House of the Livonian Noble Corporation: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Historic building in Riga, Latvia}} |
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{{Infobox building |
{{Infobox building |
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| name = House of the Livonian Nobility |
| name = House of the Livonian Nobility |
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| map_type = Latvia Riga |
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| map_caption = Location within Riga |
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| ren_architect = [[Eižens Laube]] |
| ren_architect = [[Eižens Laube]], Andris Veidemanis |
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The '''House of the Livonian Noble Corporation''' ({{lang-lv|Vidzemes bruņniecības nams}}) |
The '''House of the Livonian Noble Corporation''' ({{lang-lv|Vidzemes bruņniecības nams}}), also known as '''Saeima House''' (''Saeimas nams''), is the seat of the parliament of [[Latvia]], the [[Saeima]]. It is located in the ''[[Vecrīga|Vecpilsēta]]'' (Old Town) neighbourhood of downtown [[Riga]]. |
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==Architecture== |
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⚫ | The building was constructed to house the [[Landtag#Baltic countries|Landtag]] of the [[Livonian Knighthood|Livonian Noble Corporation]] in the [[Governorate of Livonia]]. It was designed by architects [[Robert Pflug]], a [[Baltic-German]] and [[Jānis Baumanis]], the first academically trained [[Latvians|Latvian]] architect in the [[Renaissance Revival architecture|neo-Renaissance]] style with an [[Eclecticism in art|Eclectic]] finish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saeima.lv/en/about-saeima/main-building-of-the-saeima|title=Main building of the Saeima|date=2014|access-date=18 December 2014}}</ref> Construction began in 1863 and was completed in 1867 directly opposite [[St. James's Cathedral, Riga|St. James's Cathedral]]. The [[façade]] featured a [[Niche (architecture)|niche]] containing a statue by [[Danes|Danish]] sculptor [[David Jensen (sculptor)|David Jensen]] of the Teutonic ''Landmeister'' [[Wolter von Plettenberg]]. |
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;Empire |
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⚫ | In the [[Russian Empire]], the [[Governorate of Livonia]] was administered with the co-operation of the Livonian Noble Corporation, the estate of nobility who owed [[fealty]] to the [[Emperor of Russia|Emperor]]. The Noble Corporation, also known as the "knighthood" began at the dissolution of the [[Teutonic Order]] [[Livonian Order|in Livonia]] in the 16th century, and comprised the leading representatives of the [[Baltic nobility|Baltic-German nobility]] who made up the ruling class in Latvia and Estonia until the [[First World War]]. The Landtag was never a democratic body. |
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;Latvian independence |
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After the [[People's Council of Latvia|People’s Council]] declared Latvian independence on 18 November 1918 the building served as its home, except for the period during 1919 when the All-Latvian Congress of Workers' Soviet Deputies of the [[Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic]] controlled Riga. After the socialist republic was [[Latvian War of Independence|defeated]], the building became the seat of the [[Constitutional Assembly of Latvia|Constitutional Assembly]] elected in 1920. On 17 October 1921, the building was destroyed by fire. It was restored according to the design of the architect [[Eižens Laube]]. The restoration included a new statue by sculptor Rihards Maurs of Lāčplēsis the "bear-slayer", from the [[Lāčplēsis|Latvian epic]] of the same name, replacing the statue of von Plettenberg which was destroyed in the fire. At the time of the building's restoration the main assembly hall was modified to meet the needs of the Saeima of the new Republic of Latvia. The Saeima chamber today still approximates this design. The last meeting of the Constitutional Assembly, which wrote the [[Constitution of Latvia]] took place in the restored building on 3 November 1922. |
After the [[People's Council of Latvia|People’s Council]] declared Latvian independence on 18 November 1918 the building served as its home, except for the period during 1919 when the All-Latvian Congress of Workers' Soviet Deputies of the [[Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic]] controlled Riga. After the socialist republic was [[Latvian War of Independence|defeated]], the building became the seat of the [[Constitutional Assembly of Latvia|Constitutional Assembly]] elected in 1920. On 17 October 1921, the building was destroyed by fire. It was restored according to the design of the architect [[Eižens Laube]]. The restoration included a new statue by sculptor Rihards Maurs of Lāčplēsis the "bear-slayer", from the [[Lāčplēsis|Latvian epic]] of the same name, replacing the statue of von Plettenberg which was destroyed in the fire. At the time of the building's restoration the main assembly hall was modified to meet the needs of the Saeima of the new Republic of Latvia. The Saeima chamber today still approximates this design. The last meeting of the Constitutional Assembly, which wrote the [[Constitution of Latvia]] took place in the restored building on 3 November 1922. |
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;Authoritarian régime |
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The building served as the home of the Saeima until a [[self-coup]] by serving [[Prime Minister of Latvia|Prime Minister]] [[Kārlis Ulmanis]] in 1934. Ulmanis assumed the title of [[President of Latvia|President]] in 1936 and the |
