- Jacob Kettler
[
Courland .]
[thaler from1645 ] Jacob Kettler ( _de. Jakob von Kettler;28 October 1610 –1 January 1682 ) was aBaltic German Duke of theDuchy of Courland and Semigallia (1642–1682). Under his rule, the duchy was brought to its greatest peak in wealth and engaged in colonization.Life
Kettler was born in Goldingen (Kuldīga). He was the son of
Wilhelm Kettler andSofie Hohenzollern , Princess of Prussia, a daughter ofAlbert Frederick, Duke of Prussia . He was the godson of KingJames I of England . Under Kettler's rule, the duchy traded with nations like theNetherlands ,Portugal ,England , andFrance . In 1651 he sent a fleet to buildFort Jacob on theGambia River on the island that would later be known asSt. Andrews inWest Africa . In 1654 he conqueredTobago with the "Das Wappen der Herzogin von Kurland", a double decker ship which was armed with 45cannon s and carried 25 officials, 124 Courlander soldiers ,and 80 families of colonists. The colony on Tobago was named "Neu Kurland" ("New Courland").The duke was taken prisoner by the Swedes from 1658 to 1660, during the
Northern Wars . During this time, his colonies were attacked and lost and his fleet destroyed. After the war ended, he rebuilt the duchy's fleet, and retook the island of Tobago from the Dutch. Some believe he also intended to colonizeAustralia , which had at that time been discovered and claimed by the Dutch whom he was at war with. He supposedly had the blessing ofPope Innocent X . However, the pope soon died, and the new pope was unwilling to support the plan. The duke died in Mitau (Jelgava) on1 January 1682 .Issue
Kettler married Louise Charlotte of Brandenburg (1617–1676), the daughter of
George William, Elector of Brandenburg and had issue:
* Louise Elisabeth (1646-1690) - marriedFrederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
*Frederick II Casimir Kettler (1650-1698)
* Charlotta (1651-1728)
* Maria Amalia (1653-1711) - marriedCharles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
* Ferdinand (1655-1737)ee also
*
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth External links
* [http://www.balticguide.ee/index.php/a2290 History of Courland during Kettler's rule]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/5539/courland/3jket.html Coinage of Jacob Kettler]
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