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The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (Latin: Ducatus Curlandiae et Semigalliae, German: Herzogtum Kurland und Semgallen) is the name of two different independent duchies: The Commonwealth around 1619 Official languages Polish, Latin Established church Roman Catholic Capital Cracow (until 1596) Warsaw (from 1596) Largest City Gdańsk, later Warsaw Head of state King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania Area about 1 million km² Population about 11 million Existed 1569 - 1795 The Polish...
Image File history File links Download high resolution version (364x601, 250 KB) Summary Herb Obojga Narodów Coat of arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth see also Image:PB PLC CoA.png Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects...
1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ...
Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...
Image File history File links Baltic_flag. ...
Official language German Capital Riga Regent Adolf Pilar von Pilchau Area ? km² Population ? Independance 12 April 1918 Admission 22 September 1918 (German State) National anthem ? The United Baltic Duchy (in German: Vereinigtes Baltisches Herzogtum) was a shortlived construct in 1918 made possible through Germanys occupation of Latvia and Estonia...
Image File history File links Duchy_of_Courland. ...
The tricolour flag of France A flag is a piece of cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used symbolically for signalling or identification. ...
A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ...
Download high resolution version (2000x1568, 268 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...
Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...
Year 1772 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...
This is a list of national capitals of the world in alphabetical order. ...
Jelgava (Russian: Ìèòàâà, Polish: Mitawa, German: Mitau) is a town in Western Latvia, best remembered as the former capital of the Duchy of Courland. ...
Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ...
The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins to the original Christian community founded by Jesus of Nazareth, with its traditions first established by the Twelve Apostles and...
Lutheranism is a movement within Christianity that began with the theological insights of Martin Luther in the 16th century. ...
Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ...
1769 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...
1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...
Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...
A legislature is a type of representative deliberative assembly with the power to adopt laws. ...
Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Franz...
March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in leap years). ...
Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...
Motto: Gott mit Uns (German: God with usâ€) Anthem: Heil dir im Siegerkranz (unofficial) Territory of the German Empire in 1914, prior to World War I Capital Berlin Language(s) Official: German Unofficial minority languages: Polish (Posen, Lower Silesia,Upper Silesia, Masuria) French (Alsace-Lorraine) Government Constitutional monarchy Emperor - 1871...
March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in Leap years). ...
Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...
September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ...
Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...
This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ...
Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ...
Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ...
ISO 4217 Code PLN User(s) Poland Inflation 2. ...
The name Papiermark (German: Paper mark) can be applied to the German currency from the point in 1914 when the link between the mark and gold was abandoned, due to the outbreak of the First World War. ...
Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...
A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess. ...
Events Earliest English slave-trading expedition under John Hawkins. ...
March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in leap years). ...
1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...
Anthem: God Save the Tsar! Russian Empire in 1913 Capital Saint Petersburg Language(s) Russian Government Monarchy Emperor - 1721-1725 Peter the Great - 1894-1917 Nicholas II History - Established 22 October, 1721 - February Revolution 2 March, 1917 Area - 1897 22,400,000 km2 8,648,688 sq mi Population - 1897...
March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in leap years). ...
September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ...
Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...
Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom France Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Charles de Gaulle Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian...
Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, 1562 - 1795 In 1562, during the Livonian Wars, the Livonian Confederation was dismembered and the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, an order of German knights, was disbanded. On the basis of the Wilno Pact, the southern part of Estonia and the northern part of Latvia were ceded to Poland and formed into the Ducatus Ultradunensis (Pārdaugavas hercogiste). The part of Latvia between the west bank of the Daugava River and the Baltic Sea became the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (Kurzemes un Zemgales hercogiste), nominally a vassal state of the Grand Duke of Lithuania. The Reformation reached Livonia in the 1520s. ...
The Livonian Confederation was a loosely organized alliance in present-day Estonia and Latvia that existed from 1228 to 1560s. ...
