The biggest cities are (with population figures for 1999): in Polish Pomerania Tricity metropolitan area (population(2001): 1035,000 area 1,332,51 km2 ) including Gdansk (458,988) (1905 - 159,685) Gdynia (253,521) Sopot (46.000) Szczecin (416,988) (1905 - 224,078) Bydgoszcz (386,855) Torun (206,158) Wloclawek (123,373) Koszalin (112,375) Slupsk (102,370) and Kolobrzeg, Szczecinek, Swinoujscie, Stargard Szczecinski in German Pomerania Greifswald (52.984) Stralsund (63.000) Wolgast Barth Economy to be written yet Culture to be written yet Prehistoric times First people arrived in Pomerania in late period of Old Stone Age or Paleolith some 10.000 years BC, when the Scandinavian glacier receded to the north. Later various archelogical cultures developed here in the Mesolith, Neolith, Bronze Age and Iron Age. History Slavonic Pomeranians From ca. 500 the region was inhabited by various tribes collectively called Pomeranians and Polabians, belonging to the Lechitic group of the Western Slavs. They spoke Pomeranian and Polabian languages Frankish document called Bavarian Geographer (ca 845) mentions the tribes ofVolinians (Velunzani), Pyritzans (Prissani), Veleti (Wiltzi) and Abodrites (Nortabtrezi). At this point of time it was settled by Lechitic Pomeranians, that had to constantly defend themselves from the Viking raids. Pomeranians, made their living from the sea, trading and fishing. Sometimes they even raided Vikings in their homes. On this occasion we should note that the ships of Pomeranians were not distinguishable from ships of Vikings themselves. Pomerania as a province of Poland One of the earliest references to its area comes in 962 when Mieszko I of Poland inherited eastern Pomerania. In the 960s Mieszko fought with the tribes of Wieletes and Volinians south of the Baltic Sea, and their ally, the Saxon count Wichman. We suppose that then he at least partially conquered western Pomerania (Polish: Zapomorze, German Vorpommern). Later on, he defeated Count Dietrich of the Northern March at Cedynia in 972, and reached the mouth of the Oder River in 976. The decisive battle, fought in 979, ensured Mieszko's position as count of the march. The following year he celebrated his victory by dedicating the city of Gdansk at the mouth of the Vistula River, to compete with the ports of Szczecin and Wolin on the Oder (all in Pomerania province). Shortly before Mieszko's death he placed his state under the suzerainty of the Pope in a document usually called the Dagome Iudex, which included Pomerania among his lands. His son and successor Boleslaus I of Poland continued his father's conquests in Pomerania i.e. in 995, when he personally led his army. In A.D. 1000, while on a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Adalbert at Gniezno, the emperor Otto III invested Boleslaus with the title Frater et Cooperator Imperii ("Brother and Partner of the Empire"), and confirmed the rights of Boleslaus to Pomerania. On the same visit Otto III gave Boleslaus rights to create the first Pomeranian bishopric in Kolobrzeg. The ultimate aim was to christianize the Pomeranians. Nevertheless, the mission was destroyed, when Pomeranians revolted against the church in 1005. The events brought 5 new martyrs to the Catholic church. This was the first time that the country split: the Eastern part, along Vistula River remained subject to Poland, while Western Pomerania tended to remain independent and pagan. The Pomeranian bishops' site was moved to safer Kruszwica in Cuiavia (in ca. 1015. Canute was the son of sea-king Sweyn Forkbeard, also reputed to be a member of the Jomsburg Vikings, a military organisation of mercenary warriors with a fortress based in Pomerania. However, there is still some dispute among historians over the existence of the Jomsvikings. Canute's mother was Gunhild (formerly Swiatoslawa, daughter of Mieszko I of Poland). In around 1020 Canute the Great made a deal with Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor and the emperor gave Canute the Mark