Curonians

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The Kursenieki are also known as Curonians.

Curonians in the context of the other Baltic tribes, circa 1200 CE. The Eastern Balts are shown in brown hue while the Western Balts are shown in green. The boundaries are approximate.

The Curonians (Curonian: Kursi; German: Kuren; Latvian: Kurši; Lithuanian: Kuršiai; Estonian: Kuralased) were a Baltic people that were absorbed by the expansion of the Latvian and Lithuanian nations. They gave their name to the region of Courland (Kurzeme). They spoke the Curonian language. The Curonians lived in what is now Latvia and parts ofLithuania from the 5th to the 16th centuries.

The Curonians were known as fierce warriors, excellent sailors and pirates. They were involved in several wars and alliances with Swedish, Danish, and Icelandic Vikings. Grobin was their main center during the Vendel Age. Chapter 46 of Egils Saga describes one Viking expedition by the Vikings Thorolf and Egill Skallagrímsson in Courland. They took part with the Oeselians in attacking Sweden's main city Sigtuna in 1187. Curonians have had temporary settlements established in oversea regions including the Eastern Sweden, Gotland and Bornholm islands.

The Curonians were especially religious people, worshipping pagan gods and their sacred animal, the horse. Some of the most important writing sources about the Curonians are the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia, the Livländische Reimchronik, the Egils Saga, and Saxo Grammaticus's Gesta Danorum.

The Curonians were conquered by the Livonian Order in 1266 and eventually merged with other tribes. Descendents of the Curonians include the Kursenieki of the Curonian Spit and the so-called Curonian Kings of Courland.

[edit] Administrative division

Map of Courland

The territory inhabited by the Curonians was divided into certain administrative districts or lands (south to north):

Pilsāts - the smallest land of around 200 km², in the western part of modern Klaipėda district and nothwestern part of Šilutė district of Lithuania;
Megava - (mentioned as Negouwe in chronicles) 500 km², in modern Palanga, Kretinga and Šventoji environs;
Ceklis - (Cecklis) the largest land of 1500 km² west of Venta River in Samogitia, up to the Lithuanian-Latvian border;
Duvzare - (Dovsare) further north in Courland of modern Latvia;
Piemare - (Bihavelanc) north of Duvzare, in Courland.
Bandava - (Bandowe) north of Piemare, in Courland.