Livonia (English spelling)

Japanese: リボニア（英語表記）Livonia

The historical regional name used for the whole of the Republic of Latvia north of the Dvina River basin, overlooking the Gulf of Riga, and the southern part of the Republic of Estonia south of Lake Peipus. The name is derived from the Finno-Ugric Livians, who were the indigenous people. Later, Estonians, mainly Latvians, settled in the area, but from the 12th century onwards, Danes and Germans actively colonised the area, and from the 13th to the 16th centuries, the Teutonic Knights ruled the area, centering on Riga. Immediately after the outbreak of the Livonian War (1558-83), the Knights were dissolved and the area became part of Poland, but there was a continuous struggle with Russia, which was planning to advance into the Baltic Sea, and in the 17th century, most of the area, except for the part adjacent to Courland, became Swedish territory from Poland. After that, there was repeated struggle between Russia, Poland and Sweden for the area, but after the Treaty of Nystad in 1721, it was annexed by Russia.

Livonia
Livonia

A city in southeastern Michigan, United States. Located on the western outskirts of the industrial city of Detroit, it was a farming village since its founding in 1835, but after World War II, industry flourished and it rapidly developed as a residential area. It is home to Madonna Women's College and the Detroit Racecourse. Population 100,850 (1990).

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

ドビナ川流域以北，リガ湾にのぞむラトビア共和国全土とペイプス湖以南のエストニア共和国南部にわたって用いられた歴史上の地方名。フィン＝ウゴル系の先住民リーブ人 Livsに由来し，その後ラトビア人を主体にエストニア人の入植をみたが，12世紀以降はデンマーク人とドイツ人の植民が積極化し，13～16世紀にはリガを中心にドイツ騎士団が支配。リボニア戦争 (1558～83) の開戦直後に騎士団が解体されてポーランド領になったが，バルト海進出を意図するロシアと争奪戦が続き，17世紀に入りクールラントの隣接部分を除きその大部分はポーランドからスウェーデン領となった。以後，ロシア，ポーランド，スウェーデンの3国間で争奪が繰返されたが，1721年のニスタットの和約以降はロシアに併合された。