of Schleswig and Pomerania to govern. Nevertheless, Pomerania or parts thereof may have been or may not have been part of that deal. In any event, Boleslaus I of Poland actually sent his troops to help Canute in his successful conquest of England. Pomeranian Duchies under Polish sovereignty In the 1030s Polish state was destroyed and fragmented into several provinces, but soon rebuild when Kazimierz the Restored was victorius in the battle with Mazovians and Pomeranians in 1047. Polish king Boleslaw Smialy (1058-1080) is reported to have lost control of Pomerania. The first written trace of the Pomeranian monarch is the 1046 mention of Zemuzil dux Bomeranorum (Siemomysl, duke of Pomeranians). The Chronicle of the Polish dukes written in 1113 by so called Gallus Anomynous mentions several dukes of Pomerania: Swantibor, Gniewomir, and an unnamed duke besieged in Kolobrzeg. In 1107 there were the civil war in Poland, between Duke Boleslaus III of Poland and his brother Zbigniew. As Zbigniew was allied to Pomeranians, Boleslaus brought warriors to Pomerania and captured Belgard, Koeslin, Cammin and Wollin. In three military campaigns of 1116, 1119, 1121 entire Pomerania was conquered by the Polish duke Boleslaw the Wrymouth (Boleslaw Krzywousty), and divided into four parts: Eastern Pomerania with Gdansk was put under direct Polish control and the duke had nominated his governors. Middle Pomerania with Slupsk and Slawno was made a Polish fief under a Pomeranian duke Racibor I. Western Pomerania with Kamien, Kolobrzeg and Bialogard were made a Polish fief ruled by duke Warcislaw I. Szczecin and Wolin were semi-independent city-republics being Polish fiefs. Once his reign was consolidated, Boleslaus asked Otto of Bamberg to convert Pomerania to Christianity, which he accomplished in his first visit in 1124. Otto returned in 1128, this time invited by duke Wartislaw himself, aided by the emperor Lothar II, to convert the tribe Liutici (main city Demmin), who were incorporated info Pomeranian state, and to strenghen Christianity of inhabitants of Szczecin and Wolin, who fell back into heathen ways. In their meeting in Merseburg 1135 duke Boleslaus III and the emperor Lothar II have agreed that Pomerania and Rugen will be the fiefs of Poland. Eastern Pomerania In 1136th century, after the death of Boleslaus III, Poland was fragmentated into several semi-independent principalities. When influence of central authority weakened, Polish governors in Eastern Pomerania gradually gained more and more power and evolved into semi-independent dukes, who ruled the duchy until 1294. So, in contrary to other Polish teritories, which were governed by descendants of Boleslaus III, Eastern Pomerania was ruled by separate dynasty. In various times they were vassals of Poland and Denmark. The duchy was temporarily split into districts of Gdansk, Bialogard, Swiecie, and Lubieszewo-Tczew. Ancestors of Racibor I ruled the Duchy of Middle Pomerania until 1238, and next the area was an object of competition betwen the Dukes of Western Pomerania, Eastern Pomerania, Rugen and Brandenburg. In 1226 prince Konrad of Mazovia signed the agreement with Teutonic Knights. The gradually conquered and massacred people of neighbouring Prussia, becoming the most serious threat to Pomerania. Prinicipality of Rugen The island of Rugen was conquered by Denmark in 1168 and the local ruler give birth to a dynasty of dukes of Rugen, vassals of Denish kings. In 1325 the Principality of Rugen fell to Pomerania. Independent Pomerania between Germany, Denmark and Poland In 1164 the dukes of Pomerania became vassals of the Saxon ruler Henry the Lion from the newly conquered territory of Slavia (today in Mecklenburg). During the reign of Otto I, Margrave of Brandenburg and son of Albert I of Brandenburg (1100-1170) the Brandenburger wanted the suzerainty over Pomerania. How did we get here -- what happened between 1164 and 1170 to transfer rule to Brandenburg? In 1181 Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor invested Duke Bogislaw with the Duchy of Slavia/Pomerania. Why did he do this and where is Bogidslaw duke? The next paragraph implies that Bradenburg lost its rights, but then regained them -- what happened? And where (except with Canute in 1024) do the Danes come in? Does this mean that the Danes contested other claims? Between 1185 and 1227 the Western Pomerania remained under suzerainty of Denmark. However 1198/99 Brandenburg again tried held the suzerainty over Western Pomerania. Their virtual rights are recognized by king (later emperor) Frederick II in 1214. After the Battle of Bornhoeven remaining Danish suzerainty rights were removed. Treaties of 1236 and 1250 between Pomeranian dukes and margraves of Brandenburg verify the Brandenburg lordship. Stargard and the northern Uckermark come into direct ownership of Brandenburg. In 1231 Emperor Frederick II again invested the Ascanian Brandenburg margraves with the dukedome of Pomerania. In 1266 Barnim I, duke of Pomerania, who had inherited his brothers\' parts, married Mechthild, the daughter of Otto III, Margrave of Brandenburg. Then in 1269 duke Barnim promised in his testimony the city of Danzig and other parts of Eastern Pomerania to his father-in-law, the margrave of Brandenburg. Barnim however had no right to do it, since Eastern Pomerania was ruled by the Mscislaw dukes of Swiecie family, who decided that after his death Pomerania should return to Poland. Schwetz was to be inherited after his death. Barnim died in 1278 at Altdamm. ''Presumably Danzig, Schwetz, and Altdamm are in Pomerania...except I thought that some might be in Prussia? They became to be in Prussia, when Teutonic Knights took over Pomerania. But if they are in Prussia, why are they here? Also, I think we need clarification on "his brother's parts" -- does this mean "his brother's lands or holdings?'' After the line of the dukes of Pomerania died out in 1294, strifes broke out and in 1295 Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg verified the Lehnshoheit of Brandenburg over Pomerania. From Brandenburg it was dispensed to the sons of Barnim I, Otto I and Bogislaw IV. New lines Pommern-Wolgast and Pommern-Stettin were started. Harbors, waterways etc were to be held in common and it remained that way until those lines became exinct in 1464. How did Adolf get the right to do this? Also, can we get a better translation for Lehnshoheit? Eastern Pomerania and Poland In line with the will of the duke Mscislaw of the Eastern Pomerania, the duke Przemysl II of Poland took over Eastern Pomerania in 1294. Therefore the Eastern Pomerania united with his principality - Greater Poland. Keeping two of five major lands of Poland he was crowned as king of Poland. When he was killed by an assassin sent from Brandenburg in 1295, the country shared with the rest of Poland controversy over succession. From 1300 untill 1306 Eastern Pomerania was ruled by the Wenceslaus II of Bohemia and his son Wenceslaus III, King of Bohemia and Poland, later also disputed King of Hungary. After the death of Wenceslaus III in 1306, the most powerful of Polish dukes became Wladislaw Lokietek. On becoming king of Poland, in summer 1300, Wenceslaus II of Bohemia asked the Teutonic Knights to protect Pomerania from the claims of Brandenburg. In 1306 Wladislaw Lokietek seized Danzig. When Danzig was subsequently attacked by the Margrave of Brandenburg in 1308, Lokietek called the Teutonic Knights for help. The Brandenburgers were defeated. The Teutonic Knights, however, then ousted the Polish garrison from Danzig castle and carried out the "massacre of Gdansk" on the city. Landmaster Heinrich von Tczew) and Schwetz thus became lord over all of Pomerania. The Margraves ceded the area to the Teutonic Order in the 1309 Treaty of Soldin for payment of 10,000 Mark. Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor ratified the Soldin Treaty in 1313. The districts of Schlawe, Ruegenwalde and Stolp, however, remained with Brandenburg. Previously, they had been regarded as part of Eastern Pomerania. The rulers of Poland believed, however, they were legal proprietors of Pomerania. Since the wealth of the province arose from trade and the main trade route for the country was the Vistula river. The existence of the Vistula, linking Pomerania with the counties of Poland, also linked Pomeranian citizens, regardless of language and nationality, further and further with Poland. Feudal fragmentation and reunification Internal divisions of West Pomerania (1295-1464) After the death of duke Barmin I (1278) his sons have divided West Pomerania in 1295 between themselves. Duchy of Szczecin was ruled by Otto I and his successors upto 1464. The Duchy of Wolgast was ruled by Boguslaw IV and his successors. The latter was split in 1368 into the proper Duchy of Wolgast and the Duchy of Slupsk under Boguslaw V the Old. (For complete list of dukes and duchies see: Dukes of Pomerania.) Thirteen-years war for Eastern Pomerania (1454-1466) to be written War for Szczecin inheritance between Brandenburg and Pomerania (1464-1529) to be written Unification and modernisation under Boguslaw X (1478-1523) to be written Pomeranian voivodship in Royal Prussia (1466-1772) to be written Divisions of Duchy of Pomerania (1569-1625) to be written The Last Pomeranian monarch: Boguslaw XIV (1625-1637) to be written Thirty Years' War (1618-48) and its consequences During the Thirty Years' War Pomerania lost two thirds of its population due to military raids, plague and criminal violence. Upon entering into the Thirty Years' War in 1629, Sweden gained effective control over Pomerania. Following the death of Duke Boguslaw XIV without issue in 1637, control was disputed between Sweden and Brandenburg-Prussia - which had previously held reversion to the Duchy. The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 enforced a partition. Sweden received Upper Pomerania (now in Germany), together with Szczecin (Stettin), as a possession. Lower Pomerania (now in Poland) passed to Brandenburg-Prussia. Szczecin (Stettin) became part of Brandenberg-Prussia following the end of the Great Northern War in 1720. Upper Pomerania remained a dominion of the Swedish Crown from 1648 until 1815. Napoleonic Wars and its consequences In 1812, when French troops marched into Pomerania, The Swedish army mobilized and 1813 won against Napoleon in the Battle of Leipzig, together with troops from Russia, Prussia and Austria. Sweden also attacked Denmark. During the peace negotiations in Kiel 1814, Sweden got Norway, but gave Pomerania to Prussia in 1815. After the extinction of the Ascanian Brandenburg line several other ruling houses were invested with the administration of Pomerania by the empire. After Napoleon's break-up of the empire in 1806, the Western Part was the member of the Deutsche Bund. After foundation of the German Empire of 1871, the whole of Pomerania was included into the newly created state. All of Pomerania in the Kingdom of Prussia (1815-1870) to be written yet Pomerania in the German Empire (1870-1918) During the German Empire whole Pomerania remained an agricultural area. The Prussian Province of Pomerania was dominated by large-scale agriculture which forced many abundant workers to emigrate into the western provinces of Germany. Only the city of Szczecin/Stettin became an industrialized city with more than 200.000 inhabitants. Some towns on the Baltic Sea became tourist resorts. The Prussian Province of Pomerania was a stronghold of conservative parties during the German Empire. The Prussian province of West Prussia (Eastern Pomerania) was inhabitated by both ethnic groups: Polish people predominantly in rural areas and German people predominantly in big cities. The German Gouverment tried to support German settlement in Polish areas, but German investors did not show much interest. Polish people founded economical and political organisations and succeeded in electing some Polish representatives into German Reichstag. World Wars of the 20th century Between WWI and