In January 1521, following the establishment of the secular Duchy of Prussia, the Bishopric of Courland became independent of the now-defunct State of the Teutonic Order and came under the direct control of the Holy Roman Empire as Stift Kurland.

[1] At the start of the Livonian War, fearing a Russian invasion, Bishop Johann IV von Münchhausen sold the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek to King Frederick II of Denmark on September 26, 1559, for 30,000 thalers.

In 1570, he granted Jews the right to freely settle in his properties, engage in trade and crafts, acquire real estate, and practice their religious activities and traditions.

The nobility of Piltene delayed reporting Magnus' death, hoping to come under the control of the King of Denmark and avoid the rule of Duke Gotthard of Courland or Catholic Poland.

Encouraged by Danish support, Piltene rejected Livonian governor Jerzy Radziwiłł’s order to recognize Polish-Lithuanian authority.

On July 29, 1583, Piltene’s and Denmark’s forces were defeated in the Battle of Embūte, where 60 cavalrymen and 80 infantrymen with three cannons fought against a Polish unit commanded by Pankoslavsky.