Polish historical regions
Polish historical regions in current borders
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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.
Regions of 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:
- Greater Poland (Polish: Wielkopolska, Latin: Polonia Maior), 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 Confederation by 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 Confederation by 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
- 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 Confederation by Germany, thus forming a German historical region
- Kuyavia (Polish: Kujawy, 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 Confederation by Germany, thus forming a German historical region
- Lesser Poland (Polish: Małopolska, Latin: Polonia Minor), during the Partitions of Poland renamed Western Galicia with Duchy of Oświęcim, Duchy of Zator and the Grand Duchy of Cracow, forming part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, a historical region of Austria
- Kraków Land
- Siewierz Land (New Silesia)
- Oświęcim Land
- Zator Land
- Dąbrowa Basin
- 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
- 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
- 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 2 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
- Pomerelia (Polish: Pomorze Gdańskie, German: Pommerellen, Latin: Pomerania), part of the historical Polish region of Royal Prussia, during Partitions of Poland made a part 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)
- Kashubia (Polish: Kaszuby, Kashubian: Kaszëbë, German: Kaschubien, 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, also a German historical region))
- Chelmno Land (Polish: Ziemia Chełmińska, German: Culmerland, Latin: Terra Culmensis
- Łęczyca Land, Sieradz Land and Wieluń Land (Polish: Ziemia łęczycka and Polish: Ziemia 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
- Podlasie (Polish: Podlasie, Polish: Podlasze, Latin: Podlachia, only partially in modern Poland, also a Belarussian 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 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, Lubusz Land, Lusatia) to several hundreds of years in the case of 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.
- Masuria (Polish: Mazury, German: Masuren, Latin: Mazuria), also known as Lower Prussia (Polish: Prusy Dolne, German: Niederland), part of the 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)
- Lithuania Minor (Polish: Litwa Mniejsza, (Lithuanian: Mažoji Lietuva, German: Kleinlitauen, Russian: Máлая Литвá) or Prussian Lithuania (Polish: Litwa Pruska), (Lithuanian: Prūsų Lietuva, German: Preußisch-Litauen, only a small part is in Poland; also a historical Lithuanian land and a German historical region, its bulk is currently located in the Kaliningrad Oblast)
- Nadruvia
- Warmia (Polish: Warmia, German: Ermland, Latin: Varmia, also a German historical region, part of the historical Polish region of Royal Prussia, during Partitions of Poland a part of the 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)
- (Polish: Powiśle, roughly English: Lower Vistula Plains), otherwise referred to as Upper Prussia (Polish: Prusy Górne, German: Oberland), part of the East Prussia (Polish: Prusy Wschodnie, German: Ostpreußen, a German historical region)
- 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, only partially in modern Poland, also a 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 German historical region, only partially in modern Poland)
- Silesia (Polish: Śląsk, Silesian: Ślōnsk, German: Schlesien, Czech: Slezsko, Latin: Silesia), only part 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, Austrian, and German historical region; only partially in modern Poland, the other part called Polish: Zaolzie is in Czechia)
- 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)
Historic regions of former Polish states, currently entirely outside current Polish borders[]
Outside Poland are several historic regions which were once part of 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, Latvia and Estonia (Polish: Inflanty, Latin: Livonia), also a historical German, Swedish and Russian region
- Samogitia, Lithuania (Polish: Żmudź, Latin: Samogitia), during Partitions of Poland a 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
- Black Ruthenia, Belarus (Polish: Ruś Czarna, Latin: Ruthenia Nigra), during Partitions of Poland a part of Russia, also a historical regions of Lithuania, Turkey and Mongolia
- White Ruthenia, rest of Belarus as a whole (Polish: Ruś Biała), Latin: Ruthenia Alba), during Partitions of Poland a part of Russia, also a historical region of Lithuania, Turkey and Mongolia
- Novgorod Land and Pskov Land, Russia, also historical regions of Lithuania, Turkey and Mongolia
- Smolensk Land, Russia (Polish: Ziemia Smoleńska, Latin: Terra Smolensciae), also a historical region of Lithuania, Belarus, Turkey and Mongolia
- Podolia, Ukraine (Polish: Podole, Latin: Podolia), during the Partitions of Poland 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, Turkey and Mongolia
- rest of Ukraine (excluding Polesia, Volhynia, Red Ruthenia, Podolia and Transcarpathian Rus) as a whole (Polish: Ukraina, Latin: Ucraina), also a historical region of Ukraine and Russia, also part the Crimean Khanate, a historical land of Mongolia and Turkey
- 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, currently in Czechia, also historical region of Germany, Austria and Hungary
- Slovakia as a whole, also historical region of Germany, Austria and Hungary
- 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
- Gambia, also a historical region of Portugal, France, the United Kingdom and Senegal
- Tobago Island, also a historical region of the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom
Bibliography[]
- Norman Davies, God's Playground: A History of Poland, vol. 1: The Origins to 1795; vol. 2: 1795 to the Present, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1981, ISBN 0-19-925339-0, 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
Categories:
- Historical regions in Poland