Tomenable
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I think that this section in Poland Trivia should be rewritten or expanded, because it does not include many important facts:
I wrote these short articles about Silesia, Pomerania and Prussia which I think should be published there (if Maciamo agrees):
Silesia (my article starts in the 500s AD, prehistory of the region is not covered here):
In the 500s Silesia was settled by Slavs, who gradually divided into eight Silesian tribes (the Slenzans, the Opolans, the Dyadosans, the Golensizi, the Lupiglaa, the Tryebovians, the Bobrans and the Psyovians). In 985 Silesia was incorporated to Poland, and Polish Piast dynasty ruler Mieszko I founded Wrocław, Głogów and Opole. Silesia continued to be ruled by the Polish Piast dynasty and continued to be a part of Piast Poland until 1348, when Charles IV incorporated it to the Czech Crown (within the Holy Roman Empire). In 1526 Silesia came under the rule of Austrian Habsburgs. In 1742 most of Silesia was conquered by Prussia, parts of Upper Silesia which remained under Austrian rule started to be known as Cieszyn Silesia and Opavian Silesia. In terms of ethnicity of its population, Lower Silesia was gradually Germanized due to immigration of German settlers and adoption of German language and culture by the locals, starting from the 1200s onwards. On the other hand Upper Silesia remained majority Polish, there were also Czech and Moravian communities (Prussian Upper Silesia in year 1819 - 67% Polish, 29% German, 2.5% Czech and 1.5% Jewish; Cieszyn Silesia in year 1800 - 73% Polish, 19% Czech, 8% German and Jewish; Opavian Silesia in year 1880 - 81% German and 19% Czech). In Lower Silesia large Polish communities survived until the 19th century in Liegnitz Regency only near Zielona Góra (Grünberg) as well as in Breslau Regency in counties Syców (Polnisch Wartenberg), Namysłów (Namslau), Brzeg (Brieg), Oława (Ohlau), Oleśnica (Oels), Milicz (Militsch), Trzebnica (Trebnitz) and in some villages around Wrocław (Breslau). American merchant Robert Semple wrote during his journey from Lutynia (Leuthen) to Breslau in 1813: "(...) The spires and towers of Breslau are visible at a great distance over the plain. The peasants in all this part of the country speak a dialect of the Sclavonic, and are, without much difficulty, understood by Russian soldiers. Their caps, their long coats, and their language, mark already the approach to the frontiers of Poland. (...)". After WW1 Poland regained East Upper Silesia, half of Cieszyn Silesia and a small part of Lower Silesia (parts of counties Syców and Namysłów with ethnically Polish population). Western Upper Silesia and entire Lower Silesia became parts of Poland again after WW2.
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Pomerania (my article starts in the 500s AD, prehistory of the region is not covered here):
Pomerania was settled by Slavs in the 500s. Polish ruler Mieszko I annexed Pomerania in 967 and began Christianizing the region, founding Gdańsk. His successor, king Bolesław I the Brave, founded a bishopric in Kołobrzeg in year 1000. In year 1216 western part of Pomerania became a fiefdom of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1227 Denmark was defeated in the battle of Bornhöved and western Pomerania became part of the Holy Roman Empire. Since this time the Ostsiedlung (mass immigration of German settlers) started in Pomerania, leading to gradual Germanization of the region. Central and eastern parts of Pomerania continued to be under Polish rule until 1309, when this region was captured by the Teutonic Knights. The Teutonic Knights massacred the population of Gdańsk and then resettled the city with German settlers, hence the city of Gdańsk became known as Danzig. Eastern Pomerania (also known as Pomerelia) remained under Teutonic rule until 1454, when Poland regained the region after the Thirteen Years' War (in addition it can be noted that central Pomerania, the duchy of Słupsk, was a Polish fiefdom in years 1390-1446 and 1466-1474, however after 1474 Poland completely lost control of central and western Pomerania with the exception of a small territory known as Drahim Land or Draheim). Pomerelia, as part of the so called Royal Prussia (also known as West Prussia), remained under Polish rule since 1454 until the First Partition of Poland in 1772, while the city of Danzig remained Polish as an enclave until the Second Partition in 1793. At that time Pomerelia became part of the Kingdom of Prussia. In terms of ethnicity Pomerania became overwhelmingly German throughout centuries, in 1817 the Province of Pomerania was 90% German and 10% Slavic - Kashubian and Wendish - with Kashubians living mostly in its easternmost counties of Lębork (Lauenburg), Bytów (Bütow) and Słupsk (Stolp). Kashubians living in the Province of Pomerania were also mostly Protestant, rather than Catholic. Pomerelia on the other hand remained majority Polish and Catholic Kashubian (who were Pro-Polish politically), with Poles and Kashubians comprising around 52% of West Prussia's population in 1819 (46% were Germans and Mennonites, and 2% or 3% were Jews). Poland regained 62% of the territory of West Prussia (including most of Pomerelia) after WW1, with Danzig (8% of the territory of West Prussia) becoming a Free City only partially under Polish rule. The remaining part of West Prussia, as well as entire Pomerania east of the Oder River, became parts of Poland again after WW2.
