Curonians - History

History

The Curonians were known as fierce warriors, excellent sailors and pirates. They were involved in several wars and alliances with Swedish, Danish, Icelandic and Kven Vikings. During that period they were the most restless and the richest of all the Balts.

In c. 750, according to Norna-Gests þáttr from c. 1157, the king of Denmark and Sweden, Sigurd Ring, fought against the invading Curonians and Kvens in the southern part of what today is Sweden:

"Sigurd Ring (Sigurðr) was not there, since he had to defend his land, Sweden (Svíþjóð), since Curonians (Kúrir) and Kvens (Kvænir) were raiding there."

Grobin (Grobiņa) was the main centre of the Curonians during the Vendel Age. Chapter 46 of Egils Saga describes one Viking expedition by the Vikings Thorolf and Egill Skallagrímsson in Courland. They took part with the Oeselians in attacking Sweden's main city Sigtuna in 1187. Curonians established temporary settlements near Riga and in overseas regions including eastern Sweden and the islands of Gotland and Bornholm.

The Curonians had a strong warrior culture and were related to Old Prussians and are considered to be western-Baltic people.

The Curonians were an especially religious people, worshipping pagan gods and their sacred animal, the horse. Some of the most important written sources about the Curonians are Rimbert's Vita Ansgarii, the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia, the Livländische Reimchronik, Egils Saga, and Saxo Grammaticus's Gesta Danorum.

It was common for the Curonians to carry out joint raids and campaigns together with Estonians (Oeselians). However in the 13th. century, during Livonian crusade, curonians formed an alliance with semigallians. It resulted with joint attack to Riga in 1228. In the same time, according to the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle, Curonians and Samogitians were known as "bad neighbours".