House of the Blackheads

In 1201, Riga was founded as the new Bishopric of Livonia when Bishop Albert arrived from Bremen with a congregation of Crusaders. Less than a century later, the city's important location as a harbor at the mouth of the Daugava River and beginning of a route connecting the Baltic to the Black Sea and Constantinople was recognized and the city joined the Hanseatic League of trading cities. In grew quickly and prospered commercially. A century later, Riga's many merchant and artisanal guilds joined as the brotherhood of the Blackheads, named after their patron saint, St.Maurice who is typically depicted as a black knight. Since then, the home for this brotherhood has been the House of the Blackheads which has maintained a position of importance in the city throughout the centuries. Only the foundation of the House of the Blackheads remained following the 20th century wars and occupation but, since then, it has been perfectly restored and now offers visitors a look into the decadence enjoyed by Riga's elite in centuries past.