Livonian Brothers The Livonian Brothers of the Sword (Latin Fratres militiae Christi, literally the brothers of the army of Christ), also known as the Christ Knights, Sword Brethren or The Militia of Christ of Livonia, was a military order organized in 1202 by Albert of Buxhoeveden, bishop of Riga (or...
The Wilno Pact was an agreement reached on November 28, 1561 between Sigismund II Augustus and the Livonian Brothers of the Sword. ...
Ducatus Ultradunensis (Latin for Transdunian Duchy; Duna is an ancient name of the Daugava River) was the name given to part of Livonia by Zygmunt II August in 1566, after the dissolution of the Livonian Confederation. ...
River Daugava flowing through Riga city into the Baltic Sea The Daugava or Western Dvina (Latvian: Daugava, German Düna, Belarusan: ЗаходнÑÑ Ð”Ð·ÑŒÐ²Ñ–Ð½Ð°, Russian: ЗаÌÐ¿Ð°Ð´Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð”Ð²Ð¸Ð½Ð°Ì, Finnish Väinä) is a river rising in the Valdai Hills, flowing through Russia and Belarus, and then Latvia, draining into the Gulf of Riga, an arm of...
The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. ...
Zemgale (also historically known as Semigallia or Semigalia) is a historical region of Latvia and sometimes a part of Lithuania is also included. ...
The presumable banner of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with the coat of arms, called ÐŸÐ°Ð³Ð¾Ð½Ñ in Belarusian, Vytis in Lithuanian and PogoÅ„ in Polish Another version of the Lithuanian banner The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Didžioji KunigaikÅ¡tystÄ—, Belarusian: Ð’ÑліÌкае КнÑÌÑтва ЛітоÌÑžÑкае (ВКЛ), Ukrainian: Велике КнÑзівÑтво ЛитовÑьке (ВКЛ), Polish: Wielkie KsiÄ™stwo Litewskie) was an...
Gotthard Kettler, the last Master of the Order of Livonia, became the first duke of Courland. Other members of the Order became the Courland nobility, with the fiefdoms they had hitherto held becoming their estates. In all, Kettler received nearly one-third of the land in the new duchy. Mitau (Jelgava) was designated as the new capital and a Diet was to meet there twice a year. Gotthard Kettler Gotthard Kettler (1517 – 17 May 1587) became the last master of the Livonian Order - a branch of the Teutonic order in 1559, but when the Order came under increasing pressure from Russian tsar Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) during the Livonian war (1558 – 1582), Gotthard Kettler secularised the...
Livonian Brothers The Livonian Brothers of the Sword (Latin Fratres militiae Christi, literally the brothers of the army of Christ), also known as the Christ Knights, Sword Brethren or The Militia of Christ of Livonia, was a military order organized in 1202 by Albert of Buxhoeveden, bishop of Riga (or...
Jelgava (Russian: Ìèòàâà, Polish: Mitawa, German: Mitau) is a town in Western Latvia, best remembered as the former capital of the Duchy of Courland. ...
In politics, a Diet is a formal deliberative assembly. ...
Several parts of the Courland area did not belong to the Duchy. The Order of Livonia had already loaned the Grobiņa district (on the coast of Baltic Sea) to the Duke of Prussia. Another district, the Bishopric of Piltene, also called the "Bishopric of Courland" (on the Venta River in western Courland), belonged to Magnus, the king of Denmark. He promised to transfer it to the Duchy of Courland after his death, but this plan failed and only later did Wilhelm Kettler regain this district. The Prussian Tribute, oil on canvas by Jan Matejko, 1882, 388 x 875 cm, National Museum in Kraków. ...
In some Christian churches, the diocese is an administrative territorial unit governed by a bishop, sometimes also referred to as a bishopric or episcopal see, though more often the term episcopal see means the office held by the bishop. ...
Piltene (German: ) is a town in northwestern Latvia. ...
Magnus may mean: Kings of Midskogs (1990-2009) Magnus of Midskogs. ...
