2,074 P. von K ppen 1860s ca. 3,000 about 1900 ca. In addition, there are a couple of hundred people of Livonian descent in Latvia who wish to identify themselves as Livonians. 13th c in 1201 Bishop Albert founds the town of Riga on the Livonian territory. In crusades Livonians are vanuished and they join the further campaigns against their neighbours.
Latvian tribes begin to settle in the sparsely populated Livonian territories.
The Livonians of Livonia assimilate with Latvians by the 19th century. 1918-1941 the period of national awakening and development of national culture provoked by the Estonian and Finnish initiatives to promote closer ties between the kindred peoples. From 1923 the Livonian language is taught at schools. Teachers are trained in the Livonian language, textbooks are compiled, a newspaper is issued and books are published. World War II Livonians are once again overrun by war and driven out from their homes.