Piltene

Population

History

• 1220: King Valdemar II of Denmark erects a castle on the site.
• September 1234: Bishopric of Courland established, consisting of three separate enclaves after numerous distributions of the Couronian lands among the Bishops of Courland, and of Riga, and the Teutonic Order.
• 1290: The cathedral chapter is incorporated into the Teutonic Order lands, the bishopric is subjected to the Order.
• 1520: Made a sovereign principality of the Holy Roman Empire, but style of prince not used.
• 20 May 1560: Sold to the King of Denmark, given as an appanage to the brother of the King, Magnus, Duke of Holstein.
• 1578: Bishop Magnus accepts sovereignty of Poland-Lithuania.
• 20 April 1585: Sold by Denmark to Poland-Lithuania.
• 17 June 1585: Informal subdivisions established: Pilten, Dondangen and Amboten.
• 28 October 1611: Incorporation into Poland-Lithuania as the District of Pilten as part of Polish Livonia declared.
• 9 May 1617: Bishopric of Pilten in personal union with Poland-Lithuania.
• 1656: The rights of pledge bought by the Duke of Courland.
• 3 May 1660: Fief of Poland-Lithuanian to the Duke of Courland.
• 25 February 1661: Formal personal union with Courland.
• 1701 - 1709: Occupied by Sweden.
• 1717: Personal union with the Commonwealth restored.
• 28 March 1795: Pilten Landtag approves annexation to Russia, suzerainty of Poland-Lithuania declared void.
• 26 April 1795: Annexed by Russia, autonomy guaranteed.
• 28 January 1796: Autonomy abolished, fully incorporated into Courland.
• 1 February 1797: Local autonomy restored, within the province of Courland.
• July 1812 - November 1812: Occupied by France and made part of the Duchy of Courland, Semigallia and Pilten.
• 2 March 1818: Fully incorporated into Courland.