Legnica (pronounce: Legnica.ogg, formerly Lignica, German Liegnitz) is a town in south-western Poland. As of the 2005 census estimate, the town has a total population of 106,122. Situated in the Lower Silesian Voivodship (since 1999) on the Kaczawa river. Previously capital of Legnica Voivodship (1975-1998).

History

Founded in the 7th century, Legnica derives its name from the Polish verb: leżeć: (to lay down). First mentioned in chronicles in 1004, Legnica is famous for a battle that took place at Legnickie Pole near the city on April 9, 1241 between the Mongols of the Golden Horde and the combined Poles and Germans under Duke Henry II the Pious, supported by the feudal nobility including the Knights Templar. The battle is known as Battle of Legnica. Although the Mongols killed Henry and annihilated his forces, they stopped their advance into Europe and turned back to attend to the election of a new Grand Khan following the death in the same year of Ögedei Khan.

Legnica became the residence of the dukes of Lower Silesia in 1163 and was the seat of a principality ruled by a branch of the Piast dynasty from 1248 to 1675, when it passed into the domain of Austria after the death of the last Piast duke, Georg Wilhelm. The protestant reformation was introduced in the duchy as early as 1522. Until 1742 the town was known as Lignica, but the name was changed to Liegnitz with the incorporation of Silesia into Prussia, following Prussia's defeat of Austria at that time the town was germanized. In 1813, the Prussians, under Field Marshall Blücher, defeated the French in the battle of Katzbach.

The town became a part of Poland again in 1945 and in 1948 changed its spelling to Legnica, as Lignica sounded archaic. The biggest contingent of the U.S.S.R army in Poland was stationed in Legnica between 1945 and 1990. At that time, the town was divided into Polish and Soviet areas, the latter closed to the public. In the 1950's and 1960's local copper and nickel industry became a major factor in the economic development of the area.

Economy

• Industry: copper mining and processing, KGHM Polska Miedź owns a large steel mill on the western outskirts of town.

Education

• Wyższa Szkoła Menedżerska

Twin towns

As of 2005, Legnica is twinned with four other European towns.

• Blansko,
• Drohobych,
• Orenburg,
• Wuppertal

Sports

• Miedź Legnica - men football team (Polish Cup winner 1992; 3rd league in seasons 2003/2004 and 2004/2005)

Politics

Municipal politics

Legnica tends to be a left-of-center town with a considerable influence of workers' unions. The Municipal Council of Legnica (Rada miejska miasta Legnica) is the legislative branch of the local government and is composed of 25 members elected in local elections every five years. The mayor or town president (Prezydent miasta) is the executive branch of the local government and is directly elected in the same municipal elections.

Legnica-Jelenia Gora constituency

Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Legnica-Jelenia Gora constituency:

• Ryszard Bonda, Samoobrona
• Bronisława Kowalska, SLD-UP
• Adam Lipiński, PiS
• Tadeusz Maćkała, PO
• Ryszard Maraszek, SLD-UP
• Olgierd Poniźnik, SLD-UP
• Władysław Rak, SLD-UP
• Tadeusz Samborski, PSL
• Jerzy Szmajdziński, SLD-UP
• Halina Szustak, LPR
• Michał Turkiewicz, SLD-UP
• Ryszard Zbrzyzny, SLD-UP .

External link:

• The web page of Legnica