Jacob Kettler

Jacob Kettler
Jacob Kettler
Duke of Courland and Semigallia
Duke of Courland and Semigallia
Reign	17 August 1642 - 1 January 1682
Predecessor	Frederick Kettler
Successor	Frederick Casimir Kettler
Born	28 October 1610; Goldingen (Kuldīga)
Died	1 January 1682 (aged 71); Mitau (Jelgava)
Burial	Ducal crypt in the Jelgava Palace
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
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.

Life

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.

Issue

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