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Daugavpils
Daugavpils, Latvia Dünaburg, Borisoglebsk, Dvinsk, Latgale Situated on the Western Daugava River (in English, the Dvina), the name means ‘Castle on the Western Dvina’ from the Lettish pils ‘castle’ or ‘palace’. Founded in 1278, the original German name meant ‘Fort on the Dvina’, although this was some 12 miles (19 km) north of the modern city. It was captured by the Russians in 1656 and given the Russian name Borisoglebsk since Alexey I Mikhailovich (1629–76), Tsar of Russia (1645–76), heard the news of its capture on the feast day of the two saints. The Poles regained the city in 1667, but once more it passed to the Russians at the first partition of Poland in 1772. In 1893 the city was renamed Dvinsk. In 1920–41, when Latvia enjoyed independence, the city was called Latgale (see Latgallia). Dünaburg was restored while the Germans occupied Latvia between 1941 and 1944.
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Cite this article
JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Daugavpils." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Daugavpils." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Daugavpils.html JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Daugavpils." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Daugavpils.html |
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Daugavpils
Daugavpils , Ger. Dünaburg, city (1992 est. pop. 129,050), SE Latvia, on the Western Dvina River. It is a rail junction and commercial center. The city's industries produce lumber, food products, electric machinery, and textiles. It was founded (1278) by the Livonian Knights and became a strategic fortress. Passing (1561) to the combined kingdom of Lithuania and Poland, it was ceded to Russia in the first partition of Poland (1772). Daugavpils was a flourishing trade center until World War I. In independent Latvia (1918-40) it was the capital of Latgale prov. Its former (1893-1920) Russian name was Dvinsk. |
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Cite this article
"Daugavpils." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Daugavpils." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Daugavpi.html "Daugavpils." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Daugavpi.html |
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