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Warmia in 1547 as part of the Polish province of Royal Prussia

Warmia (Polish: Warmia, German: Ermland, Latin: Varmia, also historically known as Ermeland) is a region between Pomerania and Masuria in northeastern Poland.

Together with Masuria it forms the Warmian-Masurian Voivodship. To the west of Warmia is Pomesania, to the south Chełmno Land, Sassinia and Galindia (later called Masuria), and to the east Sambia. In the north it borders the Vistula Bay. Because it is located in a border area, Warmia has been under the rule of various rulers over its history, most notably the Teutonic Knights, Poland, and the Kingdom of Prussia. The history of the region is closely connected to that of the Archbishopric of Warmia.

The area is associated with the Old Prussian tribe of Warmians (a.k.a. Warms, Varms, Varmi, Warmians, Varmians, Latvian: Vārmieši) subdued by the Teutonic Knights. According to legends, the names may come from a chief called Warmo and his widow Erma.

History

The first traces of human settlement in the region come from ca. 14-15,000 years ago. They are many traces of settlements made by the Lusatian culture (13th-5th century BC), including above-ground water housings and artificially created islands.

In the early Middle Ages the area was inhabited by various Old Prussian tribes, such as the Pomesanians, Pogesanians, Warmians, Natangians, Bartians, Sambians, Nadrovians, Scalovians, Galindians, and Sassinians. However, these tribes only began to coordinate after the 12th century when they were attacked by the crusading Teutonic Order.

As the Polish state grew in power, Poles tried to Christianize the Prussians, but this led to conflict and skirmishes, including the martyring of Adalbert of Prague in 997.

Because of his inability to subdue the Prussians, Konrad I of Masovia invited the Teutonic Knights to Christianise the pagan Prussians in 1226. They were given the small Chełmno Land as a fief for the duration of their crusade, but quickly acquired more land to the north and east. Their actions were considered violations of signed treaties, and the knights were accused of forging land grants. By the end of the 13th century most of the Prussian region, including Warmia, was conquered by the Teutonic Order. The native Prussians were either killed off or reduced to the status of serfs and gradually Germanized. The Order received the reins of government from Emperor Frederick II in 1228. The grant was confirmed by a papal bull from Pope Gregory IX in 1234, although Poland never recognized the rights of the Order to rule the country.

The Bishopric of Warmia was one of four dioceses created in 1242 by the papal legate William of Modena. Between the 13th and 17th centuries Warmia as well as other parts of Prussia were colonised by Germans in the north and Poles in the south. The bishopric was part of a Polish province of the church. The Bishops of Warmia were usually Germans or Poles, although Enea Silvio Piccolomini, the later Pope Pius II, was an Italian bishop of the diocese.

The Second Treaty of Toruń in 1466 removed Warmia from the control of the Teutonic Knights and placed it under the sovereignty of the king of Poland as part of the province of Royal Prussia. This was confirmed in the Treaty of Piotrków Trybunalski (December 7 1512), which conceded to the king of Poland a limited influence in the election of bishops. After the Union of Lublin in 1569 Warmia was directly included into the Polish crown within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

During the Partitions of Poland Warmia was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia in 1772, while the property of the bishop was confiscated by the Prussian state. Ignacy Krasicki, the last prince-bishop as well as a Polish writer, was nominated to the Archbishopric of Gniezno. The Prussian census in 1772 showed a total population of 96,547 including an urban population of 24,612 in 12 towns. 17,749 houses were listed and the biggest city was Braunsberg (Braniewo).

From 1772-1945 Warmia was part of Lutheran East Prussia, with the exception that the people of Warmia remained Catholic. The population of northern Warmia spoke standard German (as opposed to Low German used in the rest of East Prussia), while the south was populated by Polish-speaking Warmiaks. In 1873 the Polish language was forbidden in all schools in Warmia, including Polish schools founded in the 16th century. In 1900 Warmia's population was 240,000.

After World War I, Poles were subject to persecution by the German government during the Weimar Republic. Polish children speaking their language were punished in schools and often had to wear signs with insulting names, such as "Pollack" [1]. During the Nazi period, Poles in Warmia were subject to even harsher persecution by German authorities (see Nazi crimes in Warmia).

Warmia returned to Poland in 1945 resulting from the Potsdam Conference following World War II. Most ethnic Germans were expelled from East Prussia to Germany. A minority of Germans remains in Poland.

