Courland or Kurland (both: kûrˈlănd, Ger. kōrˈlänt) [key],
Latvian Kurzeme, historic region and former duchy, in Latvia,
between the Baltic Sea and the Western Dvina River. It is an
agricultural and wooded lowland. Jelgava (Ger. Mitau ), the
historic capital, and Liepaja (Ger. Libau ) and Ventspils (Ger.
Windau ), the Baltic seaports, are the chief cities. The early
Baltic tribes—Letts and Kurs—who inhabited the region were
subjected in the 13th cent. by the Livonian Brothers of the
Sword. In 1561 the order disbanded and its grand master became
the first duke of Courland, under Polish suzerainty. In the
Northern War (1700–1721), it was taken (1701) by Charles XII of
Sweden. Empress Anna, who was, by marriage, duchess of Courland
before her accession in Russia, forced (1737), the nobles of
Courland to elect her favorite, Ernst Johann von Biron, their
duke. Russian influence became paramount, and with the third
partition of Poland (1795) the duchy passed to Russia. In 1918,
Courland was incorporated into Latvia