Like the other members of the Order, Kettler was German and set about establishing the Duchy along the lines of similar German states. In 570, he issued the Privilegnum Gotthardinum, which allowed the landholders to enserf the native peasanty on their lands.[1] Costumes of Slaves or Serfs, from the Sixth to the Twelfth Centuries, collected by H. de Vielcastel, from original Documents in the great Libraries of Europe. ...
When Gotthard Kettler died in 1587, his sons, Friedrich and Wilhelm, became the dukes of Courland. They divided the Duchy into two parts in 1596. Friedrich controlled the eastern part, Semigalia (Zemgale), with his residence in Jelgava (Mittau). Wilhelm owned the western part, Courland (Kurzeme), with his residence in Kuldīga (Goldingen). Wilhelm regained the Grobiņa district when he married the daughter of the Duke of Prussia. He also paid out and regained control over the Piltene district, but eventually it fell to Poland. Here he developed metalworking, shipyards, and the new ships delivered the goods of Courland to other countries. Events February 5 - 26 catholics crucified in Nagasaki, Japan. ...
Zemgale (also historically known as Semigallia or Semigalia) is a historical region of Latvia and sometimes a part of Lithuania is also included. ...
Zemgale (also historically known as Semigallia or Semigalia) forms an historical region of Latvia, sometimes also including a part of Lithuania. ...
Jelgava (German: Mitau; Russian: Елгава / Митава; Polish: Mitawa) is a town in central Latvia about 41 km southwest of Riga with approximately 66,000 inhabitants. ...
Jelgava (German: Mitau; Russian: Елгава / Митава; Polish: Mitawa) is a town in central Latvia about 41 km southwest of Riga with approximately 66,000 inhabitants. ...
Kuldīga (German: Goldingen) is a town in western Latvia. ...
Piltene (German: ) is a town in northwestern Latvia. ...
Metalworking is the craft and practice of working with metals to create parts or structures. ...
Small shipyard in KlaksvÃk (Faroe Islands), reparing fishing vessels Dockyards and shipyards are places which repair and build ships. ...
However, relations between the duke and the landowners were quite hostile. In addition, Poland, the overlord of the Duchy of Courland, supported the landowners. Wilhelm expressed his disappointment with the landowners, but this ended with his removal from the duke's seat in 1616. Finally, Wilhelm left Courland and spent the rest of his life abroad. Thus, Friedrich became the only duke of Courland after 1616. == {| align=right cellpadding=3 id=toc style=margin-left: 15px; |- | align=center colspan=2 | Years: 1613 1614 1615 - 1616 - 1617 1618 1619 |- | align=center colspan=2 | Decades: 1580s 1590s 1600s - 1610s - 1620s 1630s 1640s |- tall> 16th century - 17th century - 18th century |} randomised 1616 was a leap year starting on Friday...
== {| align=right cellpadding=3 id=toc style=margin-left: 15px; |- | align=center colspan=2 | Years: 1613 1614 1615 - 1616 - 1617 1618 1619 |- | align=center colspan=2 | Decades: 1580s 1590s 1600s - 1610s - 1620s 1630s 1640s |- tall> 16th century - 17th century - 18th century |} randomised 1616 was a leap year starting on Friday...
From 1600 to 1629, Poland and Sweden conducted a war with its main battlefields around Riga. As the result, Sweden gained control of central and northern Latvia, which became Swedish Livonia. Poland retained the eastern part of the Duchy of Livonia, thereafter called Inflanty in Polish. Courland was also involved in this war, but did not suffer severe damage. 1600 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ...
Events March 4 - Massachusetts Bay Colony is granted a Royal charter. ...
Map of Latvia Coordinates: Founded 1201 Mayor Aivars Aksenoks Area - City 307. ...
Livonia was a dominion of Sweden from the 1620s until 1721. ...
