Friedrich Kettler [SEP] mother
Courland portion. Friedrich ruled the entire duchy from 1617 onward, after his brother emigrated due to conflicts with the nobility.
Life and reign.
Friedrich Kettler was born to Gotthard Kettler and his wife, Anna of Mecklenburg. The first of two sons, Friedrich in his youth had a good education and travelled to many other European countries. According to Gotthard Kettler's will, the duchy was to be divided between his two sons.
After his father's death in 1587, Friedrich and his younger brother, Wilhelm
January 1698 he was appointed as the Duke of Courland and Semigallia, however, until the age of majority state was governed by his mother and uncle Ferdinand Kettler, who resided in Danzig.
When in the 1701 Semigallia was occupied by the Swedes, Friedrich Wilhelm with her mother went to his uncle Frederick, who later was crowned the first king in Prussia. He stayed in Prussia until 1709 when after Russian victories against Sweden was decided to engage marriage between 17 years old Friedrich Wilhelm and Anna, daughter of Tsar Ivan V