Courland

Courland is a minor faction in Empire: Total War.

In the Empire: Total War, Courland starts the Grand Campaign sandwiched between its protector, Poland-Lithuania, to the south and Sweden to the north. Courland has a reputation of being abnormally aggressive for its size, and will often cause headaches for Sweden and Prussia by declaring war on them. It fields a very large army for a minor nation, and will retrain very quickly if its units are killed.

Starting Position

Basics at Start

• Government – Absolute Monarchy
• Culture – European
• Capitol – Courland, Jelgava
• Starting Treasury – 7500
• Victory Conditions –
• Diplomacy Relationships – Protectorate of Poland-Lithuania
• Starting Armies/Fleets – 1/0

Regions

Courland, Jelgava

• Type – Minor
• Starting Buildings – Minor Governor's Encampment
• Infrastructure – Basic Roads
• Population – 849273/875000
• Religion – Protestant 85%, Catholic 15%
• Wealth – 100
• Garrison – General, Demi Cannon (24 lbr), Provincial Cavalry, Pikemen, 2 Militia
• Starting Towns/Villages/Ports – kuldiga (Craft, Metal Workshop) Ogre (undeveloped), Tukums Forests (Timber, Logging Camp), Preili Farmland (Wheat, Peasnt Farms), Liepaja (Poert, undeveloped)

Unit Roster

Since it holds a minor territory, Courland will often mass line infantry, provincial cavalry, and lighter caliber artillery. If it captures a major region, Courland can train the entirety of the generic European unit roster. In addition, Courland's roster is similar to that of Poland-Lithuania: should it take Poland, it can recruit Winged Hussars, Kalmuks, and Tatars. Finally Courland also has access to various Cossack units such as the Cossack Ataman Cavalry.

History

Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. As Duchy of Courland and Semigallia was a semi-independent duchy that existed from 1561 until 1795, encompassing the areas of Courland and Semigallia. Although nominally a vassal state of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the dukes operated autonomously. In the 18th century Russia acquired great influence over the Duchy. The Duchy was one of the smallest European nations to colonize overseas territories, establishing short-lived outposts on the Caribbean island of Tobago and at the mouth of the Gambia river in Africa. In 1795, the last Duke, Peter von Biron, ceded the Duchy to the Russian Empire.