Under the next duke, Jacob Kettler, the Duchy reached the peak of its prosperity. During his travels in Western Europe, Jacob became the eager proponent of mercantilist ideas. Metalworking and ship building became much more developed, and powder mills began producing gunpowder. Trading relations developed not only with nearby countries, but also with Britain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, etc. Jacob established the merchant fleet of the Duchy of Courland, with its main harbours in Ventspils and Liepāja. Jacob Kettler (28 October 1610 - 1 January 1682, German: Jakob von Kettler), Courland. ...
A painting of a French seaport from 1638, at the height of mercantilism. ...
Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia, on the coast of the Baltic Sea. ...
Liepāja (Polish Lipawa, German Libau, Russian Либава Libava or Лиепая Liyepaya, Yiddish ליבאַװע Libave; population 89,448 in 2000 census) is a city in Latvia, on the Baltic sea. ...
Colonization - See also Courland colonization and Courland colonization of the Americas
In 1651 the Duchy established its first colony in Africa, St. Andrews Island at the Gambia River and founded Jacob Fort there. The main export goods included ivory, gold, furs and spices. Soon afterwards, in 1652, Courlanders established another colony, in Tobago in the West Indies. There the main export goods included sugar, tobacco, coffee and spices. The small wealthy former duchy of Courland took part in European colonialism. ...
The Duchy of Courland was the smallest nation to colonize the Americas with a short-lived colony in Tobago during the 1654–1659, and again 1660–1689. ...
// Events January 1 - Charles II crowned King of Scotland in Scone. ...
This article is about a political topic. ...
A world map showing the continent of Africa. ...
James Island is an island in the Gambia River, 30 km from the river mouth and near Juffure, The Gambia. ...
Gambia River in the Niokolo-Koba National Park The Gambia River is a major river in Africa, running 1,130 km (700 miles) from the Fouta Djallon plateau in north Guinea westward to the Atlantic Ocean at the city of Banjul. ...
Fort James was originally built in 1651 on an island off the south bank of the Gambia river as Jacob Fort as a trading post for the Duchy of Courland and named after its ruler, Jacob Kettler. ...
Castara village beach looking south, Tobago Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. ...
The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ...
However, during this time, the Duchy of Courland remained an object of interest for both Sweden and Poland. In 1655 the Swedish army entered the territory of the Duchy and the Swedish–Polish war (1655 – 1660) had begun. The Swedish army captured Duke Jacob (1658 – 1660). During this period, the Dutch took over both of Courland's colonies, and the merchant fleet and factories suffered destruction. This war ended with the peace Treaty of Oliwa (1660). Courland regained Tobago on the basis of the treaty and held it until 1689. Duke Jacob set about restoring the fleet and factories, but the Duchy of Courland never again reached its pre-war level of prosperity. Events March 25 - Saturns largest moon, Titan, is discovered by Christian Huygens. ...
The Polish-Swedish Wars refer to a series of wars between Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Sweden, in the wider meaning to the series of wars in which both Sweden and Poland participated between 1563 and 1721, in the narrower meaning to denote the two wars between 1600 and 1629. ...
Events March 25 - Saturns largest moon, Titan, is discovered by Christian Huygens. ...
// Events January 1 - Colonel George Monck with his regiment crosses from Scotland to England at the village of Coldstream and begins advance towards London in support of English Restoration. ...
Events January 13 - Edward Sexby, who had plotted against Oliver Cromwell, dies in Tower of London February 6 - Swedish troops of Charles X Gustav of Sweden cross The Great Belt (Storebælt) in Denmark over frozen sea May 1 - Publication of Hydriotaphia, Urn Burial and The Garden of Cyrus by...
Treaty of Oliwa. ...
Duke Friedrich Casimir When Jacob died in 1682, his son, Friedrich Casimir, became the next duke. During his reign production continued to decrease. The duke himself was more interested in glamorous celebrations, and spent more money than he had to spend; he had to sell Tobago to the British. He died in 1698. During this period, Poland increased its influence in the political and economic life of the Duchy. Additionally, Russia showed an interest in this area. Events March 11 – Chelsea hospital for soldiers is founded in England May 6 - Louis XIV of France moves his court to Versailles. ...
