Kaupo

Caupo of Turaida, also known as Kaupo, was a leader of the Finnic-speaking Livonian people in the early 13th century, in what is now Latvia and Estonia. He is sometimes referred to as a "King of Livonia," and the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia describes him as quasi rex, or "like a king."

Caupo was the first notable Livonian to be named. He was most likely baptized in 1191 by Theoderic of Turaida, a preacher who later became abbot of Daugavgriva Abbey. He became a devout Christian and a friend of Albert of Buxhoeveden, Bishop of Riga, who took him to Rome and introduced him to Pope Innocent III in 1203-1204. The converted pagan chief impressed the Pope, who presented him with a Bible and a hundred gold pieces. When Caupo returned from his journey, his tribe revolted against him, and in 1212, he took part in a siege of his former fortress in Turaida. The wooden fort was rebuilt out of brick and stone two years later, closer to its current surviving form.

Caupo was killed in the Battle of St. Matthew's Day in 1217 while fighting against the troops of Estonian leader Lembitu of Lehola. Caupo had no male heirs because his son Bertold was killed in the Battle of Ümera in 1210. He bequeathed his estate to the church, but the Lieven and Koskull families later claimed female ancestry from him.