Raetia Curiensis

Raetia Curiensis or Churrätien (Rumantsch Currezia) was the name given to the former province of Raetia prima during the early medieval period. Its administrative capital was Curia Raetorum (Chur). The territory of medieval Churraetia roughly corresponds to modern Grisons (without Puschlav), plus Liechtenstein, parts of Vorarlberg, the Alpine Rhine Valley and Sarganserland, and until the 12th century also Vinschgau, Urseren and possibly either parts or all of Glarus.

In contrast to the remaining part of the former province of Raetia, Churraetia managed to retain its Latin character, giving rise to the Rumantsch language, spoken throughout its territory during the medieval period. Raetia prima was occasionally known as Raetia Curiensis even from the 4th century, and the German name Churrätien is simply an adaptation of the Latin name. Historically, it was also known as Churwalchen, Churwahlen in German (walha "Latin/Romance", c.f. Walenstadt). The existence of a medieval German/Latin language boundary at Walensee and the Churfirsten can still be perceived from the prevalence of Latin toponymy.