The governments of East and West Germany accepted the incorporation of Warmia into Poland by treaties in 1950, 1970, and finally de jure in the prelude to the German reunification in 1990. Today Warmia is part of the administrative Warmian-Masurian Voivodship.

Major towns

Polish names, followed by German names in italics:

Biskupiec (Bischofsburg)
Braniewo (Braunsberg)
Frombork (Frauenburg)
Lidzbark Warmiński (Heilsberg)
Olsztyn (Allenstein)
Reszel (Rößel)

Famous Warmians

Rainer Barzel, born 1924 in Braunsberg, German Politician
Nicolaus Copernicus, worked in Frauenburg/Frombork, astronomer and mathematician
Hugo Haase, born 1863 in Allenstein, German politician
Feliks Nowowiejski, from Barczewo, a musician and composer, author of music for Rota song
Regina Protmann, born 1552 in Braunsberg, canonised founder of the catholic order Congregatio Sanctae Catharinae (CSCA)
Georg Cardinal Sterzinsky, born 1936 in Warlack (Worławki), German Cardinal-bishop
Ernst Wiechert, born 1887 in Sensburg (Żądzbork, now Mrągowo), German writer
Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski, born 1922 in Allenstein, German politician

References

Template:Pl icon Erwin Kruk, "Warmia i Mazury", Wydawnictwo Dolnośląskie, Wrocław 2003, ISBN 8373840281

External links

Map of Prussia including Ermland/Warmia around 1547[2]
Ermland/Warmia (in center in green) on Map of Magnus Prussia Ducatus in 1690
Region of Warmia
Template:Pl icon Warmia and Masuria
Catholic Ermlanders page

