Piltene (pronunciationⓘ; Livonian: Piltõn, Polish: Piltyń, German: Pilten) is a town in Ventspils Municipality, in the Courland region of Latvia. The population in 2020 was 909.
The ruins of Piltene Castle are located in Piltene.
Population
Population (Year): 40,000 (1795)
History
- 1290: The cathedral chapter is incorporated into the Teutonic Order lands, the bishopric is subjected to the Order.
- 1520: Made a sovereign principality (prince-bishopric) of the Holy Roman Empire (formally from January 1521), but style of prince not used.
- 20 May 1560: Sold to the King of Denmark, given as an appanage (Stift Kurland) to the brother of the King, Magnus, Duke of Holstein.
- 1578: Bishop Magnus accepts sovereignty of Poland–Lithuania (not ratified by the Diet of Poland–Lithuania, or recognized by Denmark).
- 20 April 1585: Sold by Denmark to Poland–Lithuania.
- 17 June 1585: Informal subdivisions established: Pilten (administered by pledges to 1660), Dondangen (Polish "throne fief" to 1795) and Amboten (Polish "throne fief" to 16..).
- 28 October 1611: Incorporation into Poland–Lithuania as the district of Pilten (German: Kreis Pilten, Polish: Powiat Piltynski) as part of Polish Livonia declared (not effected).
- 9 May 1617: Bishopric of Pilten (Stift Pilten) in personal (actually subordinated) union with Poland–Lithuania.
- 1656: The rights of pledge bought by the Duke of Courland.
- 3 May 1660: Fief of Poland–Lithuanian to the Duke of Courland.
- 25 February 1661: Formal personal union with Courland.
- 1701 - 1709: Occupied by Sweden (1705 - 1706 interrupted by Russian occupation).
- 1717: Personal union with the Commonwealth restored.
- 28 March 1795: Pilten Landtag approves annexation to Russia, suzerainty of Poland–Lithuania declared void.
- 26 April 1795: Annexed by Russia, autonomy guaranteed.
- 28 January 1796: Autonomy abolished, fully incorporated into Courland.
- 1 February 1797: Local autonomy restored, within the province of Courland.
- July 1812 - November 1812: Occupied by France and made part of the Duchy of Courland, Semigallia and Pilten.
- 2 March 1818: Fully incorporated into Courland.