Events January 4 - Palace of Whitehall in London is destroyed by fire. ...
The next Duke, Friedrich Wilhelm Kettler, was only six years old when he succeeded in 1698, and he was under the regency of his uncle Ferdinand — a Polish general. During this time the Northern Wars (1700 – 1721) began between Sweden and Russia with its allies — Poland, Saxony and Denmark. As a result of the Great Northern War, Russia controlled the central part of Latvia starting in 1710. In Courland, Russia also had such a strong influence that its ambassador, Peter Bestuzhev, became the most powerful man in the duchy. The Tsar of Russia, Peter the Great, received a promise from Friedrich Wilhelm that he would marry one of the daughters of the tsar's brother. By having this promise, Peter the Great wished to increase the influence of Russia in Courland. So, in 1710, Friedrich Wilhelm married Anna Ivanovna (later Empress of Russia), but on his way back from St Petersburg, he took ill and died. Anne ruled as duchess of Courland from 1711 to 1730. Events January 4 - Palace of Whitehall in London is destroyed by fire. ...
Regent, from the Latin, a person selected to administer a state because the ruler is a minor or is not present or debilitated. ...
King Charles X of Sweden The Northern Wars (1655-1661) is a name sometimes used for the series of conflicts between Sweden and its adversaries Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (The Deluge, 1655-1660), Russia (1656-1661), Brandenburg-Prussia (1657-1660), the Holy Roman Empire (1657-60) and Denmark (1657-1658, 1658...
Events January 1 - Russia accepts Julian calendar. ...
// Events Pope Innocent XIII becomes pope Johann Sebastian Bach composes the Brandenburg Concertos April 4 - Robert Walpole becomes the first prime minister of Britain September 10 - Treaty of Nystad is signed, bringing an end to the Great Northern War November 2 - Peter I is proclaimed Emperor of All the Russias...
The Free State of Saxony (German: Freistaat Sachsen; Sorbian: Swobodny Stat Sakska) is a federal state of Germany. ...
Combatants Sweden Ottoman Empire (1710–1714) Russia Denmark-Norway Poland-Lithuania Saxony later also Prussia) Commanders Charles XII of Sweden Ahmed III Peter the Great August II Frederick IV of Denmark Battle of Poltava as painted by Denis Martens the Younger in 1726 This is an article about the 18th...
// Events April 10 - The worlds first copyright legislation became effective, Britains Statute of Anne Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713) Births January 3 - Richard Gridley, American Revolutionary soldier (d. ...
Count Pyotr Mikhailovich Bestuzhev-Ryumin (1664 — 1742) was a Russian statesman who effectively governed the Duchy of Courland in the name of Anna Ivanovna between 1712 and 1728. ...
Monomakhs Cap symbol of Russian autocracy, the crown of Russian grand princes and tsars Czar and tzar redirect here. ...
Peter was a tall figure, with an extremely striking build of 2. ...
// Events April 10 - The worlds first copyright legislation became effective, Britains Statute of Anne Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713) Births January 3 - Richard Gridley, American Revolutionary soldier (d. ...
The crown of Anna Ioannovna Anna Ivanovna (In Russian: Анна Ивановна) (February 7, 1693 - October 28, 1740) reigned as Duchess of Courland from 1711 to 1730 and as Empress of Russia from 1730 to 1740. ...
Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and...
1711 (MDCCXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ...
Events Pope Clement XII elected September 17 - Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed III (1703-1730) to Mahmud I (1730-1754) Anna Ivanova (Anna I of Russia) became czarina Births April 16 - Henry Clinton, British general (d. ...
