This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Kpalion (talk | contribs) at 03:29, 10 March 2004. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 03:29, 10 March 2004 by Kpalion (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Greater Poland (sometimes Great Poland; Polish: Wielkopolska, German: Grosspolen, Latin: Polonia Maior) is one of the historical regions of Poland. It is located in western-central Poland, in the encompasses much of the area drained by the Warta River German: Warthe) and its tributaries. There is also a region in south-eastern Poland, known as Lesser Poland.
Its principal cities are Poznan, Leszno, Kalisz and Gniezno. Most of the historical region (except some southwestern communities) is included the Greater Poland voivodship (administrative province) created in 1999.
Wielkopolska was the core of the early medieval Polish state, often called the cradle of Poland, and at times was called just Poland (in Latin: Polonia). The name of Greater Poland is mentioned first in Latin form Polonia Maior in 1257, and in Polish form w Wielkej Polszcze in 1449.
See also
- South Prussia (1793-1806)
- Duchy of Warsaw (1806-1815)
- Grand Duchy of Poznan (1815-1848)
- Province of Posen (1949-1919)
- Reichsgau Wartheland (1939-1945)
- Poland (all other times)
- Dukes of Greater Poland
Further reading
- Zygmunt Boras, Książęta Piastowscy Wielkopolski, Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, Poznań 1983