Zemgalians

(Zemgals, Zemigols), an ancient Latvian tribe. The group lived in the central part of Latvia, in the valley of the Lielupe River and its tributaries. In language, the Zemgalians are closely related to the ancient Latgals. From the 11th to the 13th century, the clan structure disintegrated and feudal relations were established. The Zemgalians were mostly farmers. In the 13th century the group fought the Germans persistently but fell under the control of the Livonian Knights in 1290. Subsequently the Zemgalians together with other ancient Latvian tribes merged into the Latvian nation.