After the death of Friedrich Wilhelm, the next candidate for the seat of duke was Ferdinand Kettler, but his residence was in Danzig. Because the law required the duke to reside within the Duchy, the Diet did not recognize him. Because Ferdinand was the last representative of Kettler's family, a remarkable number of candidates tried to gain the seat of duke during this period. One favorite was Maurice de Saxe, natural son of Frederick Augustus I the Strong, king of Poland. He was elected duke in 1726, but only managed to maintain himself by force of arms till the next year. Russia disliked him and sent an army to western Courland to destroy Maurice's base. As the result Maurice had to leave Courland and Russia increased its influence further. The last Kettler, William, titular duke of Courland, died in 1737. Anna Ivanovna, the wife of Friedrich Wilhelm, and Empress of Russia, appointed Ernst Johann von Biron duke of Courland in 1737. Maurice de Saxe, Marshal General of France, in 1748 Maurice, comte de Saxe (German Moritz Graf von Sachsen) (28 October 1696 – 20 November 1750), Marshal of France and later also Marshal General of France. ...
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Events George Friderich Handel becomes a British subject. ...
Events 12 February — The San Carlo, the oldest working opera house in Europe, is inaugurated. ...
Ernst Johann von Biron or Biren, (1690 - 28 December 1772), duke of Courland, was the grandson of a groom in the service of Jacob Kettler, Duke of Courland, who bestowed upon him a small estate, which Birens father inherited and where Biren himself was born. ...
Von Biron received remarkable financial support from Russia and invested it in construction - for example, the castle of Schloss Ruhenthal projected by the distinguished Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Anna Ivanovna died in 1740, resulting in von Biron's exile to Siberia the following year. From there, through the Council of the Duke, he continued to control the Duchy, having accept from the king of Poland. However, the landowners of Courland disliked that and even refused to follow the regulations of the Council of the Duke. Details of the baroque decor of the palace. ...
Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli (1700-71) was the most important baroque architect working in Russia. ...
Events May 31 - Friedrich II comes to power in Prussia upon the death of his father, Friedrich Wilhelm I. October 20 - Maria Theresia of Austria inherits the Habsburg hereditary dominions (Austria, Bohemia, Hungary and present-day Belgium). ...
1791 - 1795 King August III of Poland gave up against the landowners of Courland and declared his son, Carl Christian Joseph (Saxony), the count of Saxony, the next Duke. Thus, the Duchy of Courland had two dukes simultaneously thereafter. The situation became extremely tense — one part of the landowners accepted Ernst Johann von Biron, the other, Carl of Saxony. The Empress Catherine II of Russia (reigned 1762 - 1796) solved this situation by recalling Ernst von Biron from exile in 1763. By doing this, she avoided the possible increase of influence of Kingdom of Poland in Courland. However, political fighting had exhausted Ernst Biron, and he turned the seat of duke over to his son, Peter von Biron (de:Peter von Biron), in 1769. But political tumult continued in Courland. Some landowners supported Poland, some Russia. Ultimately, Russia determined the further fate of Courland when with its allies it began the third division of Poland (1795). Having a "nice recommendation" of Russia, Duke Peter von Biron gave up his rights to Russia in 1795. With the signing of the final document on March 28, 1795, the Duchy of Courland ceased to exist. Reign From 1734 until October 5, 1763 Elected In 1734 in Wola, today suburb of Warsaw, Poland Coronation On January 17, 1734 in the Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, Poland Royal House Wettin Parents August II Mocny ? Consorts Marie Josepha Children Frederick Christian Date of Birth October 7, 1696 Place of...
Landowner or Landholder is a holder of the estate in land with considerable rights of ownership or, simply put, an owner of land. ...
Coat of arms of Courland Courland (Latvian: ; German: ; Latin: Curonia / Couronia; Lithuanian: ; Estonian: ; Polish: ; Russian: ) is an historical Baltic province now part of Latvia. ...
A count is a nobleman in most European countries, equivalent in rank to a British earl, whose wife is also still a countess (for lack of an Anglo-Saxon term). ...
The Free State of Saxony (German: Freistaat Sachsen; Sorbian: Swobodny Stat Sakska) is a federal state of Germany. ...
For other uses, see Duke (disambiguation). ...
