Royal Prussia

Prusy Królewskie (pl) Königliches Preußen (de) Royal Prussia Province of the Kingdom of Poland (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1569) ← 1466 – 1772 → Flag Coat of arms Map of Royal Prussia (light pink) History  - Established October 19 1466  - Loss of autonomy 1 July 1569  - Annexed August 5 1772

Royal Prussia (German: Königliches Preußen (help·info); Latin: Prussia Regalis; Polish: Prusy Królewskie) was a province of the Kingdom of Poland from 1466 and then the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1569 to 1772. Royal Prussia included Pomerelia, Chełmno Land (Kulmerland), Malbork Voivodeship (Marienburg), Gdańsk (Danzig), Toruń (Thorn), and Elbląg (Elbing). Royal Prussia is distinguished from Ducal Prussia. Royal Prussia was a part of Poland, but Ducal Prussia was merely under Polish suzerainty as a Polish fief, (until 1657, when it passed outright to the Electors of Brandenburg, having been in personal union with Brandenburg since 1618). In old texts (until the 16th/17th c.) and in Latin the term Prut(h)enia refers to Royal Prussia, its eastern neighbour Ducal Prussia and their common predecessor Teutonic Prussia alike. The pertaining comtemporary adjective is Prut(h)enic.

History

Prior to the Teutonic Knights' invasion in the early 1300s, the region included Pomerelia and southwestern portions of Prussia.

Thirteen Years' War

During the Thirteen Years' War ("War of the Cities"), in February 1454, the Prussian Confederation, led by the cities of Danzig (Gdańsk), Elbing (Elbląg), and Thorn (Toruń), as well as gentry from Kulmerland (Chełmno Land) asked the Polish king for support against the Teutonic Order's rule and for incorporation of Prussia into the Polish kingdom. The rebellion also included major cities from the eastern part of the Order's lands, such as Kneiphof, a part of Königsberg. The war ended in October 1466 with the Second Peace of Thorn, which provided for the Order's cession to the Polish Crown of its rights over the western half of Prussia, including Pomerelia and the districts of Elbing, Marienburg (Malbork), and Kulm (Chełmno).

Kingdom of Poland

Royal Prussia enjoyed substantial autonomy in its affiliation to the Crown of Poland — it had its own Diet (see Prussian estates), treasury and monetary unit and armies^[1]. It was governed by a council, subordinate to the Polish king, whose members were chosen from local lords and wealthy citizens. Prussians had also seats provided for them in Polish Diet, but they chose not to use this right until the Union of Lublin.

The Bishopric of Warmia had claimed the title of imperial Prince-Bishopric status, supposedly given by Emperor Charles IV. Although this claim seems unsupported by any document, it was in wide use in the 17th century. The bishopric continued defending this status until the end of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806.

The eastern part of Prussia remained under the rule of the Teutonic Knights and its successors, becoming the Duchy of Prussia in 1525 when the Order's last Grand Master Albert von Hohenzollern adopted Lutheranism and secularized the land as its hereditary ruler. In 1618 the duchy was inherited by John Sigismund von Hohenzollern. It remained under Polish (and briefly Swedish) suzerainty and the rulers of Brandenburg had to swear formal allegiance to the Polish Crown. Brandenburg achieved sovereignty over the duchy in the Treaty of Wehlau (1657).

The Commonwealth

History of Brandenburg and Prussia
Northern March pre-12th century		Old Prussians pre-13th century
Margraviate of Brandenburg 1157–1618 (1806)		Ordensstaat 1224–1525
		Duchy of Prussia 1525–1618	Royal (Polish) Prussia 1466–1772
Brandenburg-Prussia 1618–1701
Kingdom in Prussia 1701–1772
Kingdom of Prussia 1772–1918
Free State of Prussia 1918–1947
Brandenburg 1947–1952 / 1990–present

As a result of the Union of Lublin in 1569, Royal Prussia's autonomy was abolished and the region was united with the Polish Crown. Prussian electors became senators and representatives to the Polish parliament, the Sejm.[1]

After the incorporation to the Crown of the Polish Kingdom, local diets (Sejmik) were organised for:

• Chełmno Voivodeship with seat in Radzyń,
• Malbork Voivodeship with seat in Sztum and
• for following powiats of Pomeranian Voivodship:
  • Powiat Człuchów with seat in Człuchów or Chojnice,
  • Powiat Mirachowo with seat in Mirachowo,
  • Powiat Puck with seat in Puck,
  • Powiat Świecie with seat in Świecie,
  • Powiat Tczew and Powiat Gdańsk with seat in Starogard Gdański,
  • Powiat Tuchola with seat in Tuchola.

The main task of the Sejmiks was the election of MPs for the Sejm of Poland. Royal Prussia was allocated 10 MPs (167 total).

The Partitions

During the First (1772) and Second (1793) Partitions of Poland, Royal Prussia was gradually annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. Its territory largely made up the Province of West Prussia created in 1773.

See also

• Prussia
• Duchy of Prussia
• Kingdom of Prussia
• Pomerelia
• Warmia

References

1. ^ summary of The Other Prussia: Royal Prussia, Poland and Liberty, 1569–1772.

Further reading

• Karin Friedrich, The Other Prussia: Royal Prussia, Poland and Liberty, 1569-1772, Cambridge University Press, 2000, ISBN 0-521-58335-7 on Google Books
• Gerard Labuda (ed.), Historia Pomorza, vol. I–IV, Poznań 1969–2003 (also covers East Prussia) (Polish)
• W. Odyniec, Dzieje Prus Królewskich (1454–1772). Zarys monograficzny, Warszawa 1972 (Polish)
• Dzieje Pomorza Nadwiślańskiego od VII wieku do 1945 roku, Gdańsk 1978 (Polish)

External links

• Detailed Map of Prussia from about 1635 containing Ducal and Royal Prussia (German)

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