(Livonian, Riiga; Esthonian, Ria Linn), a fortified and seaport town of Russia, next to St Petersburg the most important place in the empire for maritime commerce, capital of the government of Livonia, stands near the mouth of the Düna, here 3000 feet broad, at the head of the Gulf of Riga or Livonia, about 180 miles N.E. of Königsberg, and 312 S.W. of St Petersburg. It is walled, entered by seven gates, and defended by a citadel. The town proper, inclosed within the walls, is quite German in character, with narrow, crooked streets, and houses with pointed roofs; but the suburbs, which cover a wide extent of ground on both sides of the river, have all a Russian appearance, having broad, straight streets, lined with wooden houses. Of the two imperial palaces, one, the oldest building in the place, was till 1561 the residence of the master of the Brethren of the Sword (Schwerterbrüder), an order of knighthood which preceded the Teutonic in these countries. The beautiful hall where the estates of Livonia used to meet, the bomb-proof custom-house, council-hall, guild-hall, three arsenals, and theatre are among the principal buildings. The cathedral contains the tombs of the early bishops of Riga, and the church of St Peter has a fine dome and a tower 440 feet high, the loftiest in Russia, commanding a fine view of the Baltic, the broad, mast-covered Düna, the dark pine forests of Curland on the left, and the endless expanse of sand which forms the eastern shore of the Gulf of Riga. There are another Greek church, 3 Lutheran, 1 Reformed, and 1 Roman Catholic. The public library contains a chair of Charles XII., several letters of Luther, a cannon-ball said to have been fired by Peter the Great, and other curiosities. In front of the palace is a large square containing a granite column with a bronze figure of Victory, to commemorate the repulse of a French force from the town in 1812. There are spacious quays on both sides of the river, which is crossed by a bridge of boats; and an extensive harbour is formed by the 5 miles of its course between the town and the Gulf of Riga. The town has a grammar school, school of navigation, several elementary and other schools, literary and scientific associations, and benevolent institutions. The manufactures of Riga are numerous and important, including tobacco, sugar, leather, paper, starch, wool, cotton, playing-cards, &c. Gypsum is quarried in the vicinity. The trade by sea is very great. Corn, linseed, hemp, flax, and timber are the principal articles of export. The number of vessels that entered in 1851 was 1706, and those that cleared 1720. The total value of the imports in 1851 was £807,928, and in 1852 £795,576; that of the exports in the former year £2,271,395, and in the latter £2,327,926.

Riga was founded about the year 1200 by Adalbert, Bishop of Livonia, who was the founder of the order of Brethren of the Sword. This order obtained possession of Esthonia and Livonia, and were afterwards united with the Teutonic Knights. The city, which was mostly inhabited by Germans from Lubeck and Bremen, rapidly rose in wealth and influence; and in the thirteenth century became a member of the Hanseatic League. Riga was taken in 1621 by Gustavus Adolphus, and in 1710, after a vigorous resistance, by Peter the Great. On the latter occasion more than half of the town was destroyed; and in 1812 the suburbs and part of the town were burnt. It has suffered at several other times from floods and conflagrations. Pop. 70,463.