The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians.
Present State of Europe, June 1, 1817
London, United Kingdom
The Duke of Mecklemburgh . . . has sent one of his counsellors to Spa, to wait on the Czar, and desires that he will not send away his forces till he has obtained some Articles from the Emperor and the Empire for his Security. They write from Copenhagen, that a British Man of War and 3 Frigates arrived there the 8th past, with bout 80 Merchant Ships of several Nations, bound for the Baltick, which are to proceed on their Voyage with first fair Wind. Three Danish Cruizers have taken a large Swedish Galleon, notwithstanding the Great Fire the Swedes made upon them from their Batteries. There is Advice from Stratsund that a Swedish Yacht being chafed by a Danish Ship, ran aground on the Isle of Dars, where the Heffian General Rank had imbarked for Lubeck on board that Yacht, landed, with Count Bielke and some other Officers, who were immediately seized by the Danes and carried to Stralsund. . . Letters from Riga say that the Moscoite Fleet fitted out at Revel is actually at sea, and bound, as 'tis said, for the Coast of Pomerania.