Ernst Johann von Biron or Biren, (1690 - 28 December 1772), duke of Courland, was the grandson of a groom in the service of Jacob Kettler, Duke of Courland, who bestowed upon him a small estate, which Birens father inherited and where Biren himself was born. ...
Emperor is also a Norwegian black metal band; see Emperor (band). ...
Catherine II of Russia Catherine II of Russia, called the Great (Russian: Екатерина II ВеликаÑ, Yekaterina II Velikaya; 2 May 1729–17 November 1796 [O.S. 6 November]) — sometimes referred to as an epitome of the enlightened despot — reigned as Empress of Russia for some 34 years, from June 28, 1762 until...
1762 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...
1796 was a leap year starting on Friday. ...
1763 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...
The state formed by Boleslaus I of Poland in 1025 during his coronation. ...
1769 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...
Although the majority of the szlachta was reconciled to the end of the Commonwealth in 1795, the possibility of Polish independence was kept alive by events within and without Poland throughout the nineteenth century. ...
March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in leap years). ...
1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...
Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, 1918
Recognition Answer of Kaiser Wilhelm to Courland's Land Council to decision about creation of Duchy of Courland in March 8, 1918 (in German): William II or Wilhelm II (born Frederick William Albert Victor; German: Friedrich Wilhelm Albert Victor) (27 January 1859–4 June 1941) was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia (German: Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen), ruling both the German Empire and Prussia from 15 June 1888...
- Wir Wilchelm, von Gottes Gnaden Deutscher Kaiser, König von Preusen u. beauftragen hiermit Unseren Reichskanzler, der Grafen von Hertling, dem Kurländischen Landesrat zu erklären, daß Wir auf den Uns durch seine Vertreter übermittelten Wunsch und auf den Bericht Unseres Reichskanzler im Namen des Deutschen Reiches das Herzogtum Kurland als freies und selbständiges Staatswesen anerkennen und bereit sind, im Namen des Deutschen Reiches diejenige Staatsverträge mit Kurland abzuschließen, die eine enge wirtschaftliche und militärische Verbindung beider Länder gewährletsten. Gleichzeitig beauftragen Wir Unseren Reichskanzler, den Abschluß dieser Verträge vorzubereiten. Urkundlich haben Wir diesen Auftrag Allerhöchst Selbat vollzogen und mit Unserem Kaiserlichen Insiegel versehen lassen.
- Gegeben ................ , den 15. März 1918
- Wilchelm
- Graf von Hertling.
In short it says: We recognize the Duchy of Courland as a free and independent state and will conclude treaties for economic and military co-operation, signed: Wilhelm, Count of Hertling, Imperial Chancellor.
 Entrance to the Rundale Palace, the seat of the sovereign Dukes of Courland. Image File history File links Rundale_Pilsrundale_Eingangsportal. ...
Image File history File links Rundale_Pilsrundale_Eingangsportal. ...
Details of the baroque decor of the palace. ...
Disestablishment The United Baltic Duchy was nominally recognized as a sovereign state by Kaiser William II only on September 22, 1918, half a year after Soviet Russia had formally relinquished all authority over its former Imperial Baltic provinces to German Empire in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. After World War I, Courland became a part of the newly-formed nation of Latvia, November 18, 1918. Official language German Capital Riga Regent Adolf Pilar von Pilchau Area ? km² Population ? Independance 12 April 1918 Admission 22 September 1918 (German State) National anthem ? The United Baltic Duchy (in German: Vereinigtes Baltisches Herzogtum) was a shortlived construct in 1918 made possible through Germanys occupation of Latvia and Estonia...
Kaiser is the German title meaning Emperor. ...
William II or Wilhelm II (born Frederick William Albert Victor; German: Friedrich Wilhelm Albert Victor) (27 January 1859–4 June 1941) was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia (German: Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen), ruling both the German Empire and Prussia from 15 June 1888...
September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ...
Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...
