Polish historical regions

Historical regions within the current Polish state

• Greater Poland, in western and west-central Poland. Largest city: Poznań. The nucleus of Polish statehood with the earliest medieval Polish capitals of Gniezno and Poznań. One of the major historical regions of Poland since the Middle Ages. Periodically partially or entirely ruled by Germany and Russia during the Partitions of Poland.
• *Kalisz Land in west-central Poland, named after the historical capital and largest city Kalisz. Periodically partially or entirely ruled by Germany and Russia during the Partitions of Poland.
• **Pałuki in central Poland. Largest town: Wągrowiec. Historical capital: Żnin. Periodically ruled by Germany during the Partitions of Poland.
• *Krajna in north-central Poland. Largest city: Piła. Historical capital: Nakło nad Notecią. Periodically ruled by Germany during the Partitions of Poland.
• *Santok Land in western Poland, named after the historical capital Santok. Largest city: Gorzów Wielkopolski. Also under German and Czech rule in the past.
• Kuyavia in north-central Poland. Largest city: Bydgoszcz. Historical capitals: Włocławek, Brześć Kujawski. Periodically partially or entirely ruled by Germany and Russia during the Partitions of Poland.
• *Inowrocław Land
• *Brześć Land
• Dobrzyń Land in north-central Poland, named after the historical capital Dobrzyń nad Wisłą. Largest town: Rypin. Periodically ruled by Prussia and Russia during the Partitions of Poland.
• Łęczyca-Sieradz Land in central Poland, a region combined of three historic sub-regions. Largest city: Łódź. Periodically partially or entirely ruled by Germany and Russia during the Partitions of Poland.
• *Łęczyca Land in central Poland, named after the historical capital Łęczyca. Largest city: Łódź.
• *Sieradz Land in central Poland, named after the historical capital Sieradz. Largest city: Piotrków Trybunalski.
• *Wieluń Land in central Poland, named after the historical capital Wieluń.
• Masovia in central and east-central Poland. Largest city: Warsaw. Historical capitals: Płock and Warsaw. The region contains one of the medieval capitals of Poland. One of the major historical regions of Poland since the Middle Ages. Periodically ruled by Prussia, Austria and Russia during the Partitions of Poland.
• *Kurpie in north-central Poland, in northern Masovia
• *Płock Land
• *Rawa Land
• *Zawkrze in north-central Poland. Largest town: Mława. Historical capital: Szreńsk.
• *Zapilicze in central Poland. Largest town and historical capital: Białobrzegi.
• Lesser Poland in south-central and south-eastern Poland. Largest city and historical capital: Kraków. One of the major historical regions of Poland since the Middle Ages. Centre of Polish statehood during late Middle Ages with the former national capital of Kraków. Periodically ruled by Prussia, Austria and Russia during the Partitions of Poland.
• *Kraków Land, named after the historic capital and largest city Kraków.
• **Siewierz Land
• **Oświęcim Land
• **Zator Land
• **Dąbrowa Basin, named after the historical capital Dąbrowa Górnicza. Largest city: Sosnowiec.
• **Podhale
• *Sandomierz Land, named after the historic capital Sandomierz. Largest city: Radom.
• *Lublin Land, named after the historic capital and largest city Lublin.
• Pomerelia or Gdańsk Pomerania in northern Poland, with a small portion around the former village of Polski in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia; part of the larger Pomerania region. Largest city and historical capital: Gdańsk. Formerly entirely part of Poland. One of the major historical regions of Poland since the Middle Ages. Periodically ruled by Germany during the Partitions of Poland.
• *Kashubia. Traditional capitals: Kartuzy and Kościerzyna.
• **Zabory, southern part of Kashubia with the towns of Brusy and Czersk.
• *Kociewie. Largest city: Tczew. Traditional capital: Starogard Gdański.
• *Tuchola Forest
• *Chełmno Land in north-central Poland, named after the historical capital Chełmno. Largest city: Toruń.
• Podlachia in north-eastern Poland; south-eastern outskirts in Belarus. Largest city: Białystok. Historical capital: Drohiczyn. Formerly entirely part of Poland. Periodically either entirely or partially ruled by Lithuania, Prussia, Austria and Russia.
• *Drohiczyn Land
• *Mielnik Land
• *Southern Podlasie overlapping with the westernmost parts of Polesia in Poland. Polesia was formerly entirely part of Poland, now it is mostly divided between Belarus and Ukraine, with the largest city Homel located in Belarus.
• Spisz, only partially in Poland, remainder in Slovakia, including the largest city Poprad. Formerly at various times either entirely or partially part of Poland.
• Cherven Cities, over half of the territory is in Poland, remainder in Ukraine. Largest city: Rzeszów. The region overlaps with the western part of Red Ruthenia, the remainder of which with the largest city and capital Lwów is now in Ukraine. Formerly entirely part of Poland. Periodically partially or entirely under Mongol, Hungarian, Austrian and Russian suzerainty in the past.
• *Chełm Land, including the Zamość Region, located mostly in eastern Poland, with northeastern part in Ukraine. During the Partitions of Poland divided between Austria and Russia.
• *Przemyśl Land, named after the historical capital and largest city Przemyśl
• *Bełz Land, named after the historical capital Bełz, only partially in modern Poland, while the other part including its capital is in Ukraine. During the Partitions of Poland under Austrian rule.
• *notably without the Lwów Land and its capital city of Lwów, currently entirely in Ukraine, before World War II a city with absolute Polish-majority population, and one of the principal administrative, economic, educational, scientific, cultural and religious hubs of Poland; earlier, the nucleus and principal center of Polish national movement struggling to regain the independence of the country after the Partitions
• Suwałki Region with largest city Marijampolė ) in north-eastern Poland, named after the largest city and historical capital Suwałki. Small part with Sapotskin was annexed from Poland in 1945 by the USSR and is now part of Belarus, though it is inhabited by a Polish majority.
• Grodno Region, a small part of the region is in north-eastern Poland, while the remainder, including the historical capital and largest city Grodno, is in Belarus. Largest town in the Polish part is Sokółka. The Belarusian part retains a sizeable Polish minority. Formerly entirely part of Poland.