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Prussia (here prehistory is covered because it was Baltic since ancient times):
Prussia was originally inhabited by West Baltic tribes since ancient times. During the times of Poland's feudal fragmentation, various Polish duchies suffered from constant attacks by Pagan Prussians, which is why in 1226 Duke of Mazovia, Konrad, requested help of the Teutonic Kinghts. The Teutonic Knights were established by Konrad in the Land of Chelmno, where they founded Toruń (Thorn). From there they launched a series of crusades against the Prussians, subjugating them by 1283. Mass immigration of German settlers and gradual Germanization of conquered Prussians changed the ethnic structure of the region. Teutonic knights invited also Polish (mostly Mazovians, also known as Mazurs) and Lithuanian settlers to Prussia, who settled in regions which became known as Mazuria, Warmia and Prussian Lithuania. After conquering Pagan Prussians, Teutonic Knights turned against their former allies, capturing Polish Pomerelia in 1309. In 1454 Poland regained Pomerelia and also annexed western parts of Prussia (with Warmia), which became known as Royal Prussia (West Prussia). The part remaining under Teutonic rule became known as East Prussia. After a series of Polish-Teutonic wars, the Teutonic Order was ultimately defeated and paid homage to the Polish King in 1525. At that time the Duchy of Prussia emerged, which became the first Protestant state in Europe (Mazurians and Prussian Lithuanians also converted to Lutheranism). In 1657 Prussia became independent from Poland and became part of Brandenburg-Prussia. In terms of ethnicity, in 1824 East Prussia was 56% German, 26% Polish (including Protestant Mazurians) and 18% Lithuanian. The Duchy of Prussia merged with the Margriaviate of Brandenburg (around Berlin, in East Germany) to form the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701, which progressively unified Germany and created the Second Reich in 1871. So it can be said that Germany was unified under the name of a historical area ("Prussia") being now entirely in Poland and Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast).
I wrote these short articles about Silesia, Pomerania and Prussia which I think should be published there (if Maciamo agrees):
Silesia (my article starts in the 500s AD, prehistory of the region is not covered here):
In the 500s Silesia was settled by Slavs, who gradually divided into eight Silesian tribes (the Slenzans, the Opolans, the Dyadosans, the Golensizi, the Lupiglaa, the Tryebovians, the Bobrans and the Psyovians). In 985 Silesia was incorporated to Poland, and Polish Piast dynasty ruler Mieszko I founded Wrocław, Głogów and Opole. Silesia continued to be ruled by the Polish Piast dynasty and continued to be a part of Piast Poland until 1348, when Charles IV incorporated it to the Czech Crown (within the Holy Roman Empire). In 1526 Silesia came under the rule of Austrian Habsburgs. In 1742 most of Silesia was conquered by Prussia, parts of Upper Silesia which remained under Austrian rule started to be known as Cieszyn Silesia and Opavian Silesia. In terms of ethnicity of its population, Lower Silesia was gradually Germanized due to immigration of German settlers and adoption of German language and culture by the locals, starting from the 1200s onwards. On the other hand Upper Silesia remained majority Polish, there were also Czech and Moravian communities (Prussian Upper Silesia in year 1819 - 67% Polish, 29% German, 2.5% Czech and 1.5% Jewish; Cieszyn Silesia in year 1800 - 73% Polish, 19% Czech, 8% German and Jewish; Opavian Silesia in year 1880 - 81% German and 19% Czech). In Lower Silesia large Polish communities survived until the 19th century in Liegnitz Regency only near Zielona Góra (Grünberg) as well as in Breslau Regency in counties Syców (Polnisch Wartenberg), Namysłów (Namslau), Brzeg (Brieg), Oława (Ohlau), Oleśnica (Oels), Milicz (Militsch), Trzebnica (Trebnitz) and in some villages around Wrocław (Breslau). American merchant Robert Semple wrote during his journey from Lutynia (Leuthen) to Breslau in 1813: "(...) The spires and towers of Breslau are visible at a great distance over the plain. The peasants in all this part of the country speak a dialect of the Sclavonic, and are, without much difficulty, understood by Russian soldiers. Their caps, their long coats, and their language, mark already the approach to the frontiers of Poland. (...)". After WW1 Poland regained East Upper Silesia, half of Cieszyn Silesia and a small part of Lower Silesia (parts of counties Syców and Namysłów with ethnically Polish population). Western Upper Silesia and entire Lower Silesia became parts of Poland again after WW2.
