Bishopric of Courland

The diocese of Courland existed from about 1234 to 1583 and was, apart from Reval, the smallest of the dioceses in the Livonian area.

In the State of the Teutonic Order

After the conquest of the northern part of Courland by the Teutonic Order, the Papal legate William of Modena divided the country into three thirds of the diocese in 1245, namely German Order, bishop and cathedral chapter. The diocese was incorporated in 1255 in the Riga ecclesiastical province. The establishment of a cathedral chapter took first Bishop Edmund von Werth OT, in 1290, before. It was - as well as the diocese - the Teutonic Order incorporated, so it could only brother priests of the Order members. Its territory comprised Kurland and consisted of three parts. Developed smaller urban centers only in Hasenpoth and Pilten. After Hasenpoth laid in the 14th century, the cathedral chapter his seat, while the bishop resided at his castle in Pilten.

As part of Poland-Lithuania

The area was ruled by the bishop in 1561, no part of the Duchy of Courland. Bishop John IV secularized by 1555-60 the pen and went over to Lutheranism. The last Bishop of Courland Magnus died in 1583 without heirs. 1585 renounced Denmark for 30,000 thalers all legal claims and Poland - Lithuania gained the supremacy. Lack of money the district Pilten was pledged by 1609 to Prussia. From 1611 it was administered as part of the Duchy of Livonia from Poland - Lithuania and 1617 then declared as a Catholic diocese Pilten. 1656 the Duke of Courland -bought the right to rule over the circle Piltene, but who retained a special legal status. 1717, the personal union with Poland - Lithuania was enforced before all Courland in 1795 was part of Russia again.