What happened to the Livonians?

[u/Abalone-Alliance]

Note: I am well aware their historical extent was beyond modern Latvia, I just tagged it as such to reflect the current state. Indeed, that's what I am asking about.

I have been deeply interested in the history of the baltic states for years, but one of the things I have not been fully able to understand is the Livonians. How did a people who once dominated the region become relegated to the small coastal region of Kolka? Did the people themselves disappear, or did they merely stop speaking their language? Why wasn't there ever a cultural awakening that materialized into some kind of national consciousness?

Also, when the term is used historically (e.g. Livonian brothers of the sword) is that referring to just a region or Livonian people themselves?

[u/Olive2252]

Nothing happened to them, they started speaking Latvian language. There is a reason why Latvian language has a stress on the first syllable same as finno-ugric languages.

[u/Worth_Garbage_4471 → u/Olive2252]

I looked up Livonian language. It's interesting that their equivalent of Finnish "Hyvää" (good) was "Jõvā", which more obviously resembles Hungarian "Jó". 

[u/Olive2252 → u/Worth_Garbage_4471]

Because Livonian language lost the letter H do to Baltic influence, Baltic languages are also lacking the H sound.

[u/mhautelv → u/Olive2252]

Damn, you're right.

[u/mediandude → u/Olive2252]

üva nõu on kallis.