Prussia
In its various forms, the national name Prussia (Prussian: Prusa, German: Preußen, Polish: Prusy) has been used by a wide variety of political entities during the 2nd millennium. Today the use of the term depends heavily on context. The term is used most often today to refer to Brandenburg-Prussia. Under Brandenburg's rule Brandenburg-Prussia became a powerful kingdom and eventually consolidated the German Empire, comprising in its last form almost two-thirds of the Empire's area. However, this article overviews Kingdom of Prussia proper as a nation and area and does not go into the details of such specific periods.
Geography
For a map of what might be considered Prussia proper at its greatest extent including the provinces of West Prussia and East Prussia see the article Royal Prussia. It should be noted that the Brandenburg-Prussian union is often considered as the legitimate extent of Greater Prussia of which Prussia Proper is regarded only as a Province within the greater state.
History of Prussia
Historical texts using the word Prussia might refer to the geographical region of the Baltic Prussian country; the Papal Fief ruled by the Teutonic Knights; the Prussian Confederation; the Polish province of Prussia or its components of Royal Prussia and Ducal Prussia; the state of Brandenburg-Prussia or its provinces of West Prussia and East Prussia and itsa subsequent manifestations as the Kingdom of Prussia and Republic of Prussia (Freistaat Preußen); or simply and most commonly East Prussia on its own.
Please refer to articles related to the following specific periods for detailed discussions:
- 6th to 13th centuries: Baltic Prussia
- 13th to 15th centuries: The Prussian Fief & The Prussian Confederation
- 15th to 17th centuries: Prussia (province) (of Poland)
- 17th century to 1918: Brandenburg-Prussia's Kingdom of Prussia
- 1918-1945 Freistaat Preußen in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich
- 1918-1945 East Prussia Province of Prussia in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich (see below)
- 1945-Present Kaliningrad Oblast (of Russia), Warminsko-Mazurskie , Klaipeda
Further reading
Publications in German
- B. Schