Albert of Riga

Albert of Riga was a 12th-century German crusader and missionary who founded the city of Riga in present-day Latvia, around 1201. He played a significant role in Christianizing the Baltic region, leading military campaigns against pagan tribes and establishing churches and schools. As a bishop and leader of the Livonian Crusade, Albert helped spread Christianity and German culture in the area. His efforts laid the foundation for Riga becoming a major medieval trading hub, blending religious conquest with regional development.