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:
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
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
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
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
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.
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), the southern outskirts of Lithuania Minor overlap northern Masuria; also a historical
Lithuanian land and a German historical region, its bulk is currently located in the
Kaliningrad Oblast)
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)
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:
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
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
^Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, Tom I (in Polish). Warszawa. 1880. p. 193.{{
cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)
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:
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
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
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
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
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.
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), the southern outskirts of Lithuania Minor overlap northern Masuria; also a historical
Lithuanian land and a German historical region, its bulk is currently located in the
Kaliningrad Oblast)
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)
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:
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
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
^Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, Tom I (in Polish). Warszawa. 1880. p. 193.{{
cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)