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 '''Warmia''' ({{lang-pl|Warmia}}, {{lang-de|Ermland}}, [[Latin]]: ''Varmia'', also historically known as '''Ermeland''') is a region between [[Pomerania]] and [[Masuria]] in northeastern [[Poland]].
-Together with [[Masuria]] it forms the [[Warminsko-Mazurskie]] [[Voivode|Voivodship]]. To the west of Warmia is [[Pomesania]], to the south [[Chełmno Land]], [[Sassinia]] and [[Galindia]] (later called [[Masuria]]) and to the east [[Sambia]]. In the north it borders the [[Vistula Bay]]. Because it is located in a border area, Warmia has been under the rule of various rulers over its history; the most notable include the [[Teutonic Order]], Poland, and the [[Kingdom of Prussia]].
+Together with [[Masuria]] it forms the [[Warmian-Masurian Voivodship]]. To the west of Warmia is [[Pomesania]], to the south [[Chełmno Land]], [[Sassinia]] and [[Galindia]] (later called [[Masuria]]), and to the east [[Sambia]]. In the north it borders the [[Vistula Bay]]. Because it is located in a border area, Warmia has been under the rule of various rulers over its history, most notably the [[Teutonic Knights]], Poland, and the [[Kingdom of Prussia]]. The history of the region is closely connected to that of the [[Archbishopric of Warmia]].
-The area is associated with the [[Prussian people|Old Prussian]] tribe of Warmians (a.k.a. Warms, Varms, Varmi, Warmians, Varmians, [[Latvian language|Latvian]]: Vārmieši) subdued by the [[Teutonic Knights]].
+The area is associated with the [[Prussian people|Old Prussian]] tribe of Warmians (a.k.a. Warms, Varms, Varmi, Warmians, Varmians, [[Latvian language|Latvian]]: Vārmieši) subdued by the Teutonic Knights. According to legends, the names may come from a chief called ''Warmo'' and his widow ''Erma''.
-According to legends, the names may come from a chief called ''Warmo'' and his wife and widow, ''Erma''.
 ==History==
@@ Line 12: / Line 11: @@
 They are many traces of settlements made by the [[Lusatian culture]] ([[13th century BC|13th]]-[[5th century BC]]), including above-ground water housings and artificially created islands.
-In the early [[Middle Ages]] the area was inhabited by various Old Prussian tribes, such as the Pomesanians, Pogesanians, Warmians, Natangians, Bartians, Sambians, Nadrovians, Scalovians, Galindians and Sassinians. However, these tribes only began to coordinate after the [[12th century]] when they were subject to crusade from Teutonic Order.
+In the early [[Middle Ages]] the area was inhabited by various Old Prussian tribes, such as the Pomesanians, Pogesanians, Warmians, Natangians, Bartians, Sambians, Nadrovians, Scalovians, Galindians, and Sassinians. However, these tribes only began to coordinate after the [[12th century]] when they were attacked by the [[crusade|crusading]] Teutonic Order.
-As the [[History of Poland (966-1385)|Polish state]] grew in power, [[Poles]] tried to [[Christianize]] the Prussians, but this led to conflict and skirmishes, including the martyring of [[Adalbert of Prague]].
+As the [[History of Poland (966-1385)|Polish state]] grew in power, [[Poles]] tried to [[Christianize]] the Prussians, but this led to conflict and skirmishes, including the martyring of [[Adalbert of Prague]] in [[997]].
-Because of his inability to subdue the Prussians, [[Konrad I of Masovia|Konrad I]] of [[Masovia]] invited in [[1226]] the [[Teutonic Knights]] to Christianise the pagan Prussians. They were given the small [[Chełmno Land]] as a [[fief]] for the duration of their crusade, but quickly acquired more land to the north and east. Their actions were considered violations of signed treaties, and the knights were also accused of forging land grants. By the end of the [[13th century]] most of the Prussian region, including Warmia, was conquered by the Teutonic Order. The native Prussians were either killed off or reduced to status of serfs. The Order received the reins of government from [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Frederick II]] in [[1228]]. The grant was confirmed by a [[papal bull]] from [[Pope Gregory IX]] in [[1234]], although [[Poland]] never recognized the rights of the Order to rule the country.
+Because of his inability to subdue the Prussians, [[Konrad I of Masovia|Konrad I]] of [[Masovia]] invited the [[Teutonic Knights]] to Christianise the pagan Prussians in [[1226]]. They were given the small [[Chełmno Land]] as a [[fief]] for the duration of their crusade, but quickly acquired more land to the north and east. Their actions were considered violations of signed treaties, and the knights were accused of forging land grants. By the end of the [[13th century]] most of the Prussian region, including Warmia, was conquered by the Teutonic Order. The native Prussians were either killed off or reduced to the status of serfs and gradually [[Germanization|Germanized]]. The Order received the reins of government from [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Frederick II]] in [[1228]]. The grant was confirmed by a [[papal bull]] from [[Pope Gregory IX]] in [[1234]], although Poland never recognized the rights of the Order to rule the country.
