Livonian Confederation - Definition

The Livonian Confederation was a loosely organized alliance in present-day Estonia and Latvia that existed from 1228 to 1560s. It contained five small states (The State of the Livonian Order, the the Archbishopric of Riga, Bishopric of Dorpat, Ösel–Wiek and Courland). This division was created by Papal Legate William of Modena in 1228 as a compromise between the church and powerful Livonian Order after German knights had conquered territories of several tribes: Finnic speaking Estonians and Livs and Baltic speaking Letts,Selonians,Semigallians and Curonians. The theoretical formula for dispersing the lands was one-third to the Order and the remaining two-thirds to the church. In reality, most of the Livonian territory was controlled by the Order and conflicts between order, bishops and powerful Hanseatic cities were common during all three centuries. To solve internal disputes, Livonian Diet or Landtag was formed in 1419. The city of Walk was chosen as a site of the Diet. The Diet contained members of the Livonian Order,Livonian Bishops, vassals and city representatives. All the five states of Livonian Confederation ceased to exist during the Livonian War. In 1561, the Livonian Diet decided to ask protection from Sigismund II Augustus.