Kursenieki

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For the extinct Baltic tribe, see Curonians.
Curonians (Kursenieki)
Total population

9 in Lithuania (by origin), none declared, unknown number in Germany
Regions with significant populations
Lithuania, Germany
Languages
Latvian (Curonian)
Religions
Protestants
Related ethnic groups
Latvians, Lietuvininks, Lithuanians

The Kursenieki ("Curonians"; German: Kuren; Lithuanian: Kuršininkai) are a nearly extinct Baltic ethnic group living along the Curonian Spit. "Kursenieki" refers only to inhabitants of former East Prussia that speak a Latvian language dialect, the so-called (New) Curonian language.

Autochthonous inhabitants of Palanga in Lithuania call themselves "Curonians" as well,[1] but in Lithuania they usually are counted as Latvians.

Contents

[edit] Confusion

Kursenieki are often confused with the extinct Curonian Baltic tribe, as neighbouring ethnic groups called Kursenieki as Curonians: in German, Latvian and Lithuanian, Kursenieki and the Curonian tribe are known by the same terms (Kuren, kurši and kuršiai respectively). In scientific Lithuanian literature, the name kuršininkai is used to designate them from the Curonian tribe. Simillary in Latvian kursenieki is used mostly exclusively by scientists to designate them from the Curonian tribe. On the other hand, Kursenieki should not be confused with Kurzemnieki, a geographical group of Latvians. Kursenieki are often considered descendants of the extinct Curonian tribe.

The Kursenieki have never designated themselves as Latvians and their own language was called "Curonian language" (kursenieku valoda). From a linguistic point of view, it is a dialect of Latvian. In German and Latvian writings of the 19th century, Kursenieki sometimes are called "Prussian Latvians" (German: Preussische Letten; Latvian: Prūsijas latvieši).

[edit] History

Curonian living area in 1649
Curonian living area in 1649
Curonian house
Curonian house
Curonian cemetery in Nida
Curonian cemetery in Nida

The origin of the Kursenieki is unclear. One version says that they are autochthonous descendants of the Curonian tribe who lived there since antiquity, at least along the Curonian Spit. [2] During the conquest of the Old Prussians and Curonians by the Teutonic Knights, the area became nearly uninhabited. In the process of various migrations of the 14th-17th centuries,[3][4][5] Curonians from Courland settled near Memel, along the Curonian Spit, and in Sambia (all regions in East Prussia). They preserved the old self-designation of Curonians (kursi), while Curonians who stayed in Courland became Latvians. The Kursenieki were assimilated by Germans, except along the Curonian Spit where some still live. Until 1945, several places in Sambia were named after Curonians, including Cranzkuhren, Neukuhren, Gross Kuhren, and Klein Kuhren. In 1649 Kursenieki lived from Memel (Klaipėda) to Danzig (Gdańsk). In the end of the 19th century the total number of Kursenieki was around 4,000 persons.

Kursenieki were considered Latvians after World War I when Latvia gained independence from the Russian Empire. This consideration was based on linguistic arguments and was the rationale for Latvian claims over the Curonian Spit, Memel, and some other territories of East Prussia. Later these claims were removed. In 1923 the newly-created Memel Territory (Klaipėda Region) separated the Curonian Spit in two parts. This separation interrupted contacts between Curonians. In 1933 Latvia tried to establish a cultural center for Kursenieki of the Curonian Spit where the majority of them lived, but was opposed by Lithuania, to which the Memel Territory belonged. Latvian books that were sent to Kursenieki were confiscated and accused of communist propaganda. The Curonian Paul Kwauka participated in the Neumann-Sass organized rebellion against Lithuania.[6] Near the end of World War II, the majority of Kursenieki fled from the Red Army during the evacuation of East Prussia. Kursenieki that remained behind were subsequently expelled by the Soviet Union after the war and replaced with Russians and Lithuanians.

Some Kursenieki managed to return to their homes after the war, but only 219 lived along the Curonian Spit in 1955. Many had German names such as Fritz or Hans, a cause for anti-German discrimination. Russian settlers called the Kursenieki fascists, while Lithuanian settlers called them Prussians. In the Lithuanian SSR, church services in German were banned. Because of this discrimination, many immigrated to West Germany in 1958, where the majority of Kursenieki now live. Neither Lithuania nor Russia has allowed the return to Kursenieki of property confiscated after World War II.

[edit] Culture

Pennant of Curonian boat from Nida
Pennant of Curonian boat from Nida

The Kursenieki are predominantly Lutheran, like most inhabitants of East Prussia, although some ancient pagan customs were preserved. Most Kursenieki were bilingual or even trilingual: the Curonian language was used within family and while fishing, German was used in everyday communication (as Curonians identified nationally with Germany), and the language of church services was German and Lithuanian. The Kursenieki were primarily fishermen.

[edit] Surnames

The surnames of Kursenieki have various origins, including:

[edit] Famous people

  • Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) had Curonian (Kursenieki) roots from paternal side.
  • Ludwig Rhesa (1776-1840) translator, member of Lietuvininks movement.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Lietuvis sauc mumis kuršininkās. Mes esam ne latviai, o kuršininkai" (Lithuanian) http://samogitia.mch.mii.lt/TAUTOSAKA/balcius.lt.htm, tr.: "Lithuanian calls us Curonians, we are not Latvians, we are Curonians".
  2. ^ Preserved Baltic, Scandinavian toponyms shows that people in Curonian Spit lived from generation to generation without interruption to 1944.
  3. ^ In the 15th century large scale emigration from Courland to Prussia has been documented. Bezzenberger A., Ueber die Sprache der Preussischen Letten, Goettingen, 1888.
  4. ^ In 1541 documents mention 162 fishermen originating from Ventspils, Kandava and other places of Courland. Forstreuter K., 1981, Das Volk des Kurisches Nehrung,– Wirkungen des Preussenlandes, Köln
  5. ^ 150 Curonians settled around Memel in 1630. 180 families arrived after 1655, some of them settled around Tilsit. A. Seraphim, Ueber Wanderungen lettischer Bauern aus Kurland nach Ostpreussen im 17. Jahrhundert, Altpreussische Monatsschrift, XXIX, 1892.
  6. ^ Paul Kwauka was a great promoter of Curonian language and culture, and the author of a Curonian-German dictionary. Curonians were loyal to Germany and identified themselves as German citizens and ethnic Curonians. Lithuanian and German researchers admit such dualistic identification (for more details read external links). (Lithuanian) http://ausis.gf.vu.lt/mg/nr/2000/03/3kvauka.html

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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