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In the 800s, the Vikings raided Latvia. In the 900s, the Russian Forces attacked Latvia several times. The Teutonic Knights were an organization of German crusaders. They invaded Latvia in the 1200s. The Latvians finally surrendered in the late 1200s. The knights then governed Latvia for over 200 years. Latvia was part of a larger state called Livonia. By 1562, most of Latvia had come under the rule of Poland and Lithuania. In 1621, Sweden conquered northern Latvia. In 1710, Russia took control over this area. By 1800 Russia ruled all of Latvia, but German merchants and landowners in Latvia continued to hold much political power.
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