Soviet Russia is sometimes used as a somewhat sloppy synonym to the Soviet Union — although the term Soviet Russia sometimes refers to Bolshevist Russia from the October Revolution in 1917 to 1922 (Although Russian communists officially formed RSFSR in 1918). ...
Anthem: God Save the Tsar! Russian Empire in 1913 Capital Saint Petersburg Language(s) Russian Government Monarchy Emperor - 1721-1725 Peter the Great - 1894-1917 Nicholas II History - Established 22 October, 1721 - February Revolution 2 March, 1917 Area - 1897 22,400,000 km2 8,648,688 sq mi Population - 1897...
The Baltic Provinces were the provinces of the Russian Empire on the territory which is now Baltic States. ...
Motto: Gott mit Uns (German: God with usâ€) Anthem: Heil dir im Siegerkranz (unofficial) Territory of the German Empire in 1914, prior to World War I Capital Berlin Language(s) Official: German Unofficial minority languages: Polish (Posen, Lower Silesia,Upper Silesia, Masuria) French (Alsace-Lorraine) Government Constitutional monarchy Emperor - 1871...
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed on March 3, 1918, at Brest, formerly Brest-Litovsk, between Russia and the Central Powers, marking Russias exit from World War I. The treaty was practically obsolete before the end of the year but is significant as a chief...
Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Franz...
Coat of arms of Courland Courland (Latvian: ; German: ; Latin: Curonia / Couronia; Lithuanian: ; Estonian: ; Polish: ; Russian: ) is an historical Baltic province now part of Latvia. ...
November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
Year 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...
See also Woodrow Wilson and the American peace commissioners during the negotiations on the Treaty of Versailles. ...
Bishopric of Courland (light orange). ...
Coat of arms of Courland Courland (Latvian: ; German: ; Latin: Curonia / Couronia; Lithuanian: ; Estonian: ; Polish: ; Russian: ) is an historical Baltic province now part of Latvia. ...
The small wealthy former duchy of Courland took part in European colonialism. ...
The Duchy of Courland was the smallest nation to colonize the Americas with a short-lived colony in Tobago during the 1654–1659, and again 1660–1689. ...
National motto: None Official language Estonian Capital Tallinn President Arnold Rüütel Prime Minister Andrus Ansip Area - Total - % water Ranked 129th 45,226 km² 4. ...
The Kingdom of Lithuania was the Lithuanian Monarchy, which existed in the 13th century, and was temporarily re-established in the 20th century. ...
The Latvian War of Independence, sometimes called the Latvian War of Liberation (Latvian: Latvijas brīvības cīņas, literally the struggles for the freedom of Latvia, or Latvijas atbrīvošanas kaŗš, the war of the liberation of Latvia), refers to series of military conflicts in Latvia between November...
Livonia (Latvian: Livonija; Estonian: Liivimaa; German: Livland; Swedish: Livland; Polish: Inflanty; Russian: ЛифлÑÐ½Ð´Ð¸Ñ or Lifljandija) once was the land of the Finnic Livonians, but came in the Middle Ages to designate a much broader territory controlled by the Livonian Order on the eastern coasts of the Baltic Sea in present-day...
Leopold von Bayern Ober Ost (short for Oberbefehlshabers der gesamten deutschen Streitkräfte im Osten) was a German WWI military administration governing a large part of the German-held areas of the Russian Empire. ...
The Principality of Estland was located on the former territory of Danish Estonia (above) except the city of Reval. ...
Zemgale (also historically known as Semigallia or Semigalia) is a historical region of Latvia and sometimes a part of Lithuania is also included. ...
Official language German Capital Riga Regent Adolf Pilar von Pilchau Area ? km² Population ? Independance 12 April 1918 Admission 22 September 1918 (German State) National anthem ? The United Baltic Duchy (in German: Vereinigtes Baltisches Herzogtum) was a shortlived construct in 1918 made possible through Germanys occupation of Latvia and Estonia...
Notes
References The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. ...
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