main elements. In 1965, under the Soviet Union, a hydroelectric dam was built downriver, creating a reservoir that partially submerged the castle and flooded the surrounding valley.