The chronicle describes it as a rich fortified city with gates, Orthodox churches with bells and holy images, and the castle had silver jewelry and purple. In 1209, it was taken by Bishop Albert, and in 1212, in the Jersika Castle, Bishop Albert and Prince Valdemar of Polotsk concluded a treaty of friendship and trade, by which the Polotsk state renounced its rights to Letija and Livland in favor of the Livonian Diocese and “closed” the Daugava trade route to German merchants.