RIGA 



with the Jews, controlled its com- 

 merce and industries. 



The city suffered during the war 

 and from the loss of the Russian 

 transit trade, which, owing to the 

 economic collapse of Russia under 

 Soviet rule, was only very partially 

 restored in 1921. Most of its in- 

 dustrial life was at a standstill, 

 while its population had fallen by 

 half and many of its buildings were 

 uninhabited. Few Germans re- 

 mained in it, and though there is 

 an increasing Lettish element the 

 bulk of the people are Jews. 

 Founded in 1201 by Albert I, bishop 

 of Livonia, Riga joined the Han- 

 seatic League in 1282, and, after 

 belonging to the Teutonic Knights, 

 passed successively into the hands 

 of Poland, 1582; Sweden, 1621; 

 and Russia, 1710. In 1918-19 it 

 became the seat of the Latvian 

 government, which has established 

 a Lettish university. 



Riga figured prominently in the 

 Great War. A force of Lettish 



662O 



troops of the Russian army was 

 organized in June, 1915, to resist 

 the German attacks on the city, 

 but the first, in Aug., failed. A 

 general offensive opened hi Oct., 

 and by the 20th the Germans had 

 advanced to Borkovitz on the 

 Dvina, about 12 m. from Riga. 

 On Oct. 25-26 severe fighting took 

 place at Uexhuell, 

 above Borkovitz, 

 in which the Ger- 

 mans were re- 

 pulsed, and their 

 attack was con- 

 tinued all through 

 that month. Early 

 in Nov. the Let- 

 tish troops, as- 

 sisted by the Rus- 

 sian Baltic fleet, 

 defeated and 

 drove back the 

 Germans, whose 

 great and costly 

 effort to take Riga 

 had failed. 



In the autumn 

 of 1917 the Ger- 

 mans begana fresh 

 offensive against 

 Riga, and after 

 defeating the 

 Russian and Lett- 

 ishforces occupied 

 the city on Sept. 3. 

 The independ- 

 ence of Latvia was 

 proclaimed in Riga, Nov., 1918. 

 The Bolshevists captured the city 

 in Jan., 1919, but with the aid of 

 German troops were expelled in 

 May. In June, Letts and Esthon- 

 ians attacked the latter, who had 

 taken possession. Under order of 

 the inter-allied mission in the 

 Baltic, the Germans evacuated 

 Riga. Here in 1921 the treaty of 

 peace between the Poles and Bol- 

 shevists was signed, the negotia- 

 tions having been transferred 



RIGAUD 



thither from Minsk. Pop., at the 

 census of 1921, 245,000. See, Latvia. 

 Riga, GULF OF. Large shallow 

 opening of the Baltic Sea. It is 

 90 m. long and 60 broad, and its 

 chief affluent is the Dvina. Its 

 shores form parts of the coasts 

 of the republics of Latvia and 

 Esthonia. Before its entrance lie 



Riga, Latvia. 



Greek Orthodox cathedral, built 1877-84. Top, left, Powder 

 Tower, remains of the old city fortress 



Riga. Plan of the Baltic seaport and harbour on the Dvina 



the Esthonian islands of Oesel and 

 Dago. A series of naval actions 

 was fought here between the Ger- 

 mans and the Russians, Oct. 12-21, 

 1917. See Oesel Island. 



Rigadoon OR RIGAHDON. French 

 dance. A somewhat lively but 

 complicated dance, traditionally 



said to have been invented by a 

 dancing master of Marseilles, 

 named Rigaud. Early in the 18th 

 century it was danced in England 

 to the tune of " Oh, Chloe, when I 

 prove my passion." It retained its 

 place as a favourite dance in Paris 

 until the Revolution, and is still 

 occasionally performed at French 

 village festivals. The music was in 

 either triple or quadruple time. 



Rigaud, HYACINTHE (1659- 

 1743). French painter. Born at 

 Perpignan, he studied at Mont- 

 pellier, and at the Academy, Paris. 

 In 1687 he was admitted to the 

 Academy as a portraitist, but did 

 not qualify as an historical painter 

 until 1700. In 1702 he became 

 assistant professor, in 1710 pro- 

 fessor, and in 1733 rector. He was 

 created a nobleman of Perpignan 

 in 1709, and died in Paris. Ri- 

 gaud's principal achievement was 

 in portraiture. Louis XIV, Philip 



