The family rose to prominence when the last member of the reigning House of Kettler was left without any male heirs.

As a result, Ernst Johann von Biron, a lover of Empress Anna of Russia, succeeded Ferdinand Kettler as Duke of Courland and Semigallia.

However, the dynasty was short lived and ended with Peter von Biron, who died in 1800 with no male heirs.

[1] Today, existing line of the family are descendants of Prince Karl Ernst, Duke Peter's younger brother.

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