| Ako | |
| Livonian Ruler | |
| Reign: | 1203 - 1206 |
| Successor: | Caupo |
| Birth Date: | 12th century |
| Death Date: | June 4, 1206 |
| Death Place: | Salaspils, Latvia |
| Religion: | Paganism |
Ako was a Livonian ruler and elder of from modern-day Salaspils who fought during the Livonian Crusade against the German crusaders and the Livonian Brothers of the Sword in the beginning of the 13th century. In June 4, 1206, Ako died during the Battle of Salaspils, and as a result of the death, his head was brought to Riga for Albert of Riga as a sign of victory against Ako.[1]
In 1203 Ako started a rebellion against the Livonian Brothers of the Sword located in Livonian Daugava and Turaida, and asked for help for Vladimir, the prince of Polotsk and the Lithuanians, but Ako's plans failed and the Germans with the help from Caupo, defeated the natives of Turaida and Daugava. Because the prince of Polotsk didn't arrive on time, the Livonian elders in shackles were thrown into the Riga Castle, villages were burned, fields and crops were destroyed, the inhabitants ran into the forest, the ones that didn't escape in time were killed.[2] [3] [4] [5]
The Battle of Salaspils started on June 4, 1206, Ako with soldiers from Salaspils, Turaida and Lithuania fought against Albert of Riga with soldiers from Teutonic Order, Livonian Brothers of the Sword and Christianized Livonians. Ako and his army gathered in the Salaspils castle and according the Crusaders were planning to attack Riga. Albert of Riga with about 150 soldiers attacked the castle, at the end the crusaders won capturing Salaspils and killing Ako.
In 1852 (646 years after Ako's death) it was reported that in the fall of 1851, a stone covered in moss was discovered in Salaspils and was about 98 cm high and weighed around 780 kg.[6] Stonemason Pauls Ádolfs Häke (1817–1867) bought it from a farmer because he wanted to use it as a tombstone. When cleaning the rock, he realized that it was artificially shaped as a face having eyes, eyebrows, a nose, a mouth with the corners of the lips turned down. Later that year the stonemason donated the rock to a museum.
Later in 1926 a photo appeared on a magazine "The Sun of Latvia" (Latvian: "Latvijas Saule") with a note saying the rock was buried in the courtyard of the Dom,[7] then 74 years later in the fall of 2000 the rock was dug up and placed cross aisle of the Dom. In 2004 a copy of the rock was made by Ģirts Burvis and installed in Livonian Square, Riga.[8]
The memorial monument was arranged in 1994, also created by Ģirts Burvis and is located in Mārtiņsala. The monument is dedicated to the commemoration of the Livonians fighting during the Battle of Salaspils (1206) led by Ako against the crusaders, since the island was a significant place for the Livonians around the 10th - 13th century.
The monument was reconstructed in 2013 and the landscape design of the territory was established in 2014. And a bit further along from the monument are information stands about the history of the river before the construction of the Riga Hydroelectric Power Plant.[9] [10]
According to the Icelandic text of Egil's Saga and the 12th century historical chronicle of the Gesta Danorum, Ako's name could be originated from the Vikings, and a Danish King called Aki occurs in both of the texts. (Swedish: Ake, Åke, Danish: Aage, German: Ago).