 Iecava lies 40 km south of Riga and 23 km north of Bauska and was mentioned in historical documents as early as 1492.The city was founded by Johann Freytag von Loringhoven in 1492.Although the village's Latvian name has always been Iecava, internationally it was known by its German name Gross Eckau until the beginning of the 20th century.