Iecava
Encyclopedia
Iecava is a village on the via Baltica
in Iecava municipality
, in the Zemgale region of southern Latvia
. The village has a population of around 5,000.
Although village's Latvian name has always been Iecava, internationally it was known by its German
name Gross Eckau until the beginning of 20th century. It was the scene of a victory over Russian forces by Prussian troops fighting for Napoleon during his invasion of Russian Empire
and was also the scene of fighting during the Second World War German retreat from the Soviet Union.
Iecava lies 40 km south of Riga
and 23 km north of Bauska
and was mentioned in historical documents as early as 1492.
South of the city centre lies a park around the former Iecava Estate of the Graf Pahlen family. Only the foundation walls and some yard buildings remain. The French General Marshal MacDonald
, who commanded the Prussian troops who were fighting as part of the Grand Armée, occupied the Gross-Eckau castle during the Napoleonic War with Russia.http://home.comcast.net/~juneblum/GrossEckau.htm
The church of Iecava dates from the 17th Century but was damaged in various wars and incidents from the Battle at Gross-Eckau 7 July 1812 http://home.comcast.net/~juneblum/GrossEckau.htm to the Second World War and a 1972 fire.
Prominent Latvians born there include Friedrich Wilhelm Matisohn (1871-1913) and Arvīds Pelše
(1899-1983).
In addition to farming, the town supports manufacturing enterprises including vegetable oil and white spirits.
European route E67
European route E 67 is a E-road running from Prague in the Czech Republic to Helsinki in Finland by way of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia....
in Iecava municipality
Iecava municipality
Iecava Municipality is a municipality in the historical region of Zemgale, and the Zemgale Planning Region in Latvia. The municipality was formed 2003 by a reorganization of Iecava Parish, the administrative centre being Iecava. The municipality consists of the following villages: Audrupi,...
, in the Zemgale region of southern 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 village has a population of around 5,000.
Although village's Latvian name has always been Iecava, internationally it was known by its German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
name Gross Eckau until the beginning of 20th century. It was the scene of a victory over Russian forces by Prussian troops fighting for Napoleon during his invasion of Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and was also the scene of fighting during the Second World War German retreat from the Soviet Union.
Iecava lies 40 km south of 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,...
and 23 km north of Bauska
Bauska
Bauska is a town in Bauska municipality, in the Zemgale region of southern Latvia. The town is situated at the confluence of the rivers Mūsa and Mēmele where they form the Lielupe River...
and was mentioned in historical documents as early as 1492.
South of the city centre lies a park around the former Iecava Estate of the Graf Pahlen family. Only the foundation walls and some yard buildings remain. The French General Marshal MacDonald
Étienne-Jacques-Joseph-Alexandre MacDonald
Étienne Jacques Joseph Alexandre MacDonald, 1st duke of Taranto was a Marshal of France and military leader during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.-Family background:...
, who commanded the Prussian troops who were fighting as part of the Grand Armée, occupied the Gross-Eckau castle during the Napoleonic War with Russia.http://home.comcast.net/~juneblum/GrossEckau.htm
The church of Iecava dates from the 17th Century but was damaged in various wars and incidents from the Battle at Gross-Eckau 7 July 1812 http://home.comcast.net/~juneblum/GrossEckau.htm to the Second World War and a 1972 fire.
Prominent Latvians born there include Friedrich Wilhelm Matisohn (1871-1913) and Arvīds Pelše
Arvids Pelše
Arvīds Pelše ; , Iecava, Bauska District, Latvia – May 29, 1983, Moscow) was a politician and functionary in the Soviet Union, an historian in his profession- Career :...
(1899-1983).
In addition to farming, the town supports manufacturing enterprises including vegetable oil and white spirits.