Lesser Poland

Lesser Poland (also "Little Poland", Polish: Małopolska, Latin: Polonia Minor) is one of the historical regions of Poland. It forms the southeastern corner of the country. It should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers just a part of the historical region of Lesser Poland^[1]

1 Geography
- 1.1 Major cities and towns
2 History
3 Tourism
4 References

[edit] Geography

Lesser Poland lies in the upper confluence of the Vistula river and covers a large upland, including the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, Lesser Polish Upland, Sandomierz Basin, and Lublin Upland. It stretches from the Carpathians in the south to Pilica and Wieprz rivers to the north. It borders Mazovia to the north, Podlachia to the northeast, Silesia to the west, Slovakia to the south and the border with Ukraine (Red Ruthenia) to the east. Historically, until World War II the region also included large parts of modern Ukraine (see Galicia).

Lesser Poland during the interwar period (II Republic), 1921- 17 September 1939

Lesser Poland - province of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, during the period of its maximum expansion 1635

Lesser Poland (ger. Kleinpolen) - province of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, before 1660

In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Lesser Poland Province (prowincja małopolska) consisted of Lesser Poland proper, Podlachia, Red Ruthenia, Volhynia, Podolia, Ukraine, and the Czernihów Voivodeship; capital: Kraków

Administratively, the historical area is divided into the voivodeships of Lesser Poland, Subcarpathia, Świętokrzyskie, Lublin, the eastern half of the neighbouring Upper Silesia, and southern parts of Masovia and Lodz.

[edit] Major cities and towns

The most notable cities of the region include:

Kraków
Lwów (today a part of Ukraine)

as well as:

[edit] History

Main article: History of Poland

9^th century

state of Vistulans, Lendians and other smaller Slavic tribes,

end of 10^th century – inclussion to the Polans' state: provinces of Krakow and Sandomierz.
around 1040

Krakow becomes the capital of Poland.

1138

Poland feudal fragmentation period begins – Duchy of Krakow and Sandomierz ("senioral part") becomes a seat of a senior prince.

1241

First Mongol raid, led by Baidar and Kadan.

1259

Second Mongol raid, led by Nogai Khan.

1287

Third Mongol raid, led by Telubuga.

1320, 20^th Jan

coronation of Władysław I the Elbow-high in Krakow ends the fragmentation period - united Poland restored

15^th c.

Sejmik general in Nowy Korczyn.

1340

annexation of Red Ruthenia, with the city of Lwow to Poland.

16^th c.

annexation of Ruthenia (up to Kiev), which goes under administration of Lesser Poland^[2].

16-17^th c.

Lesser Poland the main centre of Polish culture.

1545

Sejmik general of Ruthenian Voivodship is established in Sądowa Wisznia.

1795-1918

Poland partition period: Galicia, Free City of Krakow. Northern part of Lesser Poland, with Radom, Kielce and Lublin, belongs to the Russian Empire, southern part, with Krakow, Przemysl and Lwow - to Austria-Hungary,

1918

returning to Poland after regaining the independence.

World War II

German-occupied General Government.

currently: Lesser Poland Voivodship, Lublin Voivodship, Subcarpathian Voivodship, Świętokrzyskie Voivodship and parts of Silesian Voivodship, Mazovian Voivodship and Lodz Voivodship.

A fragment of Russiae, Moscoviae et Tartariae map by Anthony Jenkinson (London 1562) published by Ortelius in 1570.

[edit] Tourism

The historical capital of Lesser Poland – Krakow – is regarded by many to be the cultural capital of Poland. In 1978, UNESCO placed Kraków on the list of World Heritage Sites. The wooden architecture (most notably, churches) of Lesser Poland are also on that list as well as the Wieliczka Salt Mine located on the outskirsts of Krakow. The following National Parks are located in Lesser Poland:

[edit] References

^ "Heme Oxygenases 2007 Conference, Jagiellonian University: "About Krakow"". http://biotka.mol.uj.edu.pl/ho-conference/html/krakow.html. Retrieved on 2007-08-14.
^ Bełz Voivodeship, Bracław Voivodeship, Czernihów Voivodeship, Kiev Voivodeship, Podole Voivodeship, Volhynian Voivodeship

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