Polish historical regions
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Polish historic regions are regions that were related to a former Polish state, or are within present-day Poland, with or without being identified in its administrative divisions.
There are several historic and cultural regions in Poland that are called ethnographic regions. Their exact borders cannot be drawn, as the regions are not official political or administrative units. They are delimited by culture, such as country traditions, traditional lifestyle, songs, tales, etc. To some extent, the regions correspond to the zones of Polish language dialects. The correspondence, however, is by no means strict.
Historical regions within the current Polish state
The following
historic regions
within Poland's modern borders belonged to the Polish state during most of its existence, inhabited by a majority or a sizeable Polish- or Cashubian-speaking population, thus forming the core Polish territory:
Kalisz Land
- Latin: Polonia Maior), the nucleus of Polish statehood, during the Partitions of Poland renamed together with Kuyavia, Łęczyca-Sieradz Land and northern part of Mazovia as South Prussia, later made a part of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw, after its dissolution partially in Congress Poland, later Vistula Land, a historical region of Russia, while the other part was in Hohenzollern-ruled Grand Duchy of Posen outside the German Confederation, later renamed Province of Posen, finally annexed upon the establishment of North German Confederationby Germany, thus forming a German historical region
- Kalisz Land (Polish: Ziemia kaliska), during the Partitions of Poland renamed together with Kuyavia, Łęczyca-Sieradz Land and northern part of Mazovia as South Prussia, later made a part of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw, after its dissolution partially in Congress Poland, later Vistula Land, a historical region of Russia, while the other part was in the Hohenzollern-ruled Grand Duchy of Posen outside the German Confederation, later renamed Province of Posen, finally annexed upon the establishment of North German Confederationby Germany, thus forming a German historical region
- Pałuki (Polish: Pałuki), during the Partitions of Poland renamed together with rest of Greater Poland, Kuyavia, Łęczyca-Sieradz Land and northern part of Mazovia as South Prussia, later made a part of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw,֪ after its dissolution a part of the Hohenzollern-ruled Grand Duchy of Posen outside the German Confederation, later renamed Province of Posen, finally annexed upon the establishment of North German Confederation by Germany, thus forming a German historical region
- Krajna (Polish: Krajna), during the Partitions of Poland renamed together with rest of Greater Poland, Kuyavia, Łęczyca-Sieradz Land and northern part of Mazovia as South Prussia, later made a part of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw,֪ after its dissolution a part of the Hohenzollern-ruled Grand Duchy of Posen outside the German Confederation, later renamed Province of Posen, finally annexed upon the establishment of North German Confederation by Germany, thus forming a German historical region
- Latin: Cuiavia), during the Partitions of Poland renamed together with rest of Greater Poland, Kuyavia, Łęczyca-Sieradz Land and northern part of Mazovia as South Prussia, later made a part of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw, after its dissolution partially in Congress Poland, later Vistula Land, a historical region of Russia, while the other part was a part of the Hohenzollern-ruled Grand Duchy of Posen outside the German Confederation, later renamed Province of Posen, finally annexed upon the establishment of North German Confederationby Germany, thus forming a German historical region
- Inowrocław Land
- Brześć Land
- Dobrzyń Land (Polish: Ziemia dobrzyńska)
- Łęczyca-Sieradz Land (Polish: Ziemia łęczycko-sieradzka), during the Partitions of Poland renamed together with Kuyavia, Łęczyca-Sieradz Land and northern part of Mazovia as South Prussia, later made a part of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw, after its dissolution part of Congress Poland, later Vistula Land, a historical region of Russia
- Łęczyca Land (Polish: Ziemia łęczycka)
- Sieradz Land (Polish: Ziemia sieradzka)
- Wieluń Land (Polish: Ziemia wieluńska)
- Masovia (Polish: Mazowsze, Latin: Mazovia), during the Partitions of Poland the northern part renamed together with Greater Poland, Kuyavia, and Łęczyca-Sieradz Land as South Prussia, while the southern part was a part of Russia, the entire region later made a part of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw, after its dissolution part of Congress Poland, later Vistula Land, a historical region of Russia
- Kurpie (Polish: Kurpie)
- Płock Land (Polish: Ziemia płocka)
- Rawa Land (Polish: Ziemia rawska)
- Zawkrze
Coats of arms of the Kraków, Lublin and Sandomierz lands, divisions of Lesser Poland
- Grand Duchy of Cracow, forming part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, a historical region of Austria
- Kraków Land (Polish: Ziemia krakowska)
- Siewierz Land (New Silesia)
- Oświęcim Land
- Zator Land
- Dąbrowa Basin (Polish: Zagłębie Dąbrowskie)
- Podhale (Polish: Podhale)
- Spisz(Polish: Spisz, only partially in modern Poland, also a Slovakian and a Hungarian historical region)
- Orawa (Polish: Orawa, only partially in modern Poland, also a Slovakian and a Hungarian historical region)
- Sandomierz Land(Polish: Ziemia sandomierska)
- Lublin Land(Polish: Ziemia lubelska)
- Kraków Land (Polish: Ziemia krakowska)
- Polesia (Polish: Polesie, Latin: Polesia, also a historical region of Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Russia, only minor part remains in modern Poland)
- Cherven Cities (Polish: Grody Czerwieńskie, Ukrainian: Червенські городи), also a historical region of Ukraine, only partially in modern Poland), also known as Red Ruthenia (Polish: Ruś Czerwona, Latin: Ruthenia Rubra), also known as Halychyna, Halych Ruthenia or Halych Rus’, also a historical region of Ukraine and Hungary; during the Partitions of Poland partially in the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, a historical region of Austria and Hungary, while the northern part was in Congress Poland, later renamed Vistula Land, a historical region of Russia
- Chełm Land (Polish: Ziemia chełmska), including the Zamość Region (Polish: Zamojszczyzna), during the Partitions of Poland partially in the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, a historical region of Austria, while the other part was in Congress Poland, later renamed Vistula Land, a historical region of Russia
- Przemyśl Land (Polish: Ziemia przemyska),
- Bełz Land (Polish: Ziemia bełska), only partially in modern Poland, while the other part including its capital is in Ukraine, during the Partitions of Poland a part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, a historical region of Austria,
- notably without the Lwów Land and its capital city of Lwów, currently entirely in Ukraine, before World War II a city with absolute Polish-majority population, and one of the principal administrative, economic, educational, scientific, cultural and religious hubs of Poland; earlier, the nucleus and principal center of Polish national movement struggling to regain the independence of the country after the Partitions
- Latin: Pomerania), later part of the historical Polish province of Royal Prussia, also a Danish historical region; during Partitions of Poland made a part of the province of West Prussia (Polish: Prusy Zachodnie, German: Westpreußen outside the German Confederation, finally annexed upon the establishment of North German Confederation by Germany, thus being a German historical region)
- Latin: Cassubia)
- Kociewie (Polish: Kociewie, German: Kociewie)
- Tuchola Forest (Polish: Bory Tucholskie, German: Tucheler Heide, part of it known also as Polish: Kosznajderia, German: Koschneiderei)
- Chełmno Land (Polish: Ziemia Chełmińska, German: Culmerland, Latin: Terra Culmensis
- Podlachia (Polish: Podlasie or Podlasze, Latin: Podlachia, mostly in modern Poland, also a Belarusian and Lithuanian historical region), during the Partitions of Poland part of Russia
- Drohiczyn Land
- Mielnik Land
- Southern Podlasie (Polish: Podlasie Południowe)
- Suwałki Region (Polish: Suwalszczyzna, Lithuanian: Suvalkija, Latin: Sudovia - the latter term may, however, also refer to the earlier Yotvingia, only part in modern Poland, also a Lithuanian historical region)
Another group of territories constituted (either directly or as a fief) a part of the Polish state for varying amounts of time, ranging from an episode in the Middle Ages (e.g. Kłodzko Land, Lusatia) to several hundreds of years in the case of some, like Silesia and Warmia. Among them, only Warmia, Powiśle, southern Masuria, as well as Upper, Cieszyn and Eastern Lower Silesia retained sizeable Polish-speaking populations into the beginning of 20th century.
