Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Pomerania
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Pomerania (Polish: Pomorze, German: Pommern and Pommerellen, Pomeranian (Kashubian): Pňmňrze and Pňmňrskô, Latin: Pomerania, Pomorania) is a geographical and historical region in northern Poland and Germany on the south coasts of the Baltic Sea between and on both sides of the Vistula and Oder (Odra) rivers, reaching the Reknitz river in the west.
Polish Pomerania is currently divided into 3 voivodships: the West Pomeranian Voivodship (Zachodniopomorskie, ZP), Pomeranian Voivodship (Pomorskie, PM) and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship (Kujawsko-Pomorskie, KP). German Pomerania (Vorpommern) is part of the German Bundesland (federal state) of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania).
The history of the region is rich and varied, perhaps due to it having been under the rule of many different powers through the centuries, as all of Europe. Since 1181 until 1806 Pomerania was a part of the Holy Roman Empire and was ruled as imperial fiefs by the Dukes of Pomerania, kings of Poland, Denmark, Saxony, Brandenburg, Prussia, Sweden. With the split of the HRE into Austrian and German Empire Pomerania was a part of Germany. In 1945 Pomerania came under Soviet occupation. History of Pomerania is very often written from a Polish or German point of view and very rarely from a Pomeranian point of view.
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Origin and meaning of the name
The name is Pomeranian translation of 'longum mare' and means 'country by/next to/along the sea'
The name was probably first mentioned as Latin words 'longum mare' (=along the sea) in an obscure church record of around 1080), called the Dagome Iudex, but supposedly dealing with 992. It names Oda von Haldensleben and her husband as Dagome, which is assumed to refer to Mieszko I, referring to territory Dagome gave as gift to the pope. In an imperial record of 1046 there is an actual first mention of Pomerania as Zemuzil dux Bomeranorum (Siemomysl, Duke of Pomeranians). From then on Pomerania is mentioned many times in the chronicles by Adam of Bremen (ca. 1070) and Gallus Anonymous (ca. 1113).
Historically Pomerania was known as Vor-Pommern and Hinter-Pommern and the most easterly part as Pommerellia, or Pomerellia, bordering and overlapping with Westprussia.
Under Polish administration a number of several different voivodships all using the name Pomerania have been established.
Demographics
| Voivodship | Capitals | Registration plates | Area w km² | Population Polish(Dec 31st of 1999) German 2001 | territorial code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship | Bydgoszcz¹ Torun² | C | 17.969,72 | 2.100.771 | 04 |
| Pomeranian Voivodship | Gdansk | G | 18.292,88 | 2.192.268 | 22 |
| West Pomeranian Voivodship | Szczecin | Z | 22.901,48 | 1.732.838 | 32 |
| (¹) - the site of the Voivod office, (²) - the site of the Voivod council | |||||
| Polish Pomerania total | 59.164,08 | 6.025.877 | |||
| Nordvorpommern | Grimmen | NPV | 2.168 | 117.722 | |
| Ostvorpommern | Anklam | OVP | 1.910 | 113.623 | |
| Rügen | Bergen | 974 | 74.400 | ||
| Uecker-Randow | Pasewalk | UER | 1.624 | 83.459 | |
| Demmin (district) | Demmin | DM | 1.921 | 93.700 | |
| Greifswald | HGW | 52,2 | 52.984 | ||
| Stralsund | HST | est. 52,2 | 60.000 | ||
| German Pomerania total | 8.701 | 595.888 | |||