| 词条 | Curonian Kings |
| 释义 |
Curonian Kings ({{lang-de|Kurische Könige}}; {{lang-lv|kuršu ķoniņi}}) are a Latvian cultural group, originally lesser vassals and free farmers that lived in seven villages between Goldingen (Kuldīga) and Hasenpoth (Aizpute) in Courland. It is unclear how Curonian Kings gained their status, however a popular assumption is that their ancestors were Curonian nobility prior to conquest by Livonian Order. They were first mentioned in a document of 1320 and lived in the villages of Ķoniņciems, Pliķu ciems, Kalējciems, Ziemeļciems, Viesalgciems, Sausgaļciems, and Dragūnciems (now in Kuldīga municipality). All of them possessed independent farms (did not belong to any lord), but they were not allowed to own their own serfs. They had only one landlord komtur of Kuldīga and they were related to him only by military service in case of war. Curonians usually served as a light cavalry in the Livonian Order army. Sources mentions that Curonian Kings fought in the Livonian War against invading Russians, as Johann Renner's chronicle reports: The Russians protected themselves boldly, and they knocked out a Curonian cadet (who, although only a peasant, is called by them the Curonian king) from his horse. —Johann Renner, Lievländische Historien, 1556–1561, C. 124v Curonian Kings also was allowed to practice some aspects of paganism during period of Livonian Confederation. Despite formal Christianisation after Livonian Crusade Curonian Kings owned a sacred forest where nobody was allowed to hunt or walk. It was used as a place of worship and for cremation of the dead. Hunt was allowed only once a year before Christmas but part of the game must be used as offering. Most likely those were Curonian Kings which was described by Guillebert de Lannoy in 1413 when he traveled from Konigsberg to Novgorod. He writes that there is a sect of curonians who still burns their dead in a sacred groves with garments and weapons with them. Part of this forest has survived until 21st century and local people still maintains it with great respect. In 1504 master of the Livonian order Walter von Plettenberg awarded Curonian King Andrejs Peniķis, commander of curonian light cavalry for his loyal service during livonian wars with Muscovite Russia. It is known that in the 17th century Curonian Kings had their own coats of arms. In the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia they gradually lost their privileges, but they were still counted as separate class. They were not recognized landlords but maintained middle position between landlords and peasants. However, in 18th century they were likened to serfs, although with smaller socage duties. Their status was again recognized in 19th century, although they were not recognized as part of local nobility. In 1860 there were 833 Curonian kings living in Courland Governorate. While the Curonian tribe had long been assimilated by the Latvians, the Curonian Kings preserved a separate identity and traditions. Differences mandated by traditional rights disappeared as legal basis for them was removed in 1920s after Latvia became independent. Notable Curonian Kings
References{{commonscat|Curonian Kings}}
4 : Social history of Latvia|Latvian people|Historical ethnic groups of Europe|People from Courland |
| 随便看 |
|
开放百科全书收录14589846条英语、德语、日语等多语种百科知识，基本涵盖了大多数领域的百科知识，是一部内容自由、开放的电子版国际百科全书。