The building served as the home of the Saeima until a [[self-coup]] by serving [[Prime Minister of Latvia|Prime Minister]] [[Kārlis Ulmanis]] in 1934. Ulmanis assumed the title of [[President of Latvia|President]] in 1936 and the continuous dissolution of the Saeima served the purposes of his [[Kārlis Ulmanis#Authoritarian régime|authoritarian régime]], the building was instead to house the presidential administration. |
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;Occupation |
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During the [[Second World War]], after Latvia was [[Occupations of Latvia|occupied]], the building was the location of the [[ |
During the [[Second World War]], after Latvia was [[Occupations of Latvia|occupied]], the building was the location of the [[Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR]] under the Soviets and the headquarters of the [[Schutzstaffel|SS]] and police for the [[Reichskommissariat Ostland|Eastern territories]] under [[Nazi Germany]]. Latvia remained under Soviet occupation after the war and the building served as the location of the Supreme Soviet for almost half a century. In the early 1980s one of the inner courtyards was walled in to expand building space, this part of the building is now known as the Voting Room. |
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;Restoration of independence |
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After the [[On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia|restoration of independence]] on May |
After the [[On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia|restoration of independence]] on May 4, 1990, the building was home to the [[Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia]], which functioned as an interim parliament until the Constitution was fully re-established with the [[1993 Latvian parliamentary election|election of the next Saeima]]. Since 1993 it is once again home to Latvia's parliament. In 1996, the vestibule and the large marble staircase were repainted to create an impression closer to Eclectic style. In 1997, the Plenary Chamber was renovated by architect Andris Veidemanis in cooperation with SIA AIG. |
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== Gallery == |
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<gallery> |
<gallery> |
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Saeimas sēžu zāle - Flickr - Saeima (3).jpg| |
Saeimas sēžu zāle - Flickr - Saeima (3).jpg|Plenary Chamber |
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Saeimas Dzeltenā zāle - Flickr - Saeima (2).jpg|Yellow Room |
Saeimas Dzeltenā zāle - Flickr - Saeima (2).jpg|Yellow Room |
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Saeimas Sarkanā zāle - Flickr - Saeima (1).jpg|Red Room |
Saeimas Sarkanā zāle - Flickr - Saeima (1).jpg|Red Room |
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File:Pirmais sniegs! (8124499226).jpg|Building in Winter |
File:Pirmais sniegs! (8124499226).jpg|Building in Winter |
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File:Saeimas nams 2013.gada 28.novembris..jpg|View along Jēkaba Street |
File:Saeimas nams 2013.gada 28.novembris..jpg|View along Jēkaba Street |
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Рига (Латвия) Здание Сейма Латвийской Республики (фрагмент) - panoramio - cropped.jpg|Statue of Lāčplēsis. Destroyed circa 1950s, restored 2007. |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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* [[Government of Latvia]] |
* [[Government of Latvia]] |
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* [[Estonian Knighthood House]] |
* [[Estonian Knighthood House]] |
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* [[House of Nobility (Finland)#The Ritarihuone / Riddarhuset building| |
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Finnish House of Nobility]] |
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* [[House of Nobility (Sweden)|Swedish House of Nobility]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Commons category|Main building of the Saeima}} |
{{Commons category-inline|Main building of the Saeima}} |
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*[http://www.saeima.lv/en/ Parliament of Latvia] |
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{{Riga Cityscape}} |
{{Riga Cityscape}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Riga]] |
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Riga]] |
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[[Category:Landmarks in Latvia]] |
[[Category:Landmarks in Latvia]] |
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[[Category:Seats of national legislatures]] |
[[Category:Seats of national legislatures]] |
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[[Category:Livonian nobility|*]] |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures destroyed by arson]] |
[[Category:Buildings and structures destroyed by arson]] |
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[[Category:Saeima]] |
[[Category:Saeima]] |
Latest revision as of 16:52, 13 June 2024
House of the Livonian Nobility | |
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Corner of Jēkaba and Klostera Streets, Riga. | |
Alternative names | Saeima Building |
General information | |
Town or city | Riga |
Country | Latvia |
Coordinates | 56°57′4″N 24°6′16″E / 56.95111°N 24.10444°E |
Construction started | 1863 |
Completed | 1867 |
Renovated | 1922 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Robert Pflug, Jānis Baumanis |
Renovating team | |
Architect(s) | Eižens Laube, Andris Veidemanis |
The House of the Livonian Noble Corporation (Latvian: Vidzemes bruņniecības nams), also known as Saeima House (Saeimas nams), is the seat of the parliament of Latvia, the Saeima. It is located in the Vecpilsēta (Old Town) neighbourhood of downtown Riga.
