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Bydgoszcz - History |
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At
the beginning of the second millennium Poland's ties with Western Pomerania loosened, since she was unable to maintain her rule there. The
destiny of Eastern Pomerania, Gdansk, followed another path; the local ducal dynasty related to the Piasts stayed in Power in its capitals in
Slawno, Swiecie and Gdansk, and recognised Polish hegemony. Another attempt to unite all of the Pomeranian lands was made by Boleslaw the
Wrymouth at the beginning of the 12th century, making the entire region between the Vistula, Odra and Notec one politically and territorially
integrated Pomerania. There were considerable differences in terms of its integration with Poland, however. While Eastern Pomerania became one
of the provinces of the Polish state, in Western Pomerania the local dynasty remained in power with Duke Warcislaw, residing in Kamien Pomorski.
The latter, however, obligated himself to accept baptism and military assistance and recognised Polish hegemony. From
the times of the testament of Boleslaw, the Wrymouth 1138, Poland entered into a two-century period of feudal disintegration, which resulted
in painful territorial losses mainly to the German feudal lords. The margraves of Brandenburg launched a frontal attack on Pomerania, destroying
the former territorial and political, administrative and church structures and leading to the formation of the predatory New March. While in the
eastern part of Pomerania a similar role began to be played by the order of the Teutonic Knights, which had unfortunately been brought here by
Konrad Mazowiecki.
In
Western Pomerania the local dukes continued to rule until 1637, when the last duke, Boguslaw XIV, died. Still during his reign, the district
of Szczecin was taken by the Swedes. As a result of the Peace of Westphalia (1648), which ended the Thirty Years War, Western Pomerania was
divided between Sweden and Brandenburg, which at the beginning of the 18th century transformed itself into the Kingdom of Prussia. In 1720 the
Prussians occupied all of Western Pomerania. A period of intensive German organization of these lands began, which lasted until the end of World
War II. Gdansk Pomerania and Gdansk found themselves within the boundaries of Prussia, as a result of the partitions of Poland in the years 1772 and 1793. This situation lasted until the end of World War I and the rise of Reborn Poland, 1918. The 20-year Polish rule of this part of Pomerania was interrupted by a new German attack on September 1, 1939. After Germany's defeat in 1945, Poland returned to the Piast trails, taking over as a result of historical justice the entire region of Pomerania from Gdansk to Szczecin. A new period began of reconstruction and expansion of agriculture and industry, towns and villages. Through great translocations of population after World War II, a new society began to form in all of Pomerania. Recovering the trails of its ancestors of more than a thousand years ago. This society, through heavy industry, developed agriculture, fishing and forestry, has been able to transform its land, and raise it to a level that meets its high aspirations. Visiting
Pomerania today, a land with a stormy history, irresistible charms of nature and a variety of tourist and recreation attractions, we hear
the present-day voice of this land, that more and more drowns out the tumult of the former wars, brought here by the Danes and Brandenburgians,
Teutonic Knights and Swedes, Prussians and French. This is the voice of sons who have returned to a peaceful home. |
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The
history of Bydgoszcz is complicated and diversified. The first Polish rulers of the Piast dynasty, Mieszko I and Boleslaw the Brave, in the
10th century accomplished the political unification of this land that had been divided among local dukes.
As
a result of consistent colonisation of Western Pomerania and the German organization of the ducal dynasties, Brandenburg established strong
influences over this region. The expansion towards linking up the Teutonic areas with those, occupied by Brandenburg. Was halted by the great
battle at Grunwald,1410, and later by the 13-year war that ended with the peace of Torun, 1466, in which Kazimierz the Jagiellon regained Gdansk
Pomerania and subordinated the rest of the lands taken by the Teutonic Knights as a fief. 