Eldership of Bandava Bandava | |
|---|---|
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| Capital | Kuldīga 56°58′N21°58′E / 56.967°N 21.967°E Coordinates: 56°58′N21°58′E / 56.967°N 21.967°E |
| Common languages | Curonian language |
Bandava (in Latvian and Lithuanian; Latin : Bandowe) - and old Curonian land which existed in the territory of the Latvia during the late Iron Age until it was conquered and divided in 1253 by Bishopric of Courland and Livonian Order.
It is first mentioned in the biography of Bishop Ansgar ("Vita Anskarii") written by Bishop Rimbert of Bremen (lived before 888 AD). It is also mentioned in the January 17, 1231 treaty between the Baldwin von Alna and Curonians.
In the April 4, 1253 treaty it was split between Bishop of Courland and Order of Livonia.
The country was located between Ventava, Ceklis , Piemare, Duvzare and the Baltic Sea on the present territory of Ventspils district and Kuldīga district in Latvia with the administrative center near the modern-day Kuldīga.
It included some of the following villages (villae): Valtaiķi , Sermīte , Vepele, Libiņi, Skrunda, Jērnieki, Turlava (Lipaiķi) , Alsunga, Arsene, Asene, Ursuļi, Urāle, Ardone, Pakare, Nikte, Šķēde, Snēpele , Vilgāle , Kormale , Ķimale , Īvande , Tigve, Karitanke, Velži and Manestute. [1]
In the treaty of April 4, 1253, concluded by the Bishop of Courland Heinrich and the Master of the Livonian Order, the land of Bandava was divided into two parts. The north-eastern part with Kuldīga Castle near Venta river was received by the Livonian Order, but the south-western part with Aizpute and Embūte castles was further ruled by the Diocese of Kurzeme.
The settlements of Bandava referred to in the Agreement in the part of the Livonian Order (two thirds of Bandava):
The settlements of Bandava in the part of the bishop of Kurzeme mentioned in the agreement (one third of Bandava):
Kuldīga District was an administrative division of Latvia, located in Courland region, in the country's west. It was organized into a city and thirteen parishes, each with a local government authority. The main city in the district was Kuldīga.
Aizpute is a town in western Latvia's South Kurzeme Municipality in the valley of the Tebra River, 50 km (31 mi) northeast of Liepāja.
Curonian Kings are a Latvian cultural group, originally lesser vassals and free farmers that lived in seven villages between Goldingen (Kuldīga) and Hasenpoth (Aizpute) in Courland.
Until 2009 the districts of Latvia were divided into 77 cities, 10 amalgamated municipalities, 24 rural territories and 475 parishes.
Skrunda is a town in the Courland region of Latvia. It lies 150 km (95 mi) west of the capital city Riga in Kuldīga Municipality.
The ruins of Embūte Castle are located in Embūte, Embūte Parish, South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia, not far from an ancient hillfort erected by Curonians. It was an ancient Curonian settlement and is mentioned in ancient chronicles as a place with strong Curonian resistance to German crusaders. The bishop's castle was built as a border castle with Lithuania by Livonian Order on a steep hill on the right bank of the Lanka river, which flows into left tributary of the Venta. Later manor house was built using the walls of the former castle, which can be seen in the division of the rooms and the building material. Today, the ruins are surrounded by trees and are in poor condition.
Kurmāle Parish is an administrative unit of Kuldīga Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia. The parish has a population of 2209 and covers an area of 113.68 km2.
Padure Parish is an administrative unit of Kuldīga Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia. The parish has a population of 1134 and covers an area of 113.11 km2.
Snēpele parish is an administrative unit of Kuldīga Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia. The parish has a population of 815 and covers an area of 76.94 km2.
Turlava Parish is an administrative unit of Kuldīga Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia. The parish has a population of 969 and covers an area of 124.51 km2.
Kalvene Parish is an administrative unit of South Kurzeme Municipality, Latvia. The parish has a population of 803 and covers an area of 118.9 km2.
Vaiņode Parish is an administrative unit of South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia. The parish has a population of 2518 and covers an area of 189.7 km2.
Alsunga Castle is a castle in Alsunga village, in Alsunga Parish, Kuldīga Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia. It was built for the Livonian Order during the first half of the 14th century.
Reģi Manor is a manor house in the village of Reģi in Alsunga Parish, Kuldīga Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia.
Aizpute Municipality is a former municipality in Courland, Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2009 by merging Aizpute town, Aizpute parish, Cīrava parish, Kalvene parish, Kazdanga parish and Laža parish the administrative centre being Aizpute. Aizpute Municipality ceased to exist on 1 July 2021, when it was merged into the newly-formed South Kurzeme Municipality. The population in 2020 was 8,057.
Kuldīga Municipality is a municipality in Courland, Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2009 by merging Ēdole parish, Gudenieki parish, Īvande parish, Kabile parish, Kurmāle parish, Laidi parish, Padure parish, Pelči parish, Renda parish, Rumba parish, Snēpele parish, Turlava parish, Vārme parish and Kuldīga town. The administrative centre is Kuldīga. As of 2020, the population was 22,028.
Skrunda Municipality was a municipality in Courland, Latvia. The municipality was formed in 2009 by merging Skrunda town with its countryside territory, Raņķi parish, Nīkrāce parish and Rudbārži parish; the administrative centre being Skrunda. The population in 2020 was 4,543.
Aizpute Castle is a Livonian Order castle in the town of Aizpute in the historical region of Courland, in western Latvia. It was heavily damaged during the Second Northern War (1655–1660). Since 1998, the castle ruins are a Latvian historical monument.
Kuldīga Castle also Goldingen Castle and Jesus Castle was a medieval castle of the Livonian Order in historical Courland in town Kuldīga near Venta Rapid. Today on the left bank of the Venta at the end of the old bridge one can find the former castle mill, a castle guard's house and a city park with the castle ruins on Rumba Hill.
South Kurzeme Municipality is one of the 35 municipalities established in Latvia in 2021. It surrounds Liepāja, Latvia's third largest city. Its first elected municipal council will take office on 1 July 2021. Its seat is at Grobiņa.