Bandava - the old Curonian

Courland

Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...

 land in the late iron age

Iron Age

The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...

 and in 13th century. For the first time was mentioned in the biography of Bishop Ansgar ("Vita Anskarii") written by Bishop Rimbert

Rimbert

Saint Rimbert was archbishop of Bremen-Hamburg from 865 until his death.A monk in Turholt , he shared a missionary trip to Scandinavia with his friend Ansgar, whom he later succeeded as archbishop in Hamburg-Bremen in 865...

 of Bremen (lived before 888 AD). The country was located between Ventava, Ceklis, Piemare

Piemare

Piemare was one of the main Curonian kihelkonds and with an administrative center in Esestua before the 13th century. It was founded by Viking B. Lamekin in the 10th century and was located between Bandava, Duvzare and the Baltic sea on the territory of present Liepāja district in Latvia. For the...

, Duvzare and the Baltic Sea

Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...

 on the present territory of Ventspils district

Ventspils District

The Ventspils District was an administrative division of Latvia, located in the Courland region, in the country's west.The district consisted of 11 parishes - Ance, Jūrkalne, Pope, Puze, Targale, Ugale, Usma, Uzava, Varve, Ziras, Zlekas parish and Piltene town's rural territory.Districts were...

 and Kuldīga district

Kuldiga District

Kuldīga District was an administrative division of Latvia, located in Courland region, in the country's west. It was organized into a city and thirteen parishes, each with a local government authority. The main city in the district was Kuldīga....

 in Latvia

Latvia

Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...

. Division of Bandava country was mentioned in 1253. Consisted from the following settlements (villae): Valtaiķi, Sermīte, Vepele, Lipaiķi, Libiņi, Skrunda

Skrunda

Skrunda is a town in Latvia. It lies 150 km west of the capital city Riga.- Skrunda-1 :Skrunda is best known as the town nearest the former Soviet secret city, Skrunda-1, which housed two major radar installations during the cold war period. Skrunda-1 is currently a ghost town, as the last...

, Jērnieki, Turlava, Alsunga

Alsunga

Alsunga is a village in Alsunga Municipality, Latvia. Alsunga is the center of the Suiti people - a small Catholic community in the Lutheran western part of Latvia. There are approximately 940 inhabitants in Alsunga....

, Arsene, Asene, Ursuļi, Urāle, Ardone, Pakare, Nikte, Šķēde, Snēpele, Vilgale, Kormale, Ķimale, Īvande, Tigve, Karitanke, Velži and Manestute