Bandava


Bandava - and old Curonian land which existed in the territory of the Latvia during the late Iron Age until it was conquered and divided in 1253 by Bishopric of Courland and Livonian Order.

History

It is first mentioned in the biography of Bishop Ansgar written by Bishop Rimbert of Bremen. It is also mentioned in the January 17, 1231 treaty between the Baldwin von Alna and Curonians.
In the April 4, 1253 treaty it was split between Bishop of Courland and Order of Livonia.

Geography

The country was located between Ventava,, Piemare, and the Baltic Sea on the present territory of Ventspils district and Kuldīga district in Latvia with the administrative center near the modern-day Kuldīga.
It included some of the following villages :,, Vepele, Libiņi, Skrunda, Jērnieki,, Alsunga, Arsene, Asene, Ursuļi, Urāle, Ardone, Pakare, Nikte, Šķēde,,,,,, Tigve, Karitanke, Velži and Manestute.
In the treaty of April 4, 1253, concluded by the Bishop of Courland Heinrich and the Master of the Livonian Order, the land of Bandava was divided into two parts. The north-eastern part with Kuldīga Castle near Venta river was received by the Livonian Order, but the south-western part with Aizpute and Embūte castles was further ruled by the Diocese of Kurzeme.
The settlements of Bandava referred to in the Agreement in the part of the Livonian Order :
  • Walteten — ,
  • Sargamiten — Sermīte,
  • Wepele — Vaipas,
  • Lippeten or Lippayten — Lipaiķi,
  • Libben — Libiņi,
  • Scrunden — Skrunda,
  • Irien or Yrien — Jērnieki vai Dziras,
  • Turlowe — Turlava,
  • Alswangen — Alsunga,
  • Asen — Āžu mājas,
  • Arsen — Ārzes or Ārdze,
  • Iherusalem or Iursalen — Ursuļi,
  • Arolde or Aralden — Urāle,
  • Arden — Ardone ,
  • castellatura Dzerbithen — Raņķu pilskalns,
  • Mesete or Masote — ?,
  • Packare — Pakare?,
  • Nicken or Nitthen — Nikte,
  • Scheden — Šķēde,
  • Pavelden or Paiulden — Snēpele,
  • Villegale — Vilgale,
  • Eze — Īvandes mācītājmuiža,
  • Kewele or Kewalen — Ķimale,
  • Kormale or Kormalen — Kurmāle,
  • Kemalen — Ķimale,
  • Ywande — Īvande,
  • Togowe or Tigwen — Tigas.
The settlements of Bandava in the part of the bishop of Kurzeme mentioned in the agreement :
  • Amboten — Embūte,,
  • Kalten — Kalši,,
  • Baten — Bāte,,
  • Waruwe — Vārve,,
  • Elkene — Elkuzeme,,
  • Assiten — Asīte,,
  • Rese — Rēzas,,
  • Cepse — Sepene,,
  • Padoren — Tāšu Padure,,
  • Selde or Celde — Cildi,,
  • Lene — Lēņi,,
  • Nodingen or Nedingen — Nēdinga,,
  • Parbonen — Pērbone,,
  • Kalnien or Kalven —,,
  • Apussen — Vecapūze,,
  • Hasenpotten — Aizpute,
  • Iameten — Jamaiķi,,
  • Scherenden or Zerenden — Cerenda or Cindari,,
  • Adze — Adze,,
  • Pewe — Pievika.