Caupo of Turaida (year of birth unknown; died on September 21, 1217) Livonian leader in the beginning of the 13th century. Sometimes called 'King of Livonia'. Chronicle of Henry of Livonia calls him 'quasi rex', 'like a king'.
He was the first prominent Livonian to be christened. He was probably baptized around 1191 by a priest Theoderic. He became an ardent Christian and friend of Albert of Buxhoeveden, Bishop of Riga, who took him 1203-1204 all the way to Rome and intoduced him to the Pope Innocent III. The Pope was impressed of the converted pagan chief and presented him a manuscript Bible. When he returned from travel, his tribe rebelled against him and Caupo helped to conquer and destoy his own former castle of Turaida in 1212. The castle was rebuilt two years later as a stone castle that is well preserved.
He participated in crusader raid against pagan Estonians and was killed in the following Battle of St. Matthew's Day in September, 1217 against Estonian pagan chief Lembitu. He did not have any male heirs as his son Bertold was killed in battle of Ymera against Estonians. He left his inheritance to the church.
Modern Estonians and Latvians do not have consensus about the role of Caupo. Some consider him traitor and enemy agent. Others consider him visionary leader who wanted his people to be part of West European culture.
