Draft:Kingdom of Courland

Kingdom of Courland
9th century–1253
Coat of arms of Kingdom of Courland
Coat of arms
CapitalKuldīga (?)
Religion
Baltic Paganism
GovernmentMilitary democracy
History 
• Established
9th century
• Conflict with Vikings
9th - 13th century
• Curonians make peace with the Teutonic Order
1242
• Courland divided by the Teutonic Order and Bishopric of Courland
1253
Succeeded by
Bishopric of Courland
Teutonic Order
Today part ofWestern Latvia and Lithuania

The Kingdom of Courland was a confederation of lands such as Piemare, Bandava, and others, inhabited by the Curonians. It was first mentioned in the 9th-century chronicle Vita Ansgarii, in connection with a Viking raid on Courland's main city, Grobiņa. In 1234, the Bishopric of Courland was established.

In 1253, Courland ceased to exist after being divided between the Teutonic Order and the Bishopric of Courland. After the Battle of Durbe in 1260, the Curonians initiated a rebellion, allied with the Lithuanians. The rebellion was suppressed in 1265, after Vaišvilkas signed a peace agreement with the Teutonic Order, halting Lithuanian support.