Wappen der Herzogin von Kurland

[john sefton]

Jacob Kettler (German: Jakob von Kettler; 28 October 1610 – 1 January 1682) was a Baltic German Duke of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1642–1682). Under his rule, the duchy was brought to its greatest peak in wealth and engaged in colonization.
Kettler was born in Goldingen. He was the son of Wilhelm Kettler and Sofie Hohenzollern, Princess of Prussia, a daughter of Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia. He was the godson of King James I of England. Under Kettler's rule, the duchy traded with nations like the Netherlands, Portugal, England, and France.
In 1651 he sent a fleet to build Fort Jacob on the Gambia River on the island that would later be known as St. Andrews in West Africa.
In 1654 he conquered Tobago with the Das Wappen der Herzogin von Kurland, a double decker ship which was armed with 45 cannons 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 colonize Australia, which had at that time been discovered and claimed by the Dutch whom he was at war with. He supposedly had the blessing of Pope Innocent X. However, the pope soon died, and the new pope was unwilling to support the plan. The duke died in Mitau (Jelgava) on 1 January 1682.
Latvia SG470

[aukepalmhof]

As part of the international conference dedicated to the 450th anniversary of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, which will take place in the castle of the Livonian Order in Ventspils, Latvijas Pasts will hold first-day cancellation and presentation events for the stamp block released to mark this event. The cancellation event will take place in the Ventspils Museum in 17 Jāņa Street on 21 September from 10 AM to 6 PM, while the presentation ceremony with participation of representatives of Latvijas Pasts and the Ventspils Museum is set for 12:00.
The stamp block 450th Anniversary of Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, created by artist Elita Viliama, includes two stamps with portraits of the best-known dukes of the Duchy. The design of the first-day cover incorporates a sailing ship, reminding about the development of shipping and colonies belonging to the Duchy during the rule of the famous Duke Jacob. The print run comprises 100,000 stamp blocks.
The stamp with a denomination of LVL 0.55, corresponding to the cost of mailing a regular letter within the European Union, depicts the Duke of Courland and Semigallia Jacob Kettler (1610-1682). He is considered the most notable Duke of Courland and Semigallia, as it was during Jacob's rule that the Duchy achieved peak prosperity. Kettler ruled from 1642 to 1682, promoting growth in industry, trade and shipbuilding. The duke effected international trade by concluding agreements with Spain, France, Venice, Portugal and many other lands, including the Ottoman Empire. He established colonies on St. Andrews Island at the Gambia River and Tobago in the Caribbean Sea.
The stamp with a face value of LVL 0.35, suitable for mailing a regular letter within the Republic of Latvia, depicts Duke Ernst Johann von Biron. He was born in 1690 and was the first Duke of Courland and Semigallia of the Biron dynasty. He became the Duke of Courland and Semigallia twice - from 1737 to 1741 and from 1763 to 1769. During his rule, palaces were built in Jelgava and Rundāle to a design by the Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli.
The international conference A State in Western Latvia: 450th Anniversary of Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, with participation of historians from the Baltic states and Poland, will take place on September 21 and 22 in the Ventspils Museum, which is housed in a castle of the Livonian Order.
The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia was an autonomous vassal state of Poland-Lithuania, which from 1562 to 1795 included most of Courland, Semigallia and Selonia. The Duchy was successively ruled by two dynasties - the Kettlers and the Birons - as well as several unrelated dukes.

Latvia 2001 70 sant sg?, scott? 2012 55 sant sgMS?, scott?

[Arturo]

Das Wappen Der Herzogin Von Kurland


This stamp shows the battleship Das Wappen Der Herzogin Von Kurland (17th century). Shipbuilding flourished in the former Duchy of Kurland in present-day Latvia under Duke Jacob (1642-82).

Ships were built at the Ventspils and Kuldiga shipyards, at first by German and Dutch craftsmen invited by Duke Jacob, and later by local shipwrights.

During Duke Jacob’s rule ships of all kinds of ships were built in Kurland, and not only for local needs, but also for England, France, Spain and other countries.

The biggest battle-ship built for Kurland itself, was Das Wappen Der Herzogin Von Kurland, a four-decked three master armed with 72 naval guns and capable of holding 400 sailors and 100 soldiers. The ship was modeled after the British battleship Sovereign of the Seas.

(see topic; “Sovereign of the Seas”).

Estonia 1997, S.G.?, Scott: 323b