Wilhelm Kettler (20 June 1574 – 7 April 1640) was the Duke of Courland, a Baltic German region in today's Latvia. He ruled the western Courland portion of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, while his brother Friedrich ruled the eastern Semigallia portion.
| Wilhelm Kettler | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Courland and Semigallia | |
 | |
| Duke of Courland | |
| Reign | 1587–1617 |
| Predecessor | Gotthard Kettler |
| Successor | Friedrich Kettler |
| Born | 20 June 1574 Mitau, Duchy of Courland and Semigallia |
| Died | 7 April 1640 (aged 65) Kucklow, Duchy of Pomerania |
| Burial | Ducal crypt in the Jelgava Palace |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | Jacob, Duke of Courland |
| House | Kettler |
| Father | Gotthard Kettler |
| Mother | Anna of Mecklenburg |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Life and family
editBorn in Mitau in 1574, Wilhelm Kettler was the youngest son of Gotthard Kettler and his wife, Anna of Mecklenburg. After their father's death in 1587, Friedrich inherited the title of Duke of Courland and Semigallia, but economic control was split between Wilhelm and Friedrich.[1] The brothers divided the duchy between themselves, and Wilhelm ruled the Courland portion, with the seat in Kuldīga.[2]
In 1609, William married Princess Sophia of Brandenburg-Prussia (1582–1610), daughter of Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia, receiving as a dowry the territory of Grobiņa.
Due to conflicts with the local nobility, he lost control of the duchy in 1617 and emigrated.[3] Thereafter, his brother Friedrich became the sole ruler of the duchy.
He died in the Kucklow abbey in Pomerania on 7 April 1640. His son, Jacob Kettler, succeeded Friedrich as Duke of Courland and Semigallia in 1642.[3]
Wilhelm's remains were returned to Courland in 1642, and he was interred in the ducal tomb on 23 February 1643.
References
edit- ^ Plakans, Andrejs (1995). The Latvians: A Short History. Hoover Press. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-8179-9303-0. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ Berkis, Alexander Valdonis (1954). A history of the Duchy of Courland (Master of Arts thesis). University of Wisconsin-Madison. p. 39. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
- ^ a b Freeman, J (2021). The Duchy of Courland's Colonial Networks and Encounters from the Baltic to the Atlantic: 1638-1698 (Doctor of Philosophy thesis). University of Cambridge. p. 2. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
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