Friedrich Kettler
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Kettler was a Duke of Courland
(Latvian: Kurzeme), a region in Latvia
, from 1587 to 1642.
He was the son of Gotthard Kettler
. Until 1616, he ruled only the eastern Zemgale portion of the Duchy of Courland, while his younger brother Wilhelm Kettler
ruled the western Courland portion. Friedrich ruled the entire Duchy from 1616 when his brother emigrated due to conflicts with the nobility.
and Anna of Mecklenburg
as oldest son. He had good education and in youth he traveled to many European countries.
According to Gotthard Kettler's will duchy had to be divided between his two sons. After fathers death in 1587 Friedrich and his younger brother Wilhelm
became rulers of duchy.
In 1596, after Wilhelm's majority, duchy officially was divided in Courland
and Semigallian parts.
Friedrich Kettler married Elisabeth Magdalena of Pomerania
in 1600.
During Polish-Swedish War (1600-1629) Duke Friedrich, together with his brother Wilhelm led the troops of the Duchy in the battles against the Swedes
. Friedrich led 300 men's big cavalry
unit in the Battle of Salaspils (1605). During the war grew Courland aristocracy's resistance to Kettler brothers.
In the 1617 in the Skrunda
Castle was held Regional Assembly of Courland (Landtag
) and after that Duke Wilhelm was stripped of the title and forever banished from the Duchy.
Friedrich was elected as sole Duke of Courland in 1618 and he approved the new constitution of the Duchy administration Formula Regiminis, which gave much greater rights to aristocracy. Duke Friedrich could not take any decision without the consent of the Duchy's council, so the Duchy of Courland became a constitutional monarchy
.
In 1622 Duke's residence in Jelgava
was surrounded by Swedish army and Friedrich was forced to move to Kuldiga
.
Friedrich did not have offspring, so in the 1625 he proposed that the Wilhelm's son Jacob had recognition as his heir. Council of duchy agreed to the proposal and Jacob Kettler
was made co-ruler of the duchy already in the 1638.
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
(Latvian: Kurzeme), a region in Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, from 1587 to 1642.
He was the son of Gotthard Kettler
Gotthard Kettler
Gotthard von Kettler was the last Master of the Livonian Order and the first Duke of Courland and Semigallia....
. Until 1616, he ruled only the eastern Zemgale portion of the Duchy of Courland, while his younger brother Wilhelm Kettler
Wilhelm Kettler
Wilhelm Kettler was the second Duke of Courland, a region of Latvia. Wilhelm ruled the western Courland portion of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia while his brother Friedrich ruled the eastern Semigallia portion.Wilhelm Kettler was the youngest son of Gotthard Kettler and his wife Anna of...
ruled the western Courland portion. Friedrich ruled the entire Duchy from 1616 when his brother emigrated due to conflicts with the nobility.
Biography
Friedrich Kettler was born in the family of Gotthard KettlerGotthard Kettler
Gotthard von Kettler was the last Master of the Livonian Order and the first Duke of Courland and Semigallia....
and Anna of Mecklenburg
Anna of Mecklenburg
Anna of Mecklenburg , was a Duchess consort of Courland. She married the Duke of Courland, Gotthard Kettler, on 11 March 1566 in Königsberg. She was the daughter of Albrecht VII, Duke of Mecklenburg and Anna of Brandenburg. Anna is the first woman in Livonia, whose life story is entirely...
as oldest son. He had good education and in youth he traveled to many European countries.
According to Gotthard Kettler's will duchy had to be divided between his two sons. After fathers death in 1587 Friedrich and his younger brother Wilhelm
Wilhelm Kettler
Wilhelm Kettler was the second Duke of Courland, a region of Latvia. Wilhelm ruled the western Courland portion of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia while his brother Friedrich ruled the eastern Semigallia portion.Wilhelm Kettler was the youngest son of Gotthard Kettler and his wife Anna of...
became rulers of duchy.
In 1596, after Wilhelm's majority, duchy officially was divided in Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
and Semigallian parts.
Friedrich Kettler married Elisabeth Magdalena of Pomerania
Elisabeth Magdalena of Pomerania
Elisabeth Magdalena of Pomerania , was a Duchess consort of Courland. She married the Duke of Courland, Friedrich Kettler, in 14 March 1600. She was the daughter of Ernst Ludwig, Duke of Pomerania and Sophia Hedwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg....
in 1600.
During Polish-Swedish War (1600-1629) Duke Friedrich, together with his brother Wilhelm led the troops of the Duchy in the battles against the Swedes
Swedes
Swedes are a Scandinavian nation and ethnic group native to Sweden, mostly inhabiting Sweden and the other Nordic countries, with descendants living in a number of countries.-Etymology:...
. Friedrich led 300 men's big cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
unit in the Battle of Salaspils (1605). During the war grew Courland aristocracy's resistance to Kettler brothers.
In the 1617 in the Skrunda
Skrunda
Skrunda is a town in Latvia. It lies 150 km west of the capital city Riga.- Skrunda-1 :Skrunda is best known as the town nearest the former Soviet secret city, Skrunda-1, which housed two major radar installations during the cold war period. Skrunda-1 is currently a ghost town, as the last...
Castle was held Regional Assembly of Courland (Landtag
Landtag
A Landtag is a representative assembly or parliament in German-speaking countries with some legislative authority.- Name :...
) and after that Duke Wilhelm was stripped of the title and forever banished from the Duchy.
Friedrich was elected as sole Duke of Courland in 1618 and he approved the new constitution of the Duchy administration Formula Regiminis, which gave much greater rights to aristocracy. Duke Friedrich could not take any decision without the consent of the Duchy's council, so the Duchy of Courland became a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
.
In 1622 Duke's residence in Jelgava
Jelgava
-Sports:The city's main football team, FK Jelgava, plays in the Latvian Higher League and won the 2009/2010 Latvian Football Cup.- Notable people :*August Johann Gottfried Bielenstein - linguist, folklorist, ethnographer...
was surrounded by Swedish army and Friedrich was forced to move to Kuldiga
Kuldiga
Kuldīga is a town in western Latvia. It is the center of Kuldīga municipality with a population of approximately 13,500.Kuldīga was first mentioned in 1242. It joined the Hanseatic League in 1368...
.
Friedrich did not have offspring, so in the 1625 he proposed that the Wilhelm's son Jacob had recognition as his heir. Council of duchy agreed to the proposal and Jacob Kettler
Jacob Kettler
Jacob Kettler was a Baltic German Duke of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia . Under his rule, the duchy was brought to its greatest peak in wealth and engaged in colonization.- Life :...
was made co-ruler of the duchy already in the 1638.