Jelgava

Jelgava(pronounced[ˈjælˠɡɐvˠɐ]) is a state city in centralLatvia. It is located about 41 kilometres (25 miles) southwest ofRiga. It is the largest town in theSemigalliaregion of Latvia. Jelgava was the capital of the unitedDuchy of Courland and Semigallia(1578–1795) and was the administrative center of theCourland Governorate(1795–1918).
Jelgava is situated on a fertile plain rising only 3.5 metres (11.5 feet)above mean sea levelon the right bank of the riverLielupe. At high water, the plain and sometimes the town as well can be flooded. It is arailway center, and is also a host to theJelgava Air Base. Its importance as a railway centre can be seen by the fact that it lies at the junction of over 6 railway lines connecting Riga to Lithuania, eastern and western Latvia, and Lithuania to the Baltic Sea.
Until 1917, the city was officially referred to asMitau. The name of Jelgava is believed to be derived from theLivonianwordjālgab, meaning "town on the river."The origin of the German nameMitauis unclear, although it is suggested that it came from theLatvianwordsmītormainīt, meaning "to exchange" or "to trade," thus making it "trading-place." An alternate explanation is thatMitaucame fromMitte in der Aue, which is German for "the middle of the Aa", referring to the Lielupe River, formerly known as the Courland Aa (Kurländische Aain German).
In Yiddish, the city was known as מיטאַווע (Mitave) or מיטאַו (Mitar).
In publications dating from the Soviet period, the city name was occasionally spelled in English as "Yelgava", a back-transliteration from RussianЕлгава.
Settlement began developing in the Mitau locality between the rivers Lielupe and Driksa during the 10th century. Led by the Grand MasterKonrad von Mandern[lv], the crusadingLivonian Orderconstructed thecastlein Mitau on a natural island fortification (Pilssala) in 1265–1266. Using Mitau as a southern fortress, the German knights subdued the surrounding Livonians and Semigallians by 1290. The town rose in importance as a defensive fixture against theLithuaniansto the south, who succeeded in plundering Mitau in 1345.
As a result of the fall of the Livonian Order in theLivonian Warof 1558-1583, Mitau became a town of theDuchy of Courlandin 1561. Mitau received city rights in 1573, and became the capital of the united duchies of Courland and Semigallia in 1578. When the Duchy of Courland split in 1596, Mitau became the residence of DukeFriedrich Kettlerof Semigallia. The city again became the capital of the united duchies in 1617. Because the duchy became avassalof thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealthfrom 1561, Mitau was also referred to by the Polish nameMitawa. The Commonwealth's repeated wars withSwedensubjected Mitau to several sieges. Despite the wars, the city grew as a center for trade and industry. As Courland's neighbors increased in strength, however, the duchy - and Mitau - began to fall under Russia'ssphere of influence.
TheTsarof Russia,Peter the Great, received a promise from dukeFriedrich Wilhelmthat he would marry one of the daughters of the tsar's late half-brother. In 1710, Friedrich Wilhelm marriedAnna Ioannovna(daughter of Tsar Ivan V (r.1682–1696), and herself later Empress of Russia), but on his way back fromSt Petersburg, he took ill and died (1711). Anna ruled as the duchess of Courland from 1711 to 1730.
The penultimate duke of Courland,Ernst Johann von Biron(r.1737–1740and 1763–1769), expanded the cultural aspects of Mitau. He constructed the ducal palace and opened the first public library in the city. In 1775 the last Duke of Courland,Peter von Biron(r.1769–1795), founded theAcademia Petrina, which became a cultural center for the country. The duke also encouraged theatrical performances at his court.
With the outbreak of theFrench Revolutionin 1789, the citizens of Mitau clamored for more rights. Later,Imperial Russiaannexedthe city as part of Courland in 1795 during theThird Partition of Poland. TheCount of Provencelived at the palace of Mitau (1798–1801 and 1804–1807) before he became the French kingLouis XVIIIin 1814. Although the city was occupied byPrussiantroops during theNapoleonic Wars, it was largely spared destruction.
Mitau further expanded after theconstruction of its railway in 1868. The development of its infrastructure encouraged rural Latvians to migrate to the city, as merchants, craftsmen, teachers, and officials. By 1914 Mitau had over 45,000 inhabitants. However, Mitau suffered considerably after the outbreak ofWorld War Iin 1914. The spirited defence of Mitau by two battalions of the Latvian Home Guard in 1915 helped inspire the formation of theLatvian Rifles.Germantroops occupied the city during the war, and British prisoners of war, sent there as forced labour, suffered atrocious conditions and treatment.After the war, in 1919, Mitau became a battleground betweenBolshevikRed Guards, Germanparamilitaries, and Latvian freedom-fighters. After thevictory of the latter group in November 1919, Mitau, renamed to Jelgava, became an important city inindependent Latvia. In 1925 asugar factorywas built in Jelgava, the first such factory in Latvia. In 1939Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologiesopened in theJelgava Palace.
