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. It existed as an independent duchy from 1561 to 1795, when it was annexed by Russia. It was reconstituted by Germany in 1918 as an intended client state, but Germany's ultimate defeat at the end of World War I, when it became part of Latvia. Courland was the scene of fierce fighting between German and Soviet troops during World War II.

Courland in Curious Notions
Courland was one of several client states established by Germany after it won the brief war of 1914.