Nameisis

Nameisis

 

ruler of the Zemgalians during the 1270’s and 1280’s. In the spring of 1279, taking advantage of a military defeat of the Livonian Order in a battle with Lithuania near Aizkraukle, Nameisis led a Zemgalian revolt against the order. The Zemgalians liberated their capital, Tērvete, from its German garrison in 1279, repulsed Livonian attacks against Dobele castle, and undertook a campaign against Riga. In the summer of 1281, the Livonian Order overcame the resistance of the insurgents, forcing Nameisis to flee to Lithuania. In the autumn of 1281, Nameisis commanded the Lithuanian troops that invaded the territory controlled by the Teutonic Order and took Christ-burg castle, on the lower reaches of the Vistula.