As a result of theNazi-Soviet Pactof 1939, Jelgava was occupied and annexed with the rest of Latvia by theSoviet Unionin 1940. Many of the city's remaining German population were resettled into the territory of German-occupied Poland during theNazi–Soviet population transfers. German forces fromArmy Group Northoccupied Jelgava from 1941 to 1944 until the re-capture of the city by theRed Army. DuringWorld War II, German police along with Latvian auxiliary police murdered the Jewish inhabitants of the city during a series of mass shootings (seeJelgava massacres). The main synagogue was burned to the ground.
In late July 1944, the SovietRed armylaunched an attack from the south in the direction of Jelgava andTukumsto encircle the GermanArmy Group North. Jelgava was declared a fortress (Festung) however, there were only a few scattered German and Latvian units in the city. From 30 July until 7 August, after heavy street fighting and severalair raids, the Red Army managed to occupy the left bank of the Lielupe river. In late August, the German army launched a counterattack on Jelgava from the north but it failed to drive back the Soviets. Jelgava remained on the frontline until 10 October when the German army retreated toCourland.
The city's historic centre, industry, rail network, and public buildings were heavily damaged by the fighting, with almost 90% of the city destroyed. Among lost buildings was famousKurland Provincial Museum and Athenaeum.
Jelgava was rebuilt in typical Soviet style afterWorld War IIas part of theLatvian SSR. Jelgava became home to several big factories. Among them were the sugar factory, which was heavily expanded from 1975assembly line, and administration buildings for theRiga Autobus Factory(RAF).
Following Latvian independence, Jelgava has slowly regained its original Germanic heritage and is now a popular tourist site. Owing to Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, many of Jelgava's inhabitants are students or people connected with education. For this reason Jelgava is sometimes called theStudent capital of Latvia.
Jelgava has ahumid continental climate(KöppenDfb).
As of 1 January 2022, the city had a population of 54,694.
Jelgava before the Second World War had regular, broad streets lined with the mansions of theBaltic Germannobility who resided at the former capital of Courland. The old castle (1266) of the dukes of Courland, situated on an island in the river, was destroyed byDuke Biren, who hada spacious palaceerected (1738–1772) byBartolomeo Rastrelliat the bridge across the Lielupe. The palace contains thesarcophagiof almost all of the Curonian dukes, except the last one. The futureLouis XVIIIsojourned in the palace between 1798 and 1800. It now functions asLatvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Other landmarks include theBaroquechurch ofSt. Anne's Church[lv](Liela Street 22a), the tower of the destroyed JelgavaSt. Trinity Church[lv](Akadēmijas Street 1), and two handsome structures: theVilla Medem[lv]and theAcademia Petrina.
In addition the following cultural and historical objects can be seen:Jelgava Palace(Lielā Street 2), Jelgava Old Town,Cathedral of the Immaculate Virgin Mary(Katoļu Street 11),St Simeon and St Anne's Cathedral(Raina Street 5),St. John's Church[lv](Jāņa Street 1), Jelgava Baptist Church (Matera Street 54), Love Alley (Dobele highway),Valdeka Castle[lv](Rīgas Street 22),Jelgava Station(Stacijas Street 1).
Jelgava regularly hosts an internationalIce Sculpturefestival, Student Folk Festival, Easter Walk, Latvian Plant Days, Business Days, Jelgava City Festival, Summersolsticein Jelgava, medicine market, International Cat Show "Jelgava Cat", Sports Day, InternationalSand SculptureFestival,Latvian Milk, Bread and Honey Festival[lv]and Milk Packet Boat Regatta, Beginning of the School Year, Metal Festival,Azemitologa Festival,Autumn fair "Miķeļdienaswaiting", Latvian Amateur Theater Festival "Jokes come from the actor", Student Days,Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvias celebrations, New Year's Eve.
The following museums operate in the city:Ģederts Eliass[lv]Jelgava History and Art Museum,Adolf Alunan Memorial Museum[lv], historical expositionsSt. Trinity Church[lv]tower,Latvia University of Agriculture Museum[lv],Rundāle Castle[lv]museum exposition in Jelgava Castle "Tombs of the Dukes of Kurzeme and Zemgale",Latvian Railway MuseumJelgava exposition, psychiatric hospitals "Ģintermuiža[lv]" museum,Firefighter[lv]exposition.
Libraries:Jelgava City Library[lv](Akadēmijas Street 26), Pārlielupe Library (Loka highway 17), Miezīte Library (Dobele highway 100), children's library "Zinītis" (Lielā Street 15).
Green territories and parks: Jelgava Castle Park, Station Park, Rainis Park, Duke Jacob's Square, Square in Mātera Street, Alunāns Park, Svētbirze, Ozolpils Park, Valdeka Park, Ozolskers, Victory Park, Jelgava Psychoneurological Hospital Park, Lielupe floodplain meadows, Grēbner Park, forest near RAF residential area, forest near Jelgava bypass.
The city's main football team,FK Jelgava, plays in theLatvian Higher Leagueand has won theLatvian Football Cupfour times.
Jelgava istwinnedwith:
In 2022, Jelgava suspended the cooperation agreements withMagadanandBaranavichydue toRussian invasion of Ukraine.