-The [[Bishopric of Warmia]] was one of four [[diocese]]s created in [[1242]] by the [[papal legate]] [[William of Modena]]. Between the 13th and [[17th century|17th]] centuries Warmia as well as other parts of Prussia were colonised by [[German people|Germans]] in the north and Poles in the south. The bishopric was part of a Polish province of the church. The [[Bishop of Warmia|Bishops of Warmia]] were usually Germans or Poles, although Enea Silvio Piccolomini, the later [[Pope Pius II]], was an [[Italians|Italian]] bishop of the diocese.
+The [[Archbishopric of Warmia|Bishopric of Warmia]] was one of four [[diocese]]s created in [[1242]] by the [[papal legate]] [[William of Modena]]. Between the 13th and [[17th century|17th]] centuries Warmia as well as other parts of Prussia were colonised by [[Germans]] in the north and Poles in the south. The bishopric was part of a Polish province of the church. The [[Bishop of Warmia|Bishops of Warmia]] were usually Germans or Poles, although Enea Silvio Piccolomini, the later [[Pope Pius II]], was an [[Italians|Italian]] bishop of the diocese.
-The [[Peace of Toruń 1466|Second Treaty]] of [[Toruń]] in [[1466]] removed Warmia from the control of the Teutonic Knights and placed it under the sovereignty of the [[King of Poland]] as part of the province of [[Royal Prussia]]. This was confirmed in the [[Treaty of Piotrków Trybunalski|Treaty]] of [[Piotrków Trybunalski]] ([[December 7]], [[1512]]), which conceded to the King of Poland a limited influence in the election of bishops. After the [[Union of Lublin]] in [[1569]] Warmia was directly included into the [[Crown of the Polish Kingdom|Polish crown]] within the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]].
+The [[Peace of Toruń 1466|Second Treaty]] of [[Toruń]] in [[1466]] removed Warmia from the control of the Teutonic Knights and placed it under the sovereignty of the [[king of Poland]] as part of the province of [[Royal Prussia]]. This was confirmed in the [[Treaty of Piotrków Trybunalski|Treaty]] of [[Piotrków Trybunalski]] ([[December 7]] [[1512]]), which conceded to the king of Poland a limited influence in the election of bishops. After the [[Union of Lublin]] in [[1569]] Warmia was directly included into the [[Crown of the Polish Kingdom|Polish crown]] within the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]].
-During the [[Partitions of Poland]] Warmia was incorporated into the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] in [[1772]], while the property of the bishop was confiscated by the Prussian state. [[Ignacy Krasicki]], the last [[prince-bishop]] as well as a Polish writer, was nominated to the Archbishopric of [[Gniezno]]. The Prussian census in 1772 showed a total population of 96,547 including an urban population of 24,612 in 12 towns. 17,749 houses were listed and the biggest city was Braunsberg ([[Braniewo]]).
+During the [[Partitions of Poland]] Warmia was annexed by the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] in [[1772]], while the property of the bishop was confiscated by the Prussian state. [[Ignacy Krasicki]], the last [[prince-bishop]] as well as a Polish writer, was nominated to the Archbishopric of [[Gniezno]]. The Prussian census in 1772 showed a total population of 96,547 including an urban population of 24,612 in 12 towns. 17,749 houses were listed and the biggest city was Braunsberg ([[Braniewo]]).
-As a result of Prussian partition of Poland in the period 1772-[[1945]], Warmia was part of [[Lutheran]] [[East Prussia]], with the exception that the people of Warmia remained [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]]. The population of northern Warmia spoke [[German language|standard German]] (as opposed to [[Low German]] used in the rest of East Prussia), while the south was populated by Polish-speaking [[Warmiak]]s. In [[1873]] the Polish language was forbidden in all schools in Warmia, including Polish schools founded in the [[16th century]]. In [[1900]] Warmia's population was 240,000.
+From 1772-1945 Warmia was part of [[Lutheran]] [[East Prussia]], with the exception that the people of Warmia remained [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]]. The population of northern Warmia spoke [[German language|standard German]] (as opposed to [[Low German]] used in the rest of East Prussia), while the south was populated by Polish-speaking [[Warmiak]]s. In [[1873]] the Polish language was forbidden in all schools in Warmia, including Polish schools founded in the [[16th century]]. In [[1900]] Warmia's population was 240,000.
-After [[World War I]], Poles were subject to persecution by the German government during the [[Weimar Republic]]. Polish children speaking their language were punished in schools and often had to wear signs with insulting name, such as "Pollack" [http://www.domwarminski.pl/www.domwarminski.pl/content/view/294/416].
+After [[World War I]], Poles were subject to persecution by the German government during the [[Weimar Republic]]. Polish children speaking their language were punished in schools and often had to wear signs with insulting names, such as "Pollack" [http://www.domwarminski.pl/www.domwarminski.pl/content/view/294/416]. During the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] period, Poles in Warmia were subject to even harsher persecution by German authorities (see [[Nazi crimes in Warmia]]).
