Brothers' Cemetery (Riga)
Encyclopedia
The Brothers' Cemetery or Cemetery of the Brethren , also sometimes referred to in English
as the Common Graves or simply as the Military Cemetery, is a military cemetery and national monument in Riga
, capital of Latvia
.
The cemetery is a memorial to and burial ground for thousands of Latvian soldiers who were killed between 1915 and 1920 in World War I
and the Latvian War of Independence.
It was built as an integrated combination of sculpture and landscaping between 1924 and 1936, to designs by the sculptor Kārlis Zāle
, many of whose sculptures feature prominently, by the architects P. Feders, A. Birzenieks, P. Kundziņš, the landscape gardener Andrejs Zeidaks, the sculptors J. Cirulis and F. Valdmanis and others.
s in northeastern Riga, 5 kilometers from the city center. It borders the First Forest Cemetery and Rainis Cemetery. The memorial expresses national gratitude to the fallen heroes through cultural references to the Latvian nation. The main gate of the cemetery is 10 meters high and 32 meters wide. To either side of the entrance, on 2 meter high platforms, is a sculptural group 3.3 meters high representing a pair of dying ancient Latvian horsemen. The riders and horses in the righthand sculptural group have straight stances; one of the horses has its head thrown back, and upward movement dominates in the group. This is in contrast to the lefthand group, which is dominated by downward movement as expressed through the bowed heads of the riders and horses; the riders have lowered their shields and the flags they are carrying. Above the entrance the dates 1915 (when the first burials in the cemetery were made) and 1920 (the last year of the Latvian War of Independence) are displayed; between the two dates the gate is decorated with the coat of arms of Latvia
. From the main entrance the 205 meters long Road of Thoughts leads through an avenue of linden
trees to the Terrace of Heroes, encircled by an oak grove planted in 1923. The terrace, paved with slabs of tufa
, is about 73 meters wide and 78 meters long; in its center is placed the 1 meter high altar of eternal fire. As the Terrace of Heroes rises above the Road of Thoughts it hides from sight the central burial ground, which is on a lower level than the Road of Thoughts, until one has crossed the terrace, which thus provides a panorama of the burial ground and forms a barrier between the worlds of the living and of the dead.
received a request to set aside burial grounds, which could later form a separate cemetery, for soldiers killed in action during World War I
. The dunes next to the Forest Cemetery were chosen for the purpose. The first soldiers buried there, on 15 October 1915, were J. Stūris, A. Havernass and I. Timms. As the war continued, more and more burials were made, and it soon became necessary to plan them so that the graveyard could be extended to meet the continuing need. Such a plan was made by Andrejs Zeidaks, then the head gardener of the city.
In 1920 a committee for overseeing cemeteries and battle fields from the war
was formed, which became responsible for the development of the Brothers' Cemetery. The development of the memorial can thus be roughly divided into two periods. First was the period of landscape development, which lasted until 1923, when the landscaping was developed according to Zeidaks' ideas. Meanwhile the architectonic and artistic development of the cemetery was being discussed. In 1921 and in 1922 two closed design contests took place. The sculptor Kārlis Zāle
, who was visiting Riga to participate in the design contest for the Freedom Monument
, was invited to take part in the second contest for the cemetery as well. He won, and the second phase of development began, which lasted until 1936. In this period the landscaping was supplemented by architectonic and sculptural elements to form a unified ensemble in accordance with Zāle's design. The architectural works were directed by P. Feders; the architect A. Birznieks and the sculptors M. Šmalcs, N. Maulics and P. Banders were also involved.
The foundation stone of the memorial was laid on 18 November 1924. The first sculptural group, of dying horsemen, was unveiled on 20 November 1927, the second on 2 September 1928. The famous sculpture of Mother Latvia and her dead sons was unveiled on 13 October 1929. Construction of the main gates began in 1930. Statues of soldiers with shields symbolizing the four regions of Latvia were carved later. In 1936 the coats of arms of the 19 districts and the 59 cities of Latvia were carved in the wall of the cemetery. The cemetery was formally dedicated as a memorial on 11 November 1936 in the presence of the then President of Latvia and the government.
and of holders of the Lāčplēsis War Order
, awarded for extraordinary merit during the Latvian War of Independence.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as the Common Graves or simply as the Military Cemetery, is a military cemetery and national monument in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, capital of Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
.
The cemetery is a memorial to and burial ground for thousands of Latvian soldiers who were killed between 1915 and 1920 in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the Latvian War of Independence.
It was built as an integrated combination of sculpture and landscaping between 1924 and 1936, to designs by the sculptor Kārlis Zāle
Karlis Zale
Kārlis Zāle was a Latvian sculptor.Kārlis Zāle was born in Mažeikiai, Lithuania. After training in Russia and Germany he returned to Riga, where he both worked in sculpture and taught it. He is best known for his monumental sculptures, including the Brothers' Cemetery and the Freedom Monument in...
, many of whose sculptures feature prominently, by the architects P. Feders, A. Birzenieks, P. Kundziņš, the landscape gardener Andrejs Zeidaks, the sculptors J. Cirulis and F. Valdmanis and others.
