L811.] 
the Templars, and recognized the 
bishop of Riga as their chief, While the 
good fortune of Waldemar continued, 
these knights could only be. regarded as 
auxiliaries of the Danes; however, so 
early as 1206, Albert, bishop of Riga, 
had bestowed upon them the third part 
of Livonia, which he did not POSSeSS, 
and soon after the pope confirmed this 
singular donation. The first grand- 
master of the order was Winno; he 
gave the knights the name of Ensiferi, 
or Sword-bearers. In the year 1238, 
they solemnly united themselves with 
the Teutonic order, and adopted all 
their statutes. 
These knights. first. subdued Livonia 
and Courland between 1230 and 1240. 
An age of batties and of victories ex- 
tended their renown, but did not conso- 
Nidate their power. In 13846 they pur- 
chased Esthonia from, Waldemar, king 
of Denmark; in 1521 the grand-master 
Walter de Plettenberg, purchased from 
the grand-master of the Teutonic order 
in Prussia, the full sovereignty. By this 
contract the order of the Knights of the 
Sword became independent, and was ad- 
mitted into the number of the states of 
the empire. About this time the refor- 
mation of Luther began to penetrate into 
Livonia: the dissension which these new 
religious Opinions created, weakened the 
power of the knights.*. The Czar Iwan 
Wasiliewitsch thought this a favourable 
Opportunity to attempt the conquest of 
these countries: pressed by the Rus- 
sians, the inhabitants of Revel and of 
Narva, placed themselves under the pro- 
tection of Sweden. ‘The grand-master 
Gothard Kettler ceded Livonia to the 
Poles, resigned his title of grand- 
master, and in 1561 became the first 
Duke of Courland, after having done 
homage to Poland. Thus ended the state 
founded by the Knights of the Sword, 
after having continued for more than 
three centuries. ‘Those Knights had ci- 
vilized the Lettons and Esthonians, if we 
can call. civilization the establishment 
of a privileged cast, and the reduction 
of the primitive nation to the most 
dreadful species of slavery. 
Sull, however, the greatest misfortunes 
of these countHEs, jd not commeuce till 
after the deca ythe Knights of the 
Sword; their spoils heeame in a manner 
the apple Heroes etween Russia (then 
Muscovy), Sweden, and Poland. Af 
teraceatury of almost continual wars, the 
ticaty of Oliva in 1660, confirmed Swe- 
= 
es 
Account of the Duchy of Courland. 
505 
den in the possession of Esthonia and 
Livonia. Courland remained subject to 
the sovereignty of Poland. 
The eighteenth century renewed afresh 
all the horrors of war in the very heart 
of these countries; they were almost to- 
tally laid waste by the Russians, who 
remained masters of them by the peace 
of Neustadt, in 1721. 
The tranguillity which these provinces 
have enjoyed since they became part of 
the Russian empire, has not, however, 
been sufficient to heal those wounds 
which war, pestilence, and famine, in- 
flicted on them at the commencement of 
thelast century. Although more advan- 
tageously situated than any other pro- 
Virice of northern Russia, although con- 
nected by the same language, and even 
customs, with Germany, these countries 
cannot, however, be reckoned amongst 
the best peopled or best cultivated, parts 
of the’ empire. The vassalage and ser- 
vitude of the peasantry is the chief ob- 
stacle to political and economical civis 
lization. The peasantry here is nearly, 
ifnot entirely, upon the same footing that 
the slaves were with the ancient Ro- 
mans. Their lords or masters, are not 
obliged to, nor do they, allow generally 
“more than whiat is barely necessary for. 
their subsistence; they can sell or change 
them at their pleasure; separate the 
husband from the wife, the parent from 
the child ; and exercise every sort of un- 
controuled and unlimited power over 
them, as though they were merely ani- 
mals born for their use. For these rights 
and privileges of the nobility did the ce- 
Jebrated Patkul contend: if the nobles 
have not the power of life and death, it 
is to Sweden that humanity owes this 
soothing reflection, the Swedish govern- 
ment having deprived the nobility of all 
criminal jurisdiction. The Emperor Alex- 
ander has even forced the nobility* to 
other reforms mild as salutary. 
Courland alone should now occupy 
our attention more particularly, ‘This 
state, formerly a vassal of Poland, since 
the year 1795 forms a Russian govern- 
ment under the same name. 
Over an extent of surface of 452 
square miles (German), or 1,255 square 
leagues, is scattered a population of 
404,266 individuals, which gives $22 to 
each square league. The fullowing is the 
* ‘These reforms were the consequence 
of the German work of Merkel, entitled, 
«© Die Letten,” The Letters. 
7 Mes oe comparative 
