THE MEDIEVAL CASTLE OF ERGEME

Plan of Ergeme Castle, 1773.

(From the book by Broce J.K.
“Drawings and descriptions”, vol.4, Riga, 2007.)

THE MEDIEVAL CASTLE OF ERGEME

History

The Medieval Castle of Ergeme
(German: Schloβ Ermes) was a castle of the Livonian Order on the right bank of the Ergeme, which is a tributary of the Seda river, near the border with the Bishopric of Dorpat (Tartu). Impressive castle ruins with a round corner tower have survived to this day.

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The building ceramics
and building
ironwork

The ruins of Ergeme Castle.
Drawn by Johann Ludwig Boerger, 1773.
(From the book by Broce J.K. “Drawings and descriptions”,
vol.4, Riga, 2007.)

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The building ceramics
and building
ironwork

The 14th-15th centuries

The exact year of construction of Ergeme Castle is unknown, it could have been built around 1320 by order of Gerhard von Jork (alternatively Gerhard II or Conrad von Jocke or Conrad von Jorke), Master of the Livonian Order. The Castle was first mentioned in writings in 1323, when the Cathedral Chapter (Domkapitel) of the Livonian Order negotiated a peace treaty with the Grand Duke of Lithuania.

Ergeme castle was built as a Livonian Order as an auxiliary castle for the Cēsis Commandry. It was directly subordinated to the Masters and was used as a warehouse, support point and for accommodation.

The Castle was one of the main fortifications on the eastern border of Livonia. It housed living quarters for soldiers, food and ammunition depots, and utility rooms.

The Castle of the Order was built of local boulders, bricks and lime mortar as a rectangular fortification with four wings around the inner courtyard, and in the 15th century it was supplemented with two fortification towers. It was possible to enter the courtyard of the Castle through a semi-circular tower using a gate with lifting iron bars. Outside the Castle a paved road led to a drawbridge built over the Ergeme river. The Castle was protected by water-filled ditches, the Ergeme river and its flooding.

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Dishes

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Weapons and
armaments

The Castle was one of the main fortifications on the eastern border of Livonia. It housed living quarters for soldiers, food and ammunition depots, and utility rooms.

View of the ruins of Ergeme Castle from the south.
Drawn by M. Horeb, 1805.
(From the book by Broce J.K. “Drawings and descriptions”,
vol.4, Riga, 2007.)

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Household
accessories

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Household
accessories

The 16th-18th century

During the devastating wars of the 16th-18th centuries, the Medieval Castle of Ergeme several times came under control of both the Poles and the Swedes.

In 1562 Ergeme was taken by the Poles and Sigismund II Augustus, Duke of Livonia leased the castle district of Ergeme to Johan III, Duke of Finland.

In 1575 Ergeme was occupied by Magnus, King of Livonia, and in 1578 by Polish-Lithuanian troops.

During the Polish-Swedish war (1600-1629), in 1621, the Castle of Ergeme was conquered by the Swedes.

In 1625 Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden granted it as a fief to Major General Wilhelm de la Barre, whose family owned the manor of Ergeme until 1795.

In 1658 the Castle was again occupied by the Poles, who looted and burned it.

In 1670 a fire broke out in the Castle and afterwards it became partially uninhabited.

During the Great Northern War (1700-1721), after the Battle of Omuli (Homeln, Hummel), in July 1702 the castle was destroyed and blown up by Swedish soldiers.

In the second half of the 18th century the walls of the castle were still quite well preserved, and a grain reserve store (granary) was located on the eastern side.