• Silesia, mostly in Poland, small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Largest city and historical capital: Wrocław. One of the major historical regions of Poland since the Middle Ages. Either entirely or partially under Polish rule for several centuries, also under Czech, Hungarian, Austrian and German rule at various times.
• *Lower Silesia, mostly in Poland, small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Largest city and historical capital: Wrocław.
• *Upper Silesia, mostly in Poland, southern outskirts in the Czech Republic. Largest city is Katowice, historical capital is Opole.
• **Cieszyn Silesia, partially in Poland, the other part called Trans-Olza is in the Czech Republic. Largest city and historical capital: Cieszyn.
• Pomerania understood as excluding Pomerelia, mostly in Poland, remainder in Germany. Largest city and historical capital: Szczecin. The region was either wholly or partially ruled by Polish states in the past, and was also under Danish, Swedish and German suzerainty at various times.
• *Farther Pomerania in north-western Poland. Largest city: Koszalin.
• *Western Pomerania, small part in north-western Poland with the historical capital and largest city of Szczecin, remainder in Germany.
• Lubusz Land, over half of the region, located on the eastern bank of the Oder River, is located in Poland, with the largest towns on the Polish side being Kostrzyn nad Odrą and Słubice. Remainder is part of Germany, including the historical capital Lubusz, now Lebus. Also ruled as part of either Silesia or Greater Poland within medieval Poland. The region was wholly part of Poland in the Middle Ages, and was also under Czech and German rule in the later periods.

• Lusatia, eastern part is located in Poland, remainder in Germany. Largest town in the Polish part is Żary, considered the capital of Polish Lusatia. Largest city of the entire region is Cottbus. The region was either wholly or partially ruled by Polish states in the past. It was also under Czech, German and Hungarian rule at various times.
• *Lower Lusatia, eastern part is located in Poland, remainder in Germany. Largest town in the Polish part is Żary. Largest city of entire Lower Lusatia is Cottbus. The region was either wholly or partially ruled by Polish states in the past.
• *Upper Lusatia, eastern part is located in Poland, remainder in Germany. Largest town in the Polish part is Zgorzelec. Largest city of entire Upper Lusatia is Görlitz. Historical capital is Bautzen. The region was either wholly or partially ruled by Polish states in the past. Modern Polish part is sometimes also considered part of Lower Silesia.
• Orawa, small part in southern Poland, remainder in Slovakia, including the largest town Dolný Kubín. Formerly entirely part of Poland.
• Kłodzko Land in south-western Poland, named after the historical capital and largest town Kłodzko. Periodically under Polish rule in the past, and also under Czech, Austrian and German rule in the past. Sometimes also considered part of Lower Silesia.

• Masuria, mostly in north-eastern Poland. Largest city and historical capital: Ełk.
• * Galindia
• * Sasna
• * Bartia, partially overlapping Masuria. Small part of Bartia outside of Masuria is located in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia. Entirely under Polish sovereignty in the past.
• * Lithuania Minor or Prussian Lithuania, the southern outskirts of Lithuania Minor overlap northern Masuria in an area now divided between Poland and the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia. Remainder located in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia, including its historical capital Sovetsk, and in Lithuania, including its largest city Klaipėda. Entirely under Polish sovereignty in the past.
• ** Nadruvia
• Warmia in northern Poland. Largest city: Olsztyn. Historical capitals: Frombork and Lidzbark Warmiński.
• Powiśle in northern Poland, with its northern part forming the Malbork Land otherwise known as the Vistula fens ; two whole region otherwise referred to as Upper Prussia. Largest city: Elbląg.
• *Pomesania
• *Pogesania
• Natangia, small part around the town of Górowo Iławeckie is part of Poland, with the remainder located in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia. Entirely under Polish sovereignty in the past.

