Fleet of Courland and Semigallia

The Fleet of Courland and Semigallia was the navy and merchant fleet of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. It has existed since the end of the 16th century, but the official date of its creation is considered to be the founding of the Vindava Admiralty in 1638. The main creator was Duke Jacob Kettler, the most prominent of all the rulers of the duchy. It was built at the Vindava (1638–1718), Goldingen (1638–1702), and Libava shipyards (1677–1702). During its heyday in the middle of the 17th century, it numbered up to 40 warships and 100 merchant ships. The fleet was used in international trade, the Couronian colonization of America and Africa, and the wars of European powers as a mercenary force. It suffered greatly in the wars with the Swedes: the Second Northern War (1655–1660) and the Great Northern War (1700–1721). In fact, it ceased to exist after the closure of the shipyard in Vindava.

The Fleet of Courland and Semigallia
Naval flag
Founded1638–1795
CountryDuchy of Courland and Semigallia
Branchnaval
Size40 warships and 100 merchant ships (during its peak in the 17th century)
Garrison/HQVindava
Colorsblack, red
Mascot(s)crab
EngagementsSecond Northern War
Great Northern War

History

Creation

The founding date of the fleet of Courland and Semigallia is considered to be 1638, when Duke Friedrich Kettler, at the initiative of Crown Prince James, built the Vindava Admiralty. Shipyards were also built in Vindava and Goldingen: large ships, including military ones, were built at the former; at the latter, small ships were built.

Until this time, from the end of the 16th century, Goldingen was the main area for ship-building. Merchant ships were primarily produced.

Ship-building work lasted a long time due to the small number of experts. During the year, the people of Courland built one large ship and two small ships. As of 1640, the duchy's fleet remained insignificant, and its armament was worse than average.

The heyday
Duke Jacob with ships. Latvian mark

The heyday of the Courland fleet came during the reign of Duke Jacob Kettler. He hired specialists from the Netherlands to modernize the Vindava and Goldingen shipyards. The Dutch masters who built the ships, and local Germans and Latvians worked as apprentices and helpers. Thanks to the reforms, each shipyard produced five large ships a year. In 1677, Jacob opened a third shipyard in Libava, where many merchants were concentrated.

The duke also created the infrastructure of the fleet: he built many piers, berths and warehouses. He widened Vindava Harbor and deepened its bottom, making Vindava the main external port of the duchy, one of the largest trading centers on the Baltic Sea. In parallel, the duke established manufactories for the needs of the fleet: seventeen iron (local marsh ore), eleven anchor, twelve nail, ten cannon, ten rifle, two steel, seven metal, eight copper smelting (imported, African), three canvas rope, five powder, twenty-nine sawmills and woodworking, and dozens of tar booths.

By the end of the 1650s, Courland and Semigallia had more than 40 warships armed with 15–72 guns, as well as about 80 merchant ships, mostly fluytes. The navy was commanded by the Dutch Admiral Imke, and the merchant Heinrich Mober. Warships were used to protect the merchant navy from pirates – to protect the Courland colonies in Tobago and at the mouth of the Gambia. The entire fleet was headed by the Vindava Admiralty.

The Second Northern War with the Swedes of 1658–1660 dealt a great blow to the fleet of Courland and Semigallia. Betrayed by his hopes for neutrality, Jacob was invaded by the Swedes and taken prisoner with his family. The attackers burned the Courland shipyards and manufactories, killed many craftsmen, and took some of the ships and specialists to Sweden. After the Peace of Oliva, Jacob regained the duchy and tried to revive the country's economy, but did not reach the pace of pre-war production.

During his reign, Duke James built 65 warships and 130 merchant ships, which was incredible for that time, especially for such a small state. The duke sometimes rented ships. Thus, in 1648, the government of the Venetian Republic was indebted to Jacob for using the services of Courland ships.

Decline

The decline of the fleet of Courland and Semigallia began with the reign of Frederick Casimir, son of Jacob. The generous duke led a lavish lifestyle, was interested in entertainment rather than ships, and therefore sold most of the state-owned manufactories founded by his father for cash. He stopped the production of warships at shipyards, sold large ships, and sold the colonies to the British.

Before the Great Northern War, the duchy had only 15 ships.

In 1702 the Goldingen and Libava shipyards were closed, and in 1718 the Vindava shipyards suffered the same fate.