WWII - Pomerania in Germany and Poland (1919-1939) As a result of the Versailles Peace Treaty (1919) after World War I, Pomerania was didided between Poland and Germany. Most of the German-Prussian province of West Prussia inhabited by Kashubians fell to Poland and constituted Pomeranian Voivodship (województwo pomorskie) with the capital in Toruń/Thorn. Gdańsk/Danzig was made the Free City of Gdansk. Remainders of West Prussia were joined to East Prussia and newly created province Grenzmark Posen-Westpreussen. Entire Prussian province of Pomerania remained in Germany. In 1938-39 German and Polish Pomeranian provinces were enlarged. Most of Grenzmark and 2 counties of Brandenburg were made a district of the German province of Pomerania. Several counties from Mazovia and Greater Poland were joined to Polish Pomerania, and the voivodship's capital was moved from Torun to Bydgoszcz/Bromberg. Pomerania during World War II (1939-1945) Dispute between Germany and Poland over their rights in the Free City of Gdansk and a free passage through Polish Pomerania was used as a pretext to the Nazi Germany invasion of Poland on 1st September 1939 - World War II began. The real aim of Nazi government, were at the moment the conquer of Western Poland, while Eastern part was given to Soviet Union. In the longer perspective, the conquered Eastern Europe was to be turned into the setllement space ("Lebensraum") for Germans, while Poles and other nations were considered the race of slaves for German Empire. The faith of other people, like Jews and Gypsies were even worse: they were to be murdered to the last. Initially, The German Guderian tank corpse was to pass through the Polish Pomerania on the way to Eastern Prussia. The Guderian corps was to regroup there and attack Warsaw from the East. The Polish opponent were Army of Pomerania. It was not quite decided, if the army was to protect Free City of Gdansk in case of German local provocation or defend Pomerania in case of the general war. The first aim suggested to put large units deep north into Pomerania provinz. However, they were defenceless against the unexcpected attack from the Germany, and this contributed to the fact that the Army of Pomerania were in large chunk destroyed, despite its heroic efforts. One of those were episodes were famous Krojanty charge, where Polish kavalry unit had charged against German infantry. Germans begun to escape in panic to the forest site, where German tanks were hidden and the charge broke down there. The episode were used in Nazi propganda to underline unreasonable Polish resistance against overwhelming German power. However, many people in Europe sympathised with the picture of the brave Poles charging desperately against tanks, not knowing how false it were. The remains of the Army of Pomerania withdraw to the south under pressure of overall strategic situation and took part in the main battle on Bzura river. In the borders of Free City of Gdansk, there were 2 fortfied Polish points: Polish post office and Polish ammuntion store in Westerplatte. Both were ordered to defend up to 36 hours in case of local unrest, until the help from Army of Pomerania arrives. The Polish Post office were defended by 50 employees led by Konrad Guderski. The attacking forces of Danziger polizei, Heimwehr and SS after 14 hours of battle resolved to set building on fire. 12 psot man were killed in action, 11 were executed soon, while 28 sent to the concentration camps. There were heave fightings in Pomerania and the Polish Navy base at Hel penisula was the last centre of Polish defence upto 3 October. Occupied Polish Pomerania and Gdansk were turned into German province 'Reichsgau Danzig Westpreussen'. Most of the Poles were exterminated or expulsed to the General Government. The remaining Poles and Kashubians organized guellila resistance called Pomeranian Gryffin (TOW Gryf Pomorski). Border shift after World War II (1945) After the WWII Polish-German border was moved to the west to the Oder-Neisse line. In