Academic CentreThe ninth Scholarly Readings of Young Historians took place on 1 and 2 December 2023 at the Valmiera Museum, comprising eight sessions with 31 participants. On the first day of the international conference, 13 presentations were held in English, and on the second day – 18 in Latvian. Young researchers from Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, as well as French and Croatian memory, higher education and scientific research institutions offered the results of their research to everyone present. For the first time, several doctoral students studying outside the Baltic states participated in the readings, highlighting questions for a wider discussion about the future development of the scientific event. Moreover, approaching the 10th year of the conference, there was an obvious transition phase, when several speakers from previous years had become reliable chairs of the sessions.
The collection of articles includes research carried out by 18 young historians, although the number of initial submissions was higher. The conference organizers over the years consistently strive to offer a learning opportunity in reporting and elaboration of publications, however, this process has never been implemented with one template for everyone, and the achieved result has always primarily depended on the author. More than 35 experienced professionals in various fields from Latvia and abroad have selflessly contributed to quality improvement, anonymously reviewing all publications. The compilers of the collection express their deepest gratitude for the time and energy invested by the reviewers. The development of each article requires extensive work, therefore, appreciating the perseverance and desire of the authors to gain experience, we offer interdisciplinary articles on various historical topics from prehistory to the 20th century.
Mg. hist. Justīne Timermane focuses on the commemorative traditions of a particular region in the Central Sweden during the Viking Age. The author observes numerous similarities between runestones and gravestones in Östergötland. She found two parallel practices that reflected the understanding of Christianity by different groups in society, and the readiness to accept changes.
Jérôme Casali, a doctoral student at the Aix-Marseille University, has explored the renewal of views based on the teachings of Thomas Aquinas in the 19th and 20th centuries. Looking at a predominantly French-speaking region of Europe, the author focuses on legal science and politics. In these areas, the representatives of neo-Thomism revised the nature of social relations and laws, setting the goal of achieving the common good.
Daugavpils University doctoral student Kaspars Strods examines the well-known, already folklorised gang of Ansis Kaupēns, using documents from preliminary investigations. Their content revealed several crimes committed and the level of the criminal’s cooperation with the investigators. At the same time, the traumatic impact of the war experience on A. Kaupēns’ psyche can also be detected.
Hélène Tabary, a doctoral student at the Aix-Marseille University, evaluates the understanding of work in liberal ideas in France during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This question aroused the author’s interest when looking at the invented right to work in France. It was found that, although liberalism created the conditions for a free labour market, the social structure of society in France did not allow these freedoms to be used.
UL doctoral student Diāna Hristenko analyses the activities of two Lithuanian Latvians, leaders of the Lithuanian Evangelical Lutheran Church in the difficult period from 1941 to 1951. Erikas Leijeris and Jonas Kalvanas were the leaders of the Lithuanian Evangelical Lutheran Consistory founded in Kaunas in 1941. The author concludes that the considered persons played an important role in the preservation of the church during the sovietization.
Jean-Charles Pelao-Radiņš, a doctoral student at the Aix-Marseille University, provides an insight into the issues of diplomatic immunity from a legal and historical perspective. The author points out the lack of a theoretical framework in law and various problems in understanding and observing this principle in practice. As an example, the author viewed the experience of the Latvian envoy in France after the occupation of Latvia.
James Montgomery Baxenfield, a doctoral student at the Tallinn University, has focused on unrealized state-building projects – the idea of a Latvian-Lithuanian state. Experiencing transformations, it continued to exist throughout the period considered by the author (from 1884 to 1984). It was concluded that the peak of the idea’s popularity was in the last years of the First World War.
UL master’s student Enija Zaķe focuses on the study of landscape of burial sites in the Lubāns Plain during the Iron Age. It was concluded that the location of burial sites was influenced by climate changes, population trends and the development of agriculture. There are also differences between cultural and ethnic groups.
UL master’s student Kaspars Markus Molls examines the potential of waterways in Western Courland in terms of cultural and exchange connections from the 9th to the 11th centuries. By studying the examples of Užava, Rīva and Saka, the author finds that navigability was not the only factor in the use of these rivers. Based on archaeological evidence, Užava waterway was the most used in intercultural relations.
At the centre of Bc. hist. Antra Kozlova’s interests is the motif of clasped hands in jewellery. Her research is dedicated to the jewellery found in the archaeological excavations of the Tukums church cemetery (in operation from 14th to 18th centuries). The author assumes that these specimens of jewellery had a symbolic meaning related to betrothal and marriage.
Mg. hist. Germans Ļebezovs evaluates the activity of the Legislative Commission of the Russian Empire in 1767 and 1768, by looking at the privileges of the Baltic provinces. It was established that representatives from the Baltics defended their interests in the Commission. Meanwhile, opponents offered diverse arguments in favour of legislative unification.
Daugavpils University master’s student Andris Uškāns analyses the development of Rēzekne in the 18th and 19th centuries by using the available copies of the city’s general plan approved in 1778. The differences in the information contained therein made it possible to identify various complications in urban planning. Some parts of the old town today roughly correspond to the 1778 general plan.
UL doctoral student Beāte Lielmane studies the building regulations of the first half of the 19th century, detailedly considering the issue of Riga’s suburbs. The author finds a fundamental influence of military requirements on city’s growth opportunities. Significant differences in building regulations between Inner Riga and the suburbs hindered even development of the city.
UL master’s student Andris Gailis provides an insight into the economic history on an important issue regarding the electricity supply in Latvia from 1919 to 1940. The author observes that significant national electrification plans were made to create a unified power grid. Although some of the plans failed to be implemented, it was concluded that the state’s activities in this area were generally successful.
Mg. hist. Laura Kļaviņa examines the regime of the Bolsheviks – Iskolat – in Valmiera district, by studying the arrests and deportation of the population in February 1918. The publication explains that the repressions were mostly ideologically motivated and were effectuated in a hurry. Taking into account the usual description in Latvian historiography of deportations carried out by the USSR, the author highlights the older history of this form of terror in the territory of Latvia.
UL master’s student Samanta Fiļimonova describes the operation of the Latvian Chamber of Courts in the Republic of Latvia until the Kārlis Ulmanis dictatorship. As one of the main judicial authorities, it performed fundamental functions in the qualitative operation and development of the justice system. The author highlighted the importance of the Scientific Institute of Forensic Expertise and its excellent work in the analysis of evidence and drawing conclusions.
UL doctoral student Baiba Pazāne evaluates the activity of Latvian Orthodox parishes in the 1920s and 1930s, focusing on one of the largest parishes as an example. The author finds that due to the agrarian reform, the parishes had to face challenges in the preservation of real estate. Furthermore, securing members of the clergy also caused complications.
Monta Gintere, a master’s student at the Art Academy of Latvia, presents the life and creative work of Latvian Army officer Herberts Mangolds. The author concludes that both romanticized nationalism and fantasy themes can be observed in the artist’s work. The article highlights creative work engendered in exile as an important historical source.
The collection of articles has been supported by a wide range of people. We express our special gratitude to the Richards Zariņš Memorial Foundation and Professor Ēriks Jēkabsons. We also highly appreciate the support provided by the University of Latvia Press and the work of Elita Egle, information specialist of the Institute of Latvian History, in the preparation of the collection. The publications of young historians are available in printed and electronic form with open access at the UL Repository.
Ginta Ieva Bikše
UL Institute of Latvian History