Ships

In times of illiteracy—among both commanders and sailors—instead of the name of the ship on board, a coat of arms or other image was placed on the stern. Sometimes it was supplemented by a signature, usually Latin. It could be the name or motto of the vessel. Accordingly, the same ship could be mentioned differently in the documentation.

Ship Number of guns
"Coat of arms and portrait of the Duchess of Courland" Das Wapen und Bildniss der Herzogin von Curland 72
"Coat of arms of His Royal Highness of Courland" Das Wapen Ihren Fürstlich durchlauchte von Curland 42
"Coat of arms of Courland" Das Wapen von Curland und eysernen Mannes 40
"The coat of arms of the landgraves of Hessen-Homburg" Das Wapen derer Herre Land-Graffen von Hessen-Homburg 36
"The Princess of Curland" Die Prinzessin von Curland 40
"The youngest Printz of Curland" Der jüngste Printz von Curland 24
"The Prince of Curland" Der Printz von Curland 54

List
  • in parentheses, the number of guns.
  1. Das Wapen und Bildniss der Herzogin von Curland (72);
  2. Das Wapen Ihren Fürstlich durchlauchte von Curland (42);
  3. Das Wapen von Curland und eysernen Mannes (40);
  4. Das Wapen derer Herre Land-Graffen von Hessen-Homburg (36);
  5. Die Prinzessin von Curland (40);
  6. Der jüngste Printz von Curland (24);
  7. Der Printz von Curland (54);
  8. Die Sperance (28);
  9. Die Invidia (32);
  10. Die Patientia (28);
  11. Der König David (28);
  12. Die Temperantia (30);
  13. Der Neptunus (30);
  14. Die Fortitudo (60);
  15. Jacobus Major (40);
  16. Der Pax (46);
  17. Die Constantia (44);
  18. Der Schwan (40);
  19. Die Scientia (46)
  20. Der Cabeljau (36);
  21. Die Justitia (40);
  22. Die Prudentia (34);
  23. Die Concordia (28);
  24. Der rohte Lew (28);
  25. Die Fortuna (24);
  26. Johannes der Evangelist (24);
  27. Der Blumen-Topf (32);
  28. Jacobus Minor (24);
  29. Der Cavalier (40);
  30. Die Parsimonia (24);
  31. Die Levitas (24);
  32. Die Riegel-Taube (24);
  33. Die Drey Heringe (20);
  34. Die Clementia (20);
  35. St. Joh. Baptista (20);
  36. Der Elend (34);
  37. Der Mohr (32);
  38. Die Pietas (24);
  39. Der Grönlands-Fahrer (24);
  40. Der Crocodil (24);
  41. Die Meve (20);
  42. Der Wall-Fisch (24);
  43. Die Inocentia (30);
  44. Der Orpheus (32).[1]
  • Before the Great Northern War:
  1. Prins Friedrich Wilhelm (length – 41 m, armament – 50 large and 20 small guns; in 1702 captured by the Swedes, sunk in 1712).
  2. St. Casimir (frigate, tonnage – 1000 tons; shipyard – Libava, 1678).
  3. Die Durchlauchte Hertzogin von Churlandt (frigate, length – 40 m; shipyard – Vindava, 1694)
  4. St. Sophia (frigate, shipyard – Libava, 1678).
  5. Das Wappen von Tobago (built in 1687 for the Tobago expedition)
  6. Die Carpee (convoy ship in 1696–1699; shipyard – Libava, 1680)
  7. St. Ignatius (convoy ship from 1680)
  8. Insull Tobago (merchant ship; convoy since 1689)
  9. Stadt Windau (merchant ship; convoy since 1688)
  10. Den Engel (merchant ship built in 1680)
  11. Der Hirschbock (merchant ship, 1691)
  12. Garneele (merchant ship)
  13. Hase (merchant ship)
  14. Heringsfaenger (merchant ship)
  15. Stadt von Aventure (ducal yacht, 1690)

References
  1. Arturs Eižens Zalsters. Medicīnas doktora J. G. Veiganda 18. gs. 30. gadu rokrakstā — Ventspils 17. gs. kuģubūves vēstures izpētes sākums. LU Zinātniskie raksti 653. sējums ZINĀTŅU VĒSTURE UN MUZEJNIECĪBA, 2003., 11–19 lpp.
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