Maria Amalia of Courland

Maria Amalia of Courland (1653-1711) was a noblewoman and the Duchess of Courland, a small territory in what is now Latvia. She married the Duke Friedrich Casimir of Courland in 1690. Despite her husband's poor health and incapacity to govern, Maria Amalia managed to rule the territory effectively and introduce significant reforms. She fostered the development of trade and industry, established a military academy, and promoted education and culture. Maria Amalia also had a keen interest in science and participated in philosophical and intellectual debates. She corresponded with renowned scholars and wrote a treatise on the natural philosophy of Leibniz. After her husband's death in 1698, Maria Amalia acted as regent for her son and continued to govern the duchy until her death in 1711. She was known for her intelligence, leadership skills, and commitment to progress and modernization.