Design
The cemetery consists of an area of 9 hectareHectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s in northeastern Riga, 5 kilometers from the city center. It borders the First Forest Cemetery and Rainis Cemetery. The memorial expresses national gratitude to the fallen heroes through cultural references to the Latvian nation. The main gate of the cemetery is 10 meters high and 32 meters wide. To either side of the entrance, on 2 meter high platforms, is a sculptural group 3.3 meters high representing a pair of dying ancient Latvian horsemen. The riders and horses in the righthand sculptural group have straight stances; one of the horses has its head thrown back, and upward movement dominates in the group. This is in contrast to the lefthand group, which is dominated by downward movement as expressed through the bowed heads of the riders and horses; the riders have lowered their shields and the flags they are carrying. Above the entrance the dates 1915 (when the first burials in the cemetery were made) and 1920 (the last year of the Latvian War of Independence) are displayed; between the two dates the gate is decorated with the coat of arms of Latvia
Coat of arms of Latvia
The Latvian national coat of arms was formed after the proclamation of an independent Republic of Latvia on November 18, 1918, and was officially adopted on June 16, 1921. It was especially created for its independent statehood...
. From the main entrance the 205 meters long Road of Thoughts leads through an avenue of linden
Tilia
Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The greatest species diversity is found in Asia, and the genus also occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but not western North America...
trees to the Terrace of Heroes, encircled by an oak grove planted in 1923. The terrace, paved with slabs of tufa
Tufa
Tufa is a variety of limestone, formed by the precipitation of carbonate minerals from ambient temperature water bodies. Geothermally heated hot-springs sometimes produce similar carbonate deposits known as travertine...
, is about 73 meters wide and 78 meters long; in its center is placed the 1 meter high altar of eternal fire. As the Terrace of Heroes rises above the Road of Thoughts it hides from sight the central burial ground, which is on a lower level than the Road of Thoughts, until one has crossed the terrace, which thus provides a panorama of the burial ground and forms a barrier between the worlds of the living and of the dead.
History
On 26 September 1914 Riga City CouncilRiga City Council
Riga City Council is the government of Riga City, the capital of Latvia. It is located in the Riga Town Hall at the Town Hall Square in the very heart of Riga....
received a request to set aside burial grounds, which could later form a separate cemetery, for soldiers killed in action during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The dunes next to the Forest Cemetery were chosen for the purpose. The first soldiers buried there, on 15 October 1915, were J. Stūris, A. Havernass and I. Timms. As the war continued, more and more burials were made, and it soon became necessary to plan them so that the graveyard could be extended to meet the continuing need. Such a plan was made by Andrejs Zeidaks, then the head gardener of the city.
In 1920 a committee for overseeing cemeteries and battle fields from the war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was formed, which became responsible for the development of the Brothers' Cemetery. The development of the memorial can thus be roughly divided into two periods. First was the period of landscape development, which lasted until 1923, when the landscaping was developed according to Zeidaks' ideas. Meanwhile the architectonic and artistic development of the cemetery was being discussed. In 1921 and in 1922 two closed design contests took place. The sculptor Kārlis Zāle
Karlis Zale
Kārlis Zāle was a Latvian sculptor.Kārlis Zāle was born in Mažeikiai, Lithuania. After training in Russia and Germany he returned to Riga, where he both worked in sculpture and taught it. He is best known for his monumental sculptures, including the Brothers' Cemetery and the Freedom Monument in...
, who was visiting Riga to participate in the design contest for the Freedom Monument
Freedom Monument
The Freedom Monument is a memorial located in Riga, Latvia honoring soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence . It is considered an important symbol of the freedom, independence, and sovereignty of Latvia...
, was invited to take part in the second contest for the cemetery as well. He won, and the second phase of development began, which lasted until 1936. In this period the landscaping was supplemented by architectonic and sculptural elements to form a unified ensemble in accordance with Zāle's design. The architectural works were directed by P. Feders; the architect A. Birznieks and the sculptors M. Šmalcs, N. Maulics and P. Banders were also involved.
The foundation stone of the memorial was laid on 18 November 1924. The first sculptural group, of dying horsemen, was unveiled on 20 November 1927, the second on 2 September 1928. The famous sculpture of Mother Latvia and her dead sons was unveiled on 13 October 1929. Construction of the main gates began in 1930. Statues of soldiers with shields symbolizing the four regions of Latvia were carved later. In 1936 the coats of arms of the 19 districts and the 59 cities of Latvia were carved in the wall of the cemetery. The cemetery was formally dedicated as a memorial on 11 November 1936 in the presence of the then President of Latvia and the government.
Burials
The cemetery contains more than 2,000 burials, mostly of soldiers who were killed between 1915 and 1920 in World War I and the Latvian War of Independence. It also contains, as reburials, a number of graves of Latvians killed during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and of holders of the Lāčplēsis War Order
Order of Lacplesis
The Order of Lāčplēsis, the first and the highest Latvian military award, was established in 1919 on the initiative of the Commander of Latvian Army, during the Latvian War of Independence, Jānis Balodis. The Lāčplēsis Order is awarded in the first, second and third class. Initially, a holder of...
, awarded for extraordinary merit during the Latvian War of Independence.
See also
- Great Cemetery Riga
- Kārlis ZāleKarlis ZaleKārlis Zāle was a Latvian sculptor.Kārlis Zāle was born in Mažeikiai, Lithuania. After training in Russia and Germany he returned to Riga, where he both worked in sculpture and taught it. He is best known for his monumental sculptures, including the Brothers' Cemetery and the Freedom Monument in...
- Latvian War of Independence
- Freedom MonumentFreedom MonumentThe Freedom Monument is a memorial located in Riga, Latvia honoring soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence . It is considered an important symbol of the freedom, independence, and sovereignty of Latvia...