| Jacob Kettler | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Courland and Semigallia | |
|
|
|
| Reign | 17 August 1642 - 1 January 1682 |
| Predecessor | Frederick Kettler |
| Successor | Frederick Casimir Kettler |
| Spouse | Margravine Louise Charlotte of Brandenburg |
| Issue | |
| Ladislaus Frederick Kettler Frederick Casimir Kettler Charles Jacob Kettler Ferdinand Kettler Alexander Kettler Louise Elisabeth Kettler, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg Christina Kettler Charlotta Maria Kettler, Abbess of Herford Marie Amalie Kettler, Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel |
|
| House | Kettler |
| Father | Wilhelm Kettler |
| Mother | Duchess Sophie of Prussia |
| Born | 28 October 1610 Goldingen (Kuldīga) |
| Died | 1 January 1682 (aged 71) Mitau (Jelgava) |
| Burial | Ducal crypt in the Jelgava Palace |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
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.
Contents |
Kettler was born in Goldingen (Kuldīga). 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.
Kettler married Margravine Louise Charlotte of Brandenburg (1617–1676), the daughter of George William, Elector of Brandenburg and had issue:
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louise Elisabeth Kettler | 12 August 1646 | 16 December 1690 | married Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg; had issue; died aged 33 |
| Christina Kettler | - | - | never married; died young |
| Ladislas Friedrich Kettler | - | - | never married; died young |
| Frederick II Casimir Kettler | 6 July 1650 | 22 January 1698 | married (1) Countess Sophie Amalie of Nassau-Siegen; had issue (2) Margravine Elisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg; had issue; died aged 48 |
| Charlotta Maria Kettler | 17 September 1651 | 1 December 1728 | never married; became the Abbess in Herford; died aged 76 |
| Marie Amalie Anna Kettler | 12 June 1653 | 16 June 1711 | married Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel; had issue; died aged 58 |
| Charles Jacob Kettler | 20 October 1654 | 29 December 1677 | never married; died aged 23 |
| Ferdinand Kettler | 2 November 1655 | 4 May 1737 | married Princess Johanna Magdalene of Saxe-Weissenfels; no issue; died aged 81 |
| Alexander Kettler | 16 October 1658 | 1686 | never married; died aged 28 |
| Preceded by Friedrich Kettler |
Duke of Courland 1642-1682 |
Succeeded by Frederick Casimir Kettler |