Curonian colonisation
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Curonian colonisation refers to the colonisation efforts of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (today part of Latvia). Small, but wealthy, the Duchy took a modest part in the European colonization settlement attempts of West Africa and the Caribbean.
History
Like Brandenburg, which had far larger German colonising power before the formation of the German Empire, Courland had a European crusading past. The colonies were established under Jakob, Duke of Courland and Semigallia, and were one of the two Latvian colonies. The second colony was Gambia River in Africa. During his reign (1642–1682), the Duchy established trading relations with all of the major European powers.
Jakob established one of the largest merchant fleets in Europe, with its main harbours in
In 1651, Courland and Semigallia gained a colony in Africa on
The colonies were lost when Courland and Semigallia's neighbours took advantage of its weakened defences during the Northern Wars, when Jakob was held captive by the Swedish Army from 1658 to 1660. After the end of the war, the island of Tobago was returned to Courland. However, the Duchy ended up abandoning the island in 1666. In 1668, a Curonian ship attempted to reoccupy Fort Jacob but was driven off by the Dutch garrison stationed on the island. The Courland Monument near Great Courland Bay commemorates the Duchy's settlements.
Former colonies
- St. Andrews Island or Courlander Gambia was also the later British Fort James. (1651–1660, 1660–1661)
- New Courland, on Tobago(1637, 1642, 1654–1659, 1680–1690)
See also
- Couronian colonization of the Americas
References
External links
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