Architecture
[edit]The building was constructed to house the Landtag of the Livonian Noble Corporation in the Governorate of Livonia. It was designed by architects Robert Pflug, a Baltic-German and Jānis Baumanis, the first academically trained Latvian architect in the neo-Renaissance style with an Eclectic finish.[1] Construction began in 1863 and was completed in 1867 directly opposite St. James's Cathedral. The façade featured a niche containing a statue by Danish sculptor David Jensen of the Teutonic Landmeister Wolter von Plettenberg.
History
[edit]- Empire
In the Russian Empire, the Governorate of Livonia was administered with the co-operation of the Livonian Noble Corporation, the estate of nobility who owed fealty to the Emperor. The Noble Corporation, also known as the "knighthood" began at the dissolution of the Teutonic Order in Livonia in the 16th century, and comprised the leading representatives of the Baltic-German nobility who made up the ruling class in Latvia and Estonia until the First World War. The Landtag was never a democratic body.
- Latvian independence
After the People’s Council declared Latvian independence on 18 November 1918 the building served as its home, except for the period during 1919 when the All-Latvian Congress of Workers' Soviet Deputies of the Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic controlled Riga. After the socialist republic was defeated, the building became the seat of the Constitutional Assembly elected in 1920. On 17 October 1921, the building was destroyed by fire. It was restored according to the design of the architect Eižens Laube. The restoration included a new statue by sculptor Rihards Maurs of Lāčplēsis the "bear-slayer", from the Latvian epic of the same name, replacing the statue of von Plettenberg which was destroyed in the fire. At the time of the building's restoration the main assembly hall was modified to meet the needs of the Saeima of the new Republic of Latvia. The Saeima chamber today still approximates this design. The last meeting of the Constitutional Assembly, which wrote the Constitution of Latvia took place in the restored building on 3 November 1922.
- Authoritarian régime
The building served as the home of the Saeima until a self-coup by serving Prime Minister Kārlis Ulmanis in 1934. Ulmanis assumed the title of President in 1936 and the continuous dissolution of the Saeima served the purposes of his authoritarian régime, the building was instead to house the presidential administration.
- Occupation
During the Second World War, after Latvia was occupied, the building was the location of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR under the Soviets and the headquarters of the SS and police for the Eastern territories under Nazi Germany. Latvia remained under Soviet occupation after the war and the building served as the location of the Supreme Soviet for almost half a century. In the early 1980s one of the inner courtyards was walled in to expand building space, this part of the building is now known as the Voting Room.
- Restoration of independence
After the restoration of independence on May 4, 1990, the building was home to the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia, which functioned as an interim parliament until the Constitution was fully re-established with the election of the next Saeima. Since 1993 it is once again home to Latvia's parliament. In 1996, the vestibule and the large marble staircase were repainted to create an impression closer to Eclectic style. In 1997, the Plenary Chamber was renovated by architect Andris Veidemanis in cooperation with SIA AIG.
Gallery
[edit]-
Plenary Chamber
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Yellow Room
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Red Room
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White Room
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Voting Room
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Brown Room
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Grand Staircase
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Main entrance on Klostera Street
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Klostera Street and St. James's Cathedral
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Building in Winter
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View along Jēkaba Street
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Statue of Lāčplēsis. Destroyed circa 1950s, restored 2007.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Main building of the Saeima". 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
External links
[edit] Media related to Main building of the Saeima at Wikimedia Commons
- Buildings and structures in Riga
- Legislative buildings in Europe
- Government of Latvia
- Tourist attractions in Riga
- Government buildings completed in 1867
- Landmarks in Latvia
- Seats of national legislatures
- Livonian nobility
- Buildings and structures destroyed by arson
- Saeima
- 1867 establishments in the Russian Empire
- Government buildings in Latvia