=====
Pomerania (my article starts in the 500s AD, prehistory of the region is not covered here):
Pomerania was settled by Slavs in the 500s. Polish ruler Mieszko I annexed Pomerania in 967 and began Christianizing the region, founding Gdańsk. His successor, king Bolesław I the Brave, founded a bishopric in Kołobrzeg in year 1000. In year 1216 western part of Pomerania became a fiefdom of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1227 Denmark was defeated in the battle of Bornhöved and western Pomerania became part of the Holy Roman Empire. Since this time the Ostsiedlung (mass immigration of German settlers) started in Pomerania, leading to gradual Germanization of the region. Central and eastern parts of Pomerania continued to be under Polish rule until 1309, when this region was captured by the Teutonic Knights. The Teutonic Knights massacred the population of Gdańsk and then resettled the city with German settlers, hence the city of Gdańsk became known as Danzig. Eastern Pomerania (also known as Pomerelia) remained under Teutonic rule until 1454, when Poland regained the region after the Thirteen Years' War (in addition it can be noted that central Pomerania, the duchy of Słupsk, was a Polish fiefdom in years 1390-1446 and 1466-1474, however after 1474 Poland completely lost control of central and western Pomerania with the exception of a small territory known as Drahim Land or Draheim). Pomerelia, as part of the so called Royal Prussia (also known as West Prussia), remained under Polish rule since 1454 until the First Partition of Poland in 1772, while the city of Danzig remained Polish as an enclave until the Second Partition in 1793. At that time Pomerelia became part of the Kingdom of Prussia. In terms of ethnicity Pomerania became overwhelmingly German throughout centuries, in 1817 the Province of Pomerania was 90% German and 10% Slavic - Kashubian and Wendish - with Kashubians living mostly in its easternmost counties of Lębork (Lauenburg), Bytów (Bütow) and Słupsk (Stolp). Kashubians living in the Province of Pomerania were also mostly Protestant, rather than Catholic. Pomerelia on the other hand remained majority Polish and Catholic Kashubian (who were Pro-Polish politically), with Poles and Kashubians comprising around 52% of West Prussia's population in 1819 (46% were Germans and Mennonites, and 2% or 3% were Jews). Poland regained 62% of the territory of West Prussia (including most of Pomerelia) after WW1, with Danzig (8% of the territory of West Prussia) becoming a Free City only partially under Polish rule. The remaining part of West Prussia, as well as entire Pomerania east of the Oder River, became parts of Poland again after WW2.
=====
Prussia (here prehistory is covered because it was Baltic since ancient times):
Prussia was originally inhabited by West Baltic tribes since ancient times. During the times of Poland's feudal fragmentation, various Polish duchies suffered from constant attacks by Pagan Prussians, which is why in 1226 Duke of Mazovia, Konrad, requested help of the Teutonic Kinghts. The Teutonic Knights were established by Konrad in the Land of Chelmno, where they founded Toruń (Thorn). From there they launched a series of crusades against the Prussians, subjugating them by 1283. Mass immigration of German settlers and gradual Germanization of conquered Prussians changed the ethnic structure of the region. Teutonic knights invited also Polish (mostly Mazovians, also known as Mazurs) and Lithuanian settlers to Prussia, who settled in regions which became known as Mazuria, Warmia and Prussian Lithuania. After conquering Pagan Prussians, Teutonic Knights turned against their former allies, capturing Polish Pomerelia in 1309. In 1454 Poland regained Pomerelia and also annexed western parts of Prussia (with Warmia), which became known as Royal Prussia (West Prussia). The part remaining under Teutonic rule became known as East Prussia. After a series of Polish-Teutonic wars, the Teutonic Order was ultimately defeated and paid homage to the Polish King in 1525. At that time the Duchy of Prussia emerged, which became the first Protestant state in Europe (Mazurians and Prussian Lithuanians also converted to Lutheranism). In 1657 Prussia became independent from Poland and became part of Brandenburg-Prussia. In terms of ethnicity, in 1824 East Prussia was 56% German, 26% Polish (including Protestant Mazurians) and 18% Lithuanian. The Duchy of Prussia merged with the Margriaviate of Brandenburg (around Berlin, in East Germany) to form the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701, which progressively unified Germany and created the Second Reich in 1871. So it can be said that Germany was unified under the name of a historical area ("Prussia") being now entirely in Poland and Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast).
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