Port city on the Baltic Sea within the Gulf of Riga, now capital of Latvia. Between the 13th and 17th centuries, Riga was a member of the Hanseatic League, thereafter variously allied until annexed to the Russian Empire prior to World War I. Assigned to Germany under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918, it became the capital of an independent Latvia later that year.

Occupied by Germany during World War II, its Jews deported to camps, Riga became part of the Soviet Union in 1945, Latvia regaining independence in 1991.