- Latin: Mazuria), also known as Lower Prussia (Polish: Prusy Dolne, German: Niederland), part of the province of East Prussia (Polish: Prusy Wschodnie, German: Ostpreußen, a German historical region)
- Galindia(Polish: Galindia, German: Gau Galinden, Latin: Galindia),
- Sasna (Polish: Ziemia Sasinów, German: Sassen, Latin: Sasna)
- Bartia(Polish: Barcja, German: Gau Barten Latin: Bartia)
- Natangia(Polish: Natangia, German: Natangen, Latin: Natangia)
- Lithuanian land and a German historical region, its bulk is currently located in the Kaliningrad Oblast)
- Nadruvia
- Warmia (Polish: Warmia, German: Ermland, Latin: Varmia, part of the historical Polish province of Royal Prussia, during Partitions of Poland a part of the province of East Prussia (Polish: Prusy Wschodnie, German: Ostpreußen) outside the German Confederation, finally annexed upon the establishment of North German Confederation by Germany, thus being a German historical region)
- Powiśle (Polish: Powiśle, roughly English: Lower Vistula Plains), with its northern part forming the Malbork Land (Polish: Ziemia malborska) otherwise known as the Vistula fens (Polish: Żuławy Wiślane); two whole region otherwise referred to as Upper Prussia (Polish: Prusy Górne, German: Oberland), part of the province of East Prussia (Polish: Prusy Wschodnie, German: Ostpreußen, a German historical region)
- Pomesania(Polish: Pomezania German: Pomesanien, Latin: Pomesania)
- Pogesania(Polish: Pogezania German: Pogesanien, Latin: Pogesania)
- Lubusz Land (Polish: Ziemia lubuska, German: Land Lebus), only partially in modern Poland - during the high Middle Ages absorbed into the region of New March (Polish: Nowa Marchia, German: Neumark), also a Czech and German historical region
- Lusatia (Polish: Łużyce, German: Lausitz, Latin: Lusatia, only partially in modern Poland, also a Czech, Austrian, and German historical region)
- Upper Lusatia (Polish: Łużyce Górne, German: Oberlausitz, Latin: Lusatia Superioris, also a Czech, Austrian and German historical region)
- Lower Lusatia (Polish: Łużyce Dolne, German: Niederlausitz, Latin: Lusatia Inferioris, also a Czech, Austrian and German historical region)
- Pomerania understood as excluding Pomerelia (Polish: Pomorze Zachodnie, German: Pommern, Latin: Pomerania), mostly in modern Poland, also a Danish, Swedish and German historical region)
- Farther Pomerania (Polish: Pomorze Tylne, German: Hinterpommern, see Pomerania, also a German historical region)
- Western Pomerania (Polish: Pomorze Przednie, German: Vorpommern, see Pomerania, also a Swedish, Danish and German historical region, only partially in modern Poland)
- Silesia (Polish: Śląsk, Silesian: Ślōnsk, German: Schlesien, Czech: Slezsko, Latin: Silesia), mostly in Poland, also a Czech, Austrian and German historical region
- Upper Silesia (Polish: Górny Śląsk, German: Oberschlesien, Latin: Silesia Superioris, also a Czech, Austrian, and German historical region)
- Cieszyn Silesia (Polish: Śląsk Cieszyński, Czech: Těšínské Slezsko, German: Teschener Schlesien, also a Czech and Austrian historical region; only partially in modern Poland, the other part called Trans-Olza (Polish: Zaolzie) is in the Czech Republic
- Lower Silesia (Polish: Dolny Śląsk, German: Niederschlesien, Latin: Silesia Inferioris, also a Czech, Austrian and German historical region)
- Kłodzko Land (Polish: Ziemia kłodzka, Czech: Kladsko, German: Glatzer Land, also a Czech, Austrian and German historical region)
Historical regions of former Polish states, currently entirely outside current Polish borders
