The indigenous Livonians (Līvi), who had been paying tribute to the East Slavic Principality of Polotsk, and were often under attack by their southern neighbours the Semigallians, at first considered the Low Germans (Saxons) to be useful allies.
Autohtoni Livonci (Livi), koji su bili plaćali porez na istočnoslavenskoj kneževini Polotsk, a često su bili pod napadima svojih južnih susjeda Semigalijanaca, isprva su smatra niske Nijemce (Sase) korisnim saveznicima.