Lower Silesia (Polish Dolny Śląsk, German Niederschlesien, Latin Silesia Inferior) is
the north-western part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia in
Poland, located along the middle Oder River and organized into Lower
Silesian Voivodship, (Polish: województwo dolnośląskie) with capital Wrocław
It was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Wrocław, Legnica, Wałbrzych and Jelenia Góra voivodships as a result of Local Government Reorganization Act of 1998. The
voivodship's name recalls the region's traditional name of Lower Silesia.
Population: 2.987 million
Area: 19,946 km˛.
The capital and biggest city : Wrocław
Major cities and towns: (population in 1995):
- Wrocław (642,700);
- Wałbrzych (139,600);
- Legnica (108,000);
- Jelenia Góra (93,500);
- Lubin (83,500);
- Głogów (74,200);
- Świdnica (64,800);
- Bolesławiec (44,400);
- Oleśnica (38,900);
- Dzierżoniów (38,300);
- Bielawa (34,600);
- Zgorzelec (36,800);
- Oława (31,800).
- Kłodzko (30,900);
- Nowa Ruda (27,200);
- Jawor (25,600);
- Świebodzice (24,700);
- Lubań (24,400);
- Kamienna Góra (23,600);
- Polkowice (21,600);
Other cities: Chojnów, Złotoryja (both under 20,000).
Administrative division
Most popular surnames in the region
= History
History: Silesia (Prussian Province) from 1870 to 1945. See also: Silesia (historical region it forms
part of)
Tourism: Most tourists visit the famous ski resorts in Karkonosze mountains
with its centres Szklarska
Poręba and Karpacz. The cities of Wrocław, Jelenia Góra and Legnica also are famous for visitors.
History
Early history
Early documents mention a couple of tribes most probably living in Lower Silesia: Bavarian Geographer (ca. 845): Slenzanie,
Dziadoshanie; and a document of Prague bishopric (1086): Zlasane, Trebovane, Poborane, Dedositze. At the same time the Upper
Silesia was inhabited by Opolanie, Lupiglaa, Golenshitse. In the 9th and 10th centuries the territory was subject to the Moravian and then Bohemian rulers of the
neighbouring area covered by today's Czech Republic to the south. In
990 Silesia was incorporated into Poland by
Mieszko I
Feudal fragmentation of Poland
Silesia was split into Lower and Upper parts in 1172 during the period of Poland's feudal fragmentation, when the land was
divided between two sons of Ladislaus the Exile
(Władysław Wygnaniec): Bolesław the Tall ruling over the Lower Silesia with the capital in Wroclaw and Mieszko Plątonogi ruling over Upper Silesia with the capital in Opole.
Later Silesia was divided into upto 17 duchies.
Duchies of Lower Silesia in XIV century:
Under Bohemian crown and Austria (1348-1742)
In 1348 most of the Silesian duchies were ruled by the Polish-speaking Piast dukes under the feudal overlordship of
Bohemian kings, and thus became part of the Holy Roman Empire (of
the German Nation). In 1526 it became a part of Austria under the Habsburgs.
In Prussia (1742-1945)
Most of Silesia became Prussian in 1742 after the First Silesian War and turned into the Silesian
province, divided into the districts of Lower Silesia (Liegnitz), Middle Silesia
(Breslau), and Upper Silesia (Oppeln). After
World War I, Upper Silesia was divided between Germany, Poland and Czechoslovakia. The German portion was reorganized into two provinces: Lower Silesia and Upper Silesia.
In Poland (after 1945)
After World War II most of Lower Silesia was assigned to Poland by the
Allies and reorganized into Wrocław Voivodship (1945-1975). The German population was forcefully expelled. As a result of Local
Government Reorganisation Act (1975) Poland's administration was reorganized into 49 voivodships, 4 of them in Lower Silesia:
Jelenia Góra Voivodship, Legnica Voivodship, Wałbrzych Voivodship and Wrocław Voivodship (1975-1998). As a result of Local Government Reorganisation Act of 1998, these 4
provinces were joined into the Lower Silesian
Voivodship (effective 1 January 1999),
whose capital is Wrocław.
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