Outside Poland are several historic regions which were once part of medieval Poland, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth or the Second Polish Republic. While these regions are important for Polish history, calling them Polish is in some cases controversial, as most of them, with the exceptions of Vilnius Region (Polish: Wileńszczyzna) in Dzūkija, as well as Grodno Region (Polish: Grodzieńszczyzna) in Dzūkija or Black Ruthenia, were either never or centuries ago predominantly populated by ethnic Poles and now lie beyond the borders of Poland. They are:
- Livonia (Polish: Inflanty, Latin: Livonia), in modern Latvia and Estonia, also a historical German, Swedish and Russian region
- Courland (Polish: Kurlandia, Latvian: Kurzeme), now in Latvia
- Latgalia(Polish: Łatgalia, Latvian: Latgale), now in Latvia
- Semigallia (Polish: Semigallia, Latvian: Zemgale), now in Latvia
- Latin: Samogitia), during Partitions of Polanda part of Russia
- Aukštaitija, Lithuania (Polish: Auksztota), during Partitions of Poland a part of Russia
- Dzūkija, Lithuania and Belarus (Polish: Dżukia), partially overlapping with Black Ruthenia, during Partitions of Poland a part of Russia
- Vilnius Region (Polish: Wileńszczyzna)
- Latin: Ruthenia Nigra), during Partitions of Polanda part of Russia, also a historical regions of Lithuania and Mongolia
- Grodno Region (Polish: Grodzieńszczyzna)
- White Ruthenia (Polish: Ruś Biała, Latin: Ruthenia Alba), present-day central, northern and eastern Belarus, and western outskirts of modern Russia with Smolensk,[1] during Partitions of Poland a part of Russia, also a historical region of Lithuania
- Novgorod Land and Pskov Land, Russia, also historical regions of Lithuania and Mongolia
- Podolia, Ukraine (Polish: Podole, Latin: Podolia), during the Partitions of Poland western portion was also a part of Galicia, also a historical region of Hungary, Austria, Turkey and Mongolia
- Volhynia, Ukraine (Polish: Wołyń, Latin: Volhynia), also known as Lodomeria, also a historical region of Hungary, Austria and Mongolia
- Pokuttia (Polish: Pokucie), currently in Ukraine
- Ukraine (Polish: Ukraina, Latin: Ucraina), now known as Dnieper Ukraine, also a historical region of Ukraine and Russia
- Right-bank Ukraine (Polish: Ukraina Prawobrzeżna), also a historical region of Ukraine and Russia
- Left-bank Ukraine (Polish: Ukraina Lewobrzeżna), also a historical region of Ukraine and Russia
- Zaporizhzhia (Polish: Zaporoże), also a historical region of Ukraine and Russia
- Moldavia, currently in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine Polish: Mołdawia, also a historical region of Hungary, Russia, Turkey and Mongolia
- Vallachia, currently in Romania, also a historical region of Hungary and Turkey
- Moravia (Polish: Morawy), currently the Czech Republic, also historical region of Hungary and Austria
- Slovakia as a whole, also historical region of Hungary and Austria
- colonies of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, at the time a Polish-Lithuanian fief, formerly Terra Mariana, a historical German region, later known as Livonia, currently in Latvia and Estonia
- Tobago Island, Trinidad and Tobago, also a historical region of Spain, Malta (Sovereign Military Order of Malta), the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom
- a settlement[when?] near modern Toco on Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago.,[2] also a historical region of Spain, Malta (Sovereign Military Order of Malta), the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom
Bibliography
- ISBN 0-19-925340-4. [1]Chapter two: "The Polish Land", pp. 23–52.
See also
- Administrative division of Poland
- Historical regions of Central Europe
- Prowincja
- Territorial changes of Poland
- Voivodeships of Poland
References
- ^ Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, Tom I (in Polish). Warszawa. 1880. p. 193.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Kołodziejczyk, Dariusz. Mówią wieki. "CZY RZECZPOSPOLITA MIAŁA KOLONIE W AFRYCE I AMERYCE?". (in Polish)