Editing Courland (section)

=== Duchy of Courland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1561–1795 ===
[[Image:Duchy of Courland & Semigallia 1740.svg|thumb|right|The [[Duchy of Courland and Semigallia]] and the [[District of Pilten]] as it appeared in 1740]]
{{main|Duchy of Courland and Semigallia|Couronian colonization}}
The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia was a semi-independent [[duchy]] that existed from 1561 until 1795, encompassing the areas of Courland and Semigallia.  Although nominally a [[vassal]] state of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]], the dukes operated autonomously. In the 18th century, Russia acquired great influence over the Duchy; the future Empress [[Anna of Russia]] served as regent there from 1711 until her accession to the Russian throne in 1730. After the last of the [[Ketteler|ducal line]] into which she had married died in 1737, she arranged for the Duchy to be given to her lover, [[Ernst Johann von Biron]] instead.

The Duchy was one of the smallest European nations to colonize overseas territories, establishing short-lived outposts on the [[Caribbean]] islands of [[Tobago]] and [[Trinidad]] and at the mouth of the [[Gambia River]] in [[Africa]] on what was then known as [[Kunta Kinteh Island|James Island]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://niniwa22.cba.pl/kolodziejczyk_kolonie_w_afryce.htm |last=Kołodziejczyk |first=Dariusz |author-link=Dariusz Kołodziejczyk |lang=pl |magazine=[[Mówią Wieki]] |year=1994 |volume=5 |pages=44–47 |title=Czy Rzeczpospolita miałakolonie w Afryce i Ameryce? – czyli czy kolonia mojego wasala jest moją kolonią? |trans-title=Did the [Polish-Lithuanian] Commonwealth have colonies in Africa and America? - or, is my vassal's colony my colony? |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210829171827/http://niniwa22.cba.pl/kolodziejczyk_kolonie_w_afryce.htm |archive-date=2021-08-29 |url-status=bot: unknown |via=www.niniwa22.cba.pl |access-date=2021-08-29 }}</ref>

In 1795, the last Duke, [[Peter von Biron]], ceded the Duchy to the [[Russian Empire]].

The former [[Bishopric of Courland]] was directly incorporated into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth as the [[District of Pilten]] of the [[Wenden Voivodeship|Wenden]] and later [[Inflanty Voivodeship]].