Duchy of Courlande

History

See also: History of Courlande, Knights carry-swords, List of the dukes of Courlande

Courlande knew settlements Baltic and Finno-ougriens (Live (language), remained faithful to the Paganisme.

In XIIème century, the area (as all the Livonie) knows the invasion of Christian Chevaliers with an aim of founding the Christian faith there. Its history merges during 3 centuries with that of the Confédération of Livonie.

Geography

Courlande was bordered in the North-East by the Western Dvina (or Daugava ), separating it from the provinces of Latgale and Livonie, in north by the gulf of Riga; in the west by the the Baltic and in the south by the Eastern Prussia. Its surface was of 27 286 km ² of which 262 km ² of lakes. Its low and undulating relief with a coast punt and marshy. The interior of the grounds is mainly made up of sandy dunes, covered of pines, fir trees, birches and oaks, the whole intersected with lakes and marsh, with sometimes a fertile strip of land. The culminating point is with 213 m above the sea level.

The plain of Mitau divides the country into two: the Western part fertile and being populated, except North, whereas the oriental party, not very fertile is almost deserted.

Courlande is irrigated by a hundred river, of which only three are navigable: Dvina Western (or Daugava), Lielupe and the Was windy. They throw all in the Baltic. The multitude of lakes and marshes make the climate wet and often misty. Time is changing, with very rigorous winters. Agriculture is the main activity, with the production of Seigle, Orge, Blé, oats, flax and potatoes.

Demography

The population was of 619 154 hearts in 1870, 674 437 in 1897, of which 345 756 women and an estimate with 714 200 in 1906. It was distributed as follows: 79% of Latvian, 8,75% of German S, Russian 1,7% of S, 1% of Lithuanians and 1% of Polish. It is necessary to add to that 8% of Juif S and some Lives (or Livoniens).

The principal cities were Mitau (Jelgava in Latvian, capital of the duchy with 35 011 inhabitants in 1897), Friedrichstadt (Jaunjelgava, 5223 hab), Goldingen (Kuldiga, 9733 hab.), Grobina (1489 hab.), Hasenpoth (Aizpute, 3338 hab.), Illuxt (Illukste, 2340 hab.), Talsen (Talsi, 6215 hab.), Tuckum (Tuckums, 7542 hab.) and Windau (Ventspils, 7132 hab.).

Religion

The dominant religion was the Protestant religion , 76% of the population being of confession Lutheran, the remainder being either orthodoxe, or Catholique. The Réforme arrived in 1523, in the area, but it did not completely supplant Catholicism as in Prussia for example.

See too

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