case of Pomerania, Free city of Gdansk and most of pre-war German province of Pomerania fell to Poland. City of Szczecin and located on the Wolin island, Swinoujscie were assigned to Poland, as the vessel route goes through Swinoujscie to Szczecin. In addition, the small strip of land 20 km west from Szczecin, and the small part of Uznam island were also to become part of Poland. The remainder of Pomerania west of Szczecin and Oder was joined to German land of Mecklenburg (later renamed Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern). Modern times (after 1945) Pomerania in communist Poland and Germany (1945-1989) Polish Pomerania At the end of the WWII, Pomerania was completely devastated. In addition to destruction during the war, Soviets treated the property left in Polish Pomerania as a war looth. Machines, animals, everything what could have been packed was sent to Soviet Union. The gangs of derailed criminals, most of them coming from burned down by Germans Warsaw, wandered around, terrorizing the population and robbing during the nights. This was nick-named as Shaber. Fields contained land mines, in the sites of major battles explosives were lying freely. Soviet Army were granted the military poligoons and naval bases, the areas that were excluded from Polish jurisdiction until 1992. There were also nuclear warheads stored on the area of Pomerania. Despite the problems, the life in the province were soon taken back to normality. However, Poland was ruled by commmunists regime and the policy of the government were focused on making state a sole proprietor of means of production and points of trade. Polish victims of WWII that were setlled down in Pomerania, were actually granted only long therm rent right to the land, forests and houses. The situation changed for worse in 1948, when all countries of the Eastern bloc had to adopt Soviet style in economy. Private shops were banned and most of the farmers had to join agriculture cooperatives, managed by local communists. In 1953 Poland were forced to accept the end of war reparations, that before were put solely on East Germany, while West Germany enjoyed benefits of Marschall Plan. In 1956 Poland were on the edge of the Soviet invasion, but the crisis was solved and the Polish government turned into more human face communism with Wladyslaw Gomulka as the head of politbiuro. Poland developed ports of Pomerania and shipyards of Gdansk, Gdynia and Szczecin. They were put in 2 harbour complexes: one of Szczecin port with Swinoujscie avanport and the other was Gdansk-Gdynia set of ports. Gdansk and Gdynia with located between spa of Sopot, became the one metropolitan area, called Tricity and populated by more then 800 000 people. In 1970, after putting the end to the border issue, the massive unrest in the coastal cities, marked the end of Wladyslaw Gomulka rules. The new leader Edward Gierek wanted to modernize the country by wide use of wetern credits. The policy failed, however Poland become one of the main world players in the shipyard industry. Polish open sea fishing scientists, discovered for the fishing indutry new species of the fishes. Unfortunately, countries with the access to the open seas, declared 200 miles economic zones that finally put the end to Polish fishing industry. Shipyards become under growing pressure of the subsidiesed Japanese and Korean enterprises. During 1970, Poland built also the Northern Harbour in Gdansk, that allowed the country to independent access to oil from OPEC countries. The new farinery had been built in Gdansk and an oil pipe line connnected both with main Polish pipeline in Plock. In 1980 coastal cities become the place of birth for anticommunist movement Solidarity. Gdansk become the capital for the Solidarity trade union. In 1989 there were found that the border treaty with East Germany had one mistake, concerning naval border. Subsequently, new treaty was signed, but one of the 3 ways out of Szczecin harbour were seized by Germany. Pomerania after fall of