Territory of the modern Kandava was inhabited by Finnic tribes until 10th century when Curonian expansion to the north started. Settlement grew around Kandava hillfort which was important centre in the curonian land of Vanema. As a settlement, it is first mentioned in 1230 in a peace treaty between the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, citizens of Riga and the Curonian residents of the Abava valley. Local residents kept their lands but were forced to accept Christianity, pay annual tribute and participate in crusading campaigns against pagans. However, after several uprisings, a new treaty was signed between Livonian Order and Bishopric of Courland in 1253 and lands of the Vanema was partitioned. Its southern portion including Kandava became property of Livonian Order.
Livonian Confederation
A military castle was built around 1257, but it was gradually dismantled over the years and now only its foundations can be seen in a town park. The oldest remaining structure is a guard tower built in 1334 and later used for gunpowder storage. In 1312 Kandava castle became residence of the vogt and administrative centre of the former land of Vanema. In the 16th century there is church, school and tavern mentioned in the Kandava.
In the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia Kandava became centre of Hauptmannshaft Candau. Kandava received village rights in 1625. During the reign of duke Jacob Kettler, several manufactures was established around Kandava. In the village there was a flax weaving mill and a gun powder mill where gunpowder was manufactured from local brimstone and saltpeter. During this period, the population in Kandava reached 1000 people. Further development was stopped by the Second Northern War when Swedes sacked and destroyed Kandava Castle. During the Great Northern War, Swedes again destroyed the castle in 1703. In 1710, a plague epidemic started and from 600 residents, only several craftsman survived. During the 18th century, Kandava castle lost its military significance. In 1730, two schools were opened in the village and in 1736, a new church was built.
Courland Governorate
When the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia were annexed by the Russian Empire in 1795, there were only 439 residents in Kandava. In 1799, Jews were allowed to settle in the village. In 1812, Kandava was occupied for a short period by the army of Napoleon. During the 19th century, Kandava saw rapid development, and in 1892, there were already 2100 residents in the village. As a result, Kandava received limited town rights and its first town council was elected in 1893. In 1904, the Riga - Ventspils railway line was constructed near the town. During the revolution of 1905, Kandava was taken over by a local workers committee for a month. In 1914, there were 2300 residents in the town and 4000 in the rural territory around it. There were a town school, water mill, power station, a lime kiln and several sawmills in Kandava. After the start of the First World War, 75% of the town population fled from the advancing German army to Vidzeme or further east into Russia. However, during the German occupation Kandava was granted full town rights in 1917.
Kandava is a member of the Charter of European Rural Communities, a town twinning association across the European Union. Charter of European Rural Communities