+Warmia returned to Poland in [[1945]] resulting from the [[Potsdam Conference]] following [[World War II]]. Most [[ethnic Germans]] were [[Expulsion of Germans after World War II|expelled]] from [[Evacuation of East Prussia|East Prussia]] to [[Germany]]. A [[Germans of Poland|minority]] of Germans remains in Poland.
-During the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] period, Poles in Warmia were subject to even harsher persecution by German authorities.
-Polish organisations were subject to observation by police, and all their activities were reported. So called "Vertrauensmänner", unpaid informants of German police were supplying information on most active members, meetings, as well as helping in preparing lists of people that would be selected as first to be executed or sent to concentration camps. Having excellent information on who sends children to Polish schools, takes part in masses for Poles, buys Polish newspapers, or organisations, the next phase was the activity of nationalist German militia, which engaged in attacks on Poles. Polish schools, printing houses, headquarters of Polish organisations were demolished. Homes of local Polish activists were subject to attacks as well. Even Polish masses were attacked and dispersed. Polish teachers were harassed, as German nationalists gathered under their homes and shouted „Wenn das Polenblut vom Messer spritzt, dann geht’s noch mal so gut”(When Polish blood will burst from the knife, then everything will be two times better). Discrimination increased in 1939. Most active Poles were ordered to leave their homes. Catholic newspapers were closed as well local cultural centers involved with Poles. At the start of Summer, masses in Polish language were forbidden by German authorities. Just before the German invasion against Poland, in the last days of August, Police went to eradicate all elements of social and political life of Polish minority in Germany, by interning almost all activists of Polish organisations in Germany, teachers, people who worked in Polish banks, community workers, as well as Polish priests. Prominent Polish cultural activists were murdered, such as [[Seweryn Pieniężny]], [[Leon Włodarczak]][http://www.um.olsztyn.pl/pl/01_historia_miasta/03_postacie/index6.html],Juliusz Malewski, Stefan Różycki. Locals who showed interest in Polish culture were frequently murdered as well.[http://www.domwarminski.pl/content/view/309/431]. Before being murdered they were usually forced to erase signs, posters or Polish symbols from places that formerly housed Polish organisations[http://www.ipn.gov.pl/biuletyn12-1_35-36.pdf].
+The governments of [[East Germany|East]] and [[West Germany]] accepted the incorporation of Warmia into Poland by treaties in [[1950]], [[1970]], and finally ''de jure'' in the prelude to the [[Reunification of Germany|German reunification]] in [[1990]]. Today Warmia is part of the administrative [[Warmian-Masurian Voivodship]].
-After the war, in [[1945]] Warmia was restored to Polish state as a result of the decisions of the [[Potsdam Conference]]. Considered ''de facto'' returned after 173 years to Poland, [[ethnic Germans]] were [[Expulsion of Germans after World War II|expelled]] from [[Evacuation of East Prussia|East Prussia]] to [[Germany]]. Yet, a minority of [[Germans of Poland]] remained.
-The governments of the two German states accepted Germany's post-war eastern border by treaties in [[1950]] and [[1970]], and finally ''de jure'' in the prelude to the [[1990]] [[Reunification of Germany|reunification]]. Today Warmia is part of the administrative region [[Warmia-Masuria]].
 ==Major towns==
-Polish names":
+Polish names, followed by German names in italics:
-*[[Biskupiec]]
+*[[Biskupiec]] (''Bischofsburg'')
-*[[Braniewo]]
+*[[Braniewo]] (''Braunsberg'')
-*[[Frombork]]
+*[[Frombork]] (''Frauenburg'')
-*[[Lidzbark Warmiński]]
+*[[Lidzbark Warmiński]] (''Heilsberg'')
-*[[Olsztyn]]
+*[[Olsztyn]] (''Allenstein'')
-*[[Reszel]]
+*[[Reszel]] (''Rößel'')
 ==Famous Warmians==
-*[[Rainer Barzel]], from Braniewo, German Politician
+*[[Rainer Barzel]], born 1924 in Braunsberg, German Politician
-*[[Nicolaus Copernicus]], from Frombork, astronomer and mathematician
+*[[Nicolaus Copernicus]], worked in Frauenburg/Frombork, astronomer and mathematician
-*[[Hugo Haase]], from Olsztyn, German politician
+*[[Hugo Haase]], born 1863 in Allenstein, German politician
 *[[Feliks Nowowiejski]], from Barczewo, a musician and composer, author of music for [[Rota (Oath)|Rota]] song
-*[[Regina Protmann]], from Braniewo, canonised founder of the catholic order Congregatio Sanctae Catharinae (CSCA)
+*[[Regina Protmann]], born 1552 in Braunsberg, canonised founder of the catholic order Congregatio Sanctae Catharinae (CSCA)
-*[[Georg Cardinal Sterzinsky]], from [[Worławki]], German Cardinal-bishop
+*[[Georg Cardinal Sterzinsky]], born 1936 in Warlack ([[Worławki]]), German Cardinal-bishop
-*[[Ernst Wiechert]], from Żądzbork (now [[Mrągowo]], German writer
+*[[Ernst Wiechert]], born 1887 in Sensburg (Żądzbork, now [[Mrągowo]]), German writer
-*[[Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski]], from Olsztyn, German politician
+*[[Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski]], born 1922 in Allenstein, German politician
 ==See also==
-*[[Bishopric of Warmia]]
+*[[Archbishopric of Warmia]]
 *[[Bishops of Warmia]]