TY - JOUR

T1 - The specificity of the formation of the duchies of Courland and Semigallia in the confessional era

AU - Weber, D. I.

N1 - Weber D.I. The Specificity of the Formation of the Duchies of Courland and Semigallia in the Confessional Era. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. History, 2018, vol. 63, issue 1, pp. 136–147. https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu02.2018.109

PY - 2018/1/1

Y1 - 2018/1/1

N2 - The article examines the specific character of the process of secularization of the Order's possessions in the Baltic region. It explores the formation of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia as a result of secularization of possessions of the Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order. The first half of the 16th century had brought about political and religious changes of great importance to the Baltic States, which had been associated with the spread of Protestantism in the region. Protestant duchies were formed out of the possessions of the Catholic religious-military corporation. The article focuses on religious questions in general and King Sigismund's guarantees to the classes professing Lutheranism, in particular. First implemented in 1525 by the Prussian Grand Master, Albrecht von Brandenburg-Ansbach, secularization was then carried out in 1561 in Livonia by landmaster Gotthard von Kettler. The process had resulted in the disappearance of Ordensstaat as a political entity and changes in the political map of the region. The article also analyses the meeting of the Order's gebietigers on April 5, 1560, reflecting the mood within the religious-military corporation before secularization, which was connected with the military and political situation caused by the Livonian war, and religious issues. The given examples signified the beginning of the age of Confessionalization as early as the mid-twenties of the XVI century, i.e. somewhat earlier than it had been asserted in historiography).

AB - The article examines the specific character of the process of secularization of the Order's possessions in the Baltic region. It explores the formation of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia as a result of secularization of possessions of the Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order. The first half of the 16th century had brought about political and religious changes of great importance to the Baltic States, which had been associated with the spread of Protestantism in the region. Protestant duchies were formed out of the possessions of the Catholic religious-military corporation. The article focuses on religious questions in general and King Sigismund's guarantees to the classes professing Lutheranism, in particular. First implemented in 1525 by the Prussian Grand Master, Albrecht von Brandenburg-Ansbach, secularization was then carried out in 1561 in Livonia by landmaster Gotthard von Kettler. The process had resulted in the disappearance of Ordensstaat as a political entity and changes in the political map of the region. The article also analyses the meeting of the Order's gebietigers on April 5, 1560, reflecting the mood within the religious-military corporation before secularization, which was connected with the military and political situation caused by the Livonian war, and religious issues. The given examples signified the beginning of the age of Confessionalization as early as the mid-twenties of the XVI century, i.e. somewhat earlier than it had been asserted in historiography).

KW - Baltic region

KW - Duchy of Courland and Semigallia

KW - Gotthard Keller

KW - Reformation

KW - Secularization

KW - Teutonic order

KW - Немецкий орден

KW - герцогство Курляндское и Семигальское

KW - Готтхард Кеттлер

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045959027&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.21638/11701/spbu02.2018.109

DO - 10.21638/11701/spbu02.2018.109

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85045959027

VL - 63

SP - 136

EP - 147

JO - ВЕСТНИК САНКТ-ПЕТЕРБУРГСКОГО УНИВЕРСИТЕТА. ИСТОРИЯ

JF - ВЕСТНИК САНКТ-ПЕТЕРБУРГСКОГО УНИВЕРСИТЕТА. ИСТОРИЯ

SN - 1812-9323

IS - 1

ER -