New Courland

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Were the colonies of the Duchy of Courland in the America.

Establishment

January 1638: In 1637, the Duchy of Courland colonized Tobago, making it the second smallest European nation to establish a presence in America. The colonization was led by Duke Jacob Kettler of Courland, who aimed to establish a profitable colony for his nation.

Chronology

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1. Events

January 1640: The first Couronian colony in Tobago, established by Duke Jacob Kettler of Courland, was blockaded by the Spanish in 1639. This prevented the colony from developing further and ultimately led to its demise.

May 1654: On 20 May 1654, the ship The Arms of the Duchess of Courland arrived carrying 45 cannon, 25 officers, 124 Couronian soldiers and 80 families of colonists to occupy Tobago. Captain Willem Mollens declared the island New Courland.

October 1654: Forts Lampsinsberg, Beveren, and Bellavista were conquered by British and destroyed by French.

December 1659: Taken by the more numerous Dutch settlers, who surrounded Fort James and forced Hubert de Beveren, Governor of the Couronians, to surrender. The merchant fleet and factories were destroyed. Courland officially yielded New Courland on 11 December 1659.

May 1660: Tobago was returned to Courland.

January 1663: The Dutch brothers Adrian and Cornelius Lampsins were granted the title of Barons of Tobago.

January 1681: Tobago was regained again just for a short period at the end of Duke Jacob's rule with an attempt in July 1680 at a new colony which also later failed.

January 1684: New Courland (Tobago) was abandoned in 1683.

January 1684: A final Courlander attempt to settle the island of Tobago took place in 1687.

Disestablishment

January 1691: The island was abandoned to itself from March 1683 to June 1686. In 1689 the Curlanders left Tobago definitively: in May of the following year, the island was sold.