communism (1989) to be written yet Modern divisions of Pomerania The eastern part of Pomerania, Pomorze, is a geographical and historical region in Poland that encompasses three Polish voivodships: the West Pomeranian Voivodship (Zachodniopomorskie), Pomeranian Voivodship (Pomorskie) and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship (Kujawsko-Pomorskie). The most western part of Pomerania (Zapomorze or Vorpommern) is part of the German state (Bundesland) of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern). Further reading Publications in Polish Gerard Labuda (ed.), Historia Pomorza, vol. I (to 1466), parts 1-2, Poznań 1969 Gerard Labuda (ed.), Historia Pomorza, vol. II (1466-1815), parts 1-2, Poznań 1976 Gerard Labuda (ed.), Historia Pomorza, vol. III (1815-1850), parts 1-3, Poznań Gerard Labuda (ed.), Historia Pomorza, vol. IV (1850-1918), part 1, Toruń 2003 Marian Biskup (ed.), Śląsk i Pomorze w historii stosunków polsko-niemieckich w średniowieczu. XII Konferencja Wspólnej Komisji Podręcznikowej PRL-RFN Historyków 5-10 VI 1979 Olsztyn, Instytut Zachdni, Poznań 1987 Antoni Czubiński, Zbigniew Kulak (ed.), Śląsk i Pomorze w stosunkach polsko-niemieckich od XVI do XVII w. XIV Konferencja Wspólnej Komisji Podręcznikowej PRL-RFN Historyków, 9-14 VI 1981 r. Zamość, Instytut Zachodni, Poznań 1987 Szkice do dziejów Pomorza, vol. 1-3, Warszawa 1958-61 B. Wachowiak, Rozwój gospodarczo-społeczny Pomorza Zachodniego od połowy XV do początku XVII wieku, Studia i Materiały do dziejów Wielkopolski i Pomorza, 1958, z. 1 J. Wiśniewski, Początki układu kapitalistycznego na Pomorzu Zachodnim w XVIII wieku, Studia i Materiały do dziejów Wielkopolski i Pomorza, 1958, z. 1 A. Wielopolski, Gospodarka Pomorza Zachodniego w latach 1800-1918, Szczecin 1959 W. Odyniec, Dzieje Prus Królewskich (1454-1772). Zarys monograficzny, Warszawa 1972 Dzieje Pomorza Nadwiślańskiego od VII wieku do 1945 roku, Gdańsk 1978 Zygmunt Boras, "Książęta Pomorza Zachodniego", Poznań 1969, 1978, 1996 Zygmunt Boras, "Stosunki polsko-pomorskie w XVI w", Poznań 1965 Zygmunt Boras, "Związki Śląska i Pomorza Zachdoniego z Polską w XVI wieku", Poznań 1981 Kazimierz Kozłowski, Jerzy Podralski, "Poczet Książąt Pomorza Zachodniego", KAW, Szczecin 1985 Lech Bądkowski, W. Samp. "Poczet książąt Pomorza Gdańskiego", Gdańsk 1974 B. Śliwiński, "Poczet książąt gdańskich", Gdańsk 1997 Wojciech Myślenicki, "Pomorscy sprzymierzenscy Jagiellończyków", Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, Poznań 1979 Józef Spors, "Podziały administracyjne Pomorza Gdańskiego i Sławieńsko-Słupskiego od XII do początków XIV w", Słupsk 1983 Kazimierz Ślaski, "Podziały terytorialne Pomorza w XII-XII w.", Poznań 1960 Benon Miśkiewicz, "Z dziejów wojennych Pomorza Zachodniego. Cedynia 972-Siekierki 1945", Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, Poznań 1972 Publications in German M. Wehrmann, Geschichte von Pommern, vol. 1-2, Gotha 1919-21 M. Spahn, Verfassungs- und Wirtshaftsgeschichte des Herzogtums Pommern von 1476 bis 1625, Leipzig 1896 B. Schumacher, Geschichte Ost- und Westpreussens, Wurzburg 1959 External links Internet directories Open Directory Project - Western Pomerania - internet directory Open Directory Project - Kashubian Pomerania - internet directory Open Directory Project - Kuyavia and Pomerania - internet directory Open Directory Project - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania - internet directory Culture and history Pomeranian Dukes Castle in Szczecin (Polish, German, Enghlish) Maps of Pomerania Woiewództwa Pomorskie i Małborskie oraz Pomerania Elektorska, G.B.A.Rizzi-Zannoni 1772 Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Pomerania (Pomeranian/Kashubian: Pňmňrze, Polish: Pomorze, German: Pommern, Latin: Pomerania, Pomorania,) is the historical region on the south coasts of the Baltic Sea centered around the mouth of River Oder on the present-day border between Poland and Germany, reaching from River Reknitz in the west to River Vistula in the east. Polish