  Historical regions of former Polish states, currently entirely outside current Polish borders

• Podolia, now mostly in Ukraine with southern outskirts in Moldova. Largest city: Vinnytsia. Historical capital: Kamianets-Podilskyi. Formerly entirely part of Poland. In the past also partially or entirely under Mongol, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Turkish, Austrian and Russian rule.
• *Pobereże, southern part of Podolia, now mostly in Ukraine with southern outskirts in Moldova
• Volhynia, now in Ukraine. Largest city: Rivne. Historical capital: Lutsk. Formerly entirely part of Poland. In the past also partially or entirely under Mongol, Lithuanian, Austrian and Russian rule.
• Pokuttia, now in Ukraine. Largest city: Kolomyia. In the past also under Mongol, Hungarian, Moldavian and Austrian rule.
• Moravia, currently in the Czech Republic, briefly part of Poland in the 11th century. In the past also under Czech, Hungarian and Austrian rule.
• Slovakia as a whole, temporarily part of Poland in the 11th century, including currently partially Slovak-held regions of Orawa and Spisz, which were part of Poland much longer. Afterwards under Hungarian, Austrian and Czechoslovak rule.

• Livonia, in modern Latvia and Estonia. Most of Livonia was under Polish sovereignty, excluding the northernmost part, i.e. current northern Estonia, however, Poland claimed the entire region. The region was also under German, Swedish and Russian rule at various times in the past. Largest city: Riga.
• *Courland, now in Latvia. Largest city: Liepāja.
• *Latgalia, now in Latvia. Largest city: Daugavpils. The region retains a sizeable Polish minority.
• *Semigallia, now in Latvia. Largest city: Jelgava.
• *Selonia, now in Latvia. Largest city: Jēkabpils..
• *Vidzeme, now in Latvia. Largest city: Riga. Historically named Livland in German and Terra Mariana in Latin.
• *South Estonia, now in Estonia. Includes the counties of Viljandimaa, Jõgevamaa, Valgamaa, Tartumaa, Põlvamaa, and Võrumaa. Largest city: Tartu.
• *Pärnu County, now in Estonia. Largest city: Pärnu.
• Samogitia, now in Lithuania. Part of Lithuania in the Late Middle Ages and early modern period, and part of Russia following the Partitions of Poland. Largest city: Šiauliai.
• Aukštaitija, now in Lithuania. Part of Lithuania in the Late Middle Ages and early modern period, and part of Russia following the Partitions of Poland. Largest city: Kaunas.
• Dzūkija, now in Lithuania and Belarus, partially overlapping with Black Ruthenia. Part of Lithuania in the Late Middle Ages and early modern period, and part of Russia following the Partitions of Poland. Largest city: Vilnius. The region retains a sizeable Polish minority.
• *Vilnius Region, named after the historical capital and largest city Vilnius
• Black Ruthenia, now in Belarus. Part of Lithuania in the Late Middle Ages and early modern period, and part of Russia following the Partitions of Poland.
• White Ruthenia, present-day central, northern and eastern Belarus, and western outskirts of modern Russia with Smolensk and Starodub. Largest city: Minsk. Part of Lithuania in the Late Middle Ages and early modern period, and part of Russia following the Partitions of Poland.
• Sambia, now in Kaliningrad Oblast in Russia. Largest city: Kaliningrad.
• Ukraine, now known as Dnieper Ukraine, now in Ukraine, country named after the region. Largest city and historical capital: Kyiv.
• *Right-bank Ukraine
• *Left-bank Ukraine
• *Zaporizhzhia
• Moldavia, currently in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine, a former vassal principality of Poland
• Wallachia, currently in Romania, a former vassal principality of Poland
• Novgorod Land and Pskov Land, now in Russia, former vassal principalities of Poland
• Upper Oka Principalities, now in Russia. Includes the oblasts of Tula, Kaluga, Oryol, and Bryansk. Part of Lithuania in the Late Middle Ages and early modern period, and part of Russia following the Partitions of Poland.

• colonies of the Duchy of [Courland and Semigallia], at the time a Polish-Lithuanian fief
• *Gambia, also a historical region of Portugal, France, the United Kingdom and Senegal
• *Tobago Island, Trinidad and Tobago, also a historical region of Spain, Malta, the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom
• *a settlement near modern Toco on Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago., also a historical region of Spain, Malta, the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom