Aspazija was the pen name of Elza Rozenbergs. She was a very famous and important Latvian playwright, poet, author, feminist and political activist. Aspazija was born on the 16th of March 1865 in the village of Zaļenieki near the town of Jelgava in central Latvia. She was born at Daukšas farm to Dāvis Rozenvalds/Rozenbergs and Grieta Freimanis. Aspazija’s name in her baptism record was ‘Johanna Emilija Lizete Rozenvalds‘.

Aspazija was unusual in that her mother insisted that she be educated. She went to school in Jelgava where she fell in love with writing. She became a journalist in Riga and in 1894 her first plays were performed there. During the last years of the 19th century Aspazija met Jānis Pliekšāns (better known by the name Rainis). They were both involved in publications concerned with the Latvian National Awakening where Latvians were starting to assert their own language and identity. Latvia was part of the Russian Empire at this time and Russia saw this popular movement as dangerous and subversive. Rainis was sent to live in exile in inner Russia for 5 years from, 1897 to 1903 and Aspazija folowed him. Both of them continued to write poetry, plays and translations until Rainis was released.

In 1905, revolution erupted all over the Russian Empire, including Latvia. Tsar Nicholas II used force to quell these peasant rebellions which resulted in many casualties, deaths and arrests. In the wake of these events Rainis and Aspazija feld to Switzerland, where they stayed until 1920 when Latvia gained independence after WWI and the Russian Revolution.

Upon their triumphant return to Latvia (watch rare video footage Here), Aspazija was elected to the constitutional assembly. Rainis was even more involved with politics and tried to become Latvia’s first president but ended up not being successful. Rainis died in 1929. Aspazija lived a very private life in their home in the coastal town of Dubulti after her husband’s death. She died on the 5th of November 1943 and is buried in the Rainis cemetery in Riga.

There are monuments, statues, museums and streets all dedicated to Aspazija around the country. She is a national icon and a household name for Latvian people.

Her works are considered neo-romantic and contain much symbolism intricately connected to Latvian history and identity. She explores themes of feminism, class struggles and rebellion. There has not been much of her work translated into English unfortunately.