Pomerania is currently diveded into 3 voivodships: the West Pomeranian Voivodship (Zachodniopomorskie, ZP), Pomeranian Voivodship (Pomorskie, PM) and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship (Kujawsko-Pomorskie, KP). The German part of Pomerania (Vorpommern) is part of the German Bundesland (federal state) of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). The history of the region is rich and varied, perhaps due to it having been under the rule of many different powers through the centuries. It was ruled by the Dukes of Pomerania and later it belonged to Poland, Denmark, Saxony, Brandenburg, Prussia, Sweden and Germany. History of Pomerania is very often written from Polish or German point of view and very rarely from a Pomeranian point of view. Note: this article is in a transitional phase, as it was merely a list of events with no sources. An attempt is being made at turning this into something coherent, but the reader should bear in mind that this is an uncited work in progress. Questions to be answered appear in italics. Table of contents 1 Origin and meaning of the name 2 Demographics 3 Economy 4 Culture 5 Prehistoric times 6 History 6.1 Slavonic Pomeranians 6.2 Pomerania as a province of Poland 6.2.1 Pomeranian Duchies under Polish sovereignty 6.2.2 Eastern Pomerania 6.2.3 Prinicipality of Rugen 6.3 Independent Pomerania between Germany, Denmark and Poland 6.4 Eastern Pomerania and Poland 6.5 Feudal fragmentation and reunification 6.5.4 Internal divisions of West Pomerania (1295-1464) 6.5.5 Thirteen-years war for Eastern Pomerania (1454-1466) 6.5.6 War for Szczecin inheritance between Brandenburg and Pomerania (1464-1529) 6.5.7 Unification and modernisation under Boguslaw X (1478-1523) 6.5.8 Pomeranian voivodship in Royal Prussia (1466-1772) 6.5.9 Divisions of Duchy of Pomerania (1569-1625) 6.5.10 The Last Pomeranian monarch: Boguslaw XIV (1625-1637) 6.6 Thirty Years' War (1618-48) and its consequences 6.7 Napoleonic Wars and its consequences 6.7.11 All of Pomerania in the Kingdom of Prussia (1815-1870) 6.7.12 Pomerania in the German Empire (1870-1918) 6.8 World Wars of the 20th century 6.8.13 Between WWI and WWII - Pomerania in Germany and Poland (1919-1939) 6.8.14 Pomerania during World War II (1939-1945) 6.8.15 Border shift after World War II (1945) 6.9 Modern times (after 1945) 6.9.16 Pomerania in communist Poland and Germany (1945-1989) 6.9.17 Polish Pomerania 6.9.18 Pomerania after fall of communism (1989) 6.9.19 Modern divisions of Pomerania 7 Further reading 7.10 Publications in Polish 7.11 Publications in German 8 External links 8.12 Internet directories 8.13 Culture and history 8.14 Maps of Pomerania Origin and meaning of the name The name comes from Polish or other Slavic language and means 'country by/next to/along the sea' The name of Pomerania was probably first mentioned as Latin words 'longum mare' (=along the sea) in the Dagome Iudex document (ca 992), issued by the Polish duke Mieszko I, describing the boundaries of his Gniezno state. Next in 1046 there is a mention of Zemuzil dux Bomeranorum (Siemomysl, duke of Pomeranians). Pomerania is mentioned many times in the chronicles by Adam of Bremem (ca 1070) and Gallus Anonymous (ca 1113). Demographics Voivodship Capitals Registration plates Area w km² Population Polish(Dec 31st of 1999) German 2001 territorial code Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship Bydgoszcz¹ Torun² C 17.969,72 2.100.771 04 Pomeranian Voivodship Gdansk G 18.292,88 2.192.268 22 West Pomeranian Voivodship Szczecin Z 22.901,48 1.732.838 32 (¹) - the site of the Voivod office, (²) - the site of the Voivod council Polish Pomerania total 59.164,08 6.025.877 Nordvorpommern Grimmen NPV 2.168 117.722 Ostvorpommern Anklam OVP 1.910 113.623 Rügen Bergen 974 74.400 Uecker-Randow Pasewalk UER 1.624 83.459 Demmin(district) Demmin DM 1.921 93.700 Greifswald HGW 52,2 52.984 Stralsund HST est. 52,2 60.000 German Pomerania total 8.701 595.888 This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.