Royal Prussia
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| Province of the Kingdom of Poland (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1569) |
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| Government | Monarchy | |||
| History | ||||
| - Established | October 19, 1466 | |||
| - Loss of autonomy | 1 July 1569 | |||
| - Annexed | August 5, 1772 | |||
Royal Prussia (German: Königliches Preußen (help·info); Polish: Prusy Królewskie) was a province of the Kingdom of Poland and then the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1569 to 1772. Royal Prussia included Eastern Pomerania, Chełmno Land (Kulmerland), Malbork Voivodeship (Marienburg), Gdańsk (Danzig), Toruń (Thorn), and Elbląg (Elbing).
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[edit] History
[edit] Thirteen Years War
During the Thirteen Years' War ("War of the Cities"), the Prussian Confederation, led by the cities of Gdańsk (Danzig), Elbląg (Elbing), and Toruń (Thorn), as well as gentry from Chełmno Land (Kulmerland) asked, in February 1454, for Polish support against the Teutonic Order's rule. The rebellion also included major cities from the eastern part of the Order's lands, such as Kneiphof (Knipawa), a part of Königsberg (Królewiec). The war ended in October 1466 with the Second Treaty of Toruń, which provided for the Order's cession to the Polish crown of its rights over the western half of Prussia, including Eastern Pomerania (Pomerelia), Elbląg (Elbing), Malbork (Marienburg), and Chełmno (Kulm) districts.
[edit] Kingdom of Poland
The Bishopric of Warmia had claimed the title of imperial Prince-Bishopric status supposedly given by Emperor Charles IV (though this claim seems to be not supported by any document, it was in wide use in 17th century) and continued defending this status until the end of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806.
The eastern part of Prussia remained under the rule of the Order and its successors, becoming the Duchy of Prussia in 1525 when the Order's Grand Master Albert of Brandenburg adopted Lutheranism and secularised his land as its hereditary ruler. In 1618 the Duchy of Prussia was inherited by Johann Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg. Until 1657 it was under Polish and Swedish suzerainty and the rulers of Brandenburg had to swear formal allegiance to the Polish Crown.
Until the 1569 Union of Lublin, Royal Prussia enjoyed substantial autonomy in its affiliation to the crown of Poland - it had its own Diet, treasury and monetary unit and armies. It was governed by a council, subordinate to the Polish king, whose members were chosen from local lords and wealthy citizens.
[edit] The Commonwealth
In 1569, as a result of the Union of Lublin, its autonomy was abolished and the region was united with the Polish crown. Prussian electors were now senators and representatives to the Polish sejm.[1]
[edit] The Partitions
During the First (1772) and Second (1793) Partitions of Poland, Royal Prussia was gradually annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia.
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
[edit] Further reading
- (English) Karin Friedrich, The Other Prussia: Royal Prussia, Poland and Liberty, 1569-1772, Cambridge University Press, 2000, ISBN 0-521-58335-7.
- (Polish) Gerard Labuda (ed.), Historia Pomorza, vol. I–IV, Poznań 1969–2003 (also covers East Prussia)
- (Polish) W. Odyniec, Dzieje Prus Królewskich (1454–1772). Zarys monograficzny, Warszawa 1972
- (Polish) Dzieje Pomorza Nadwiślańskiego od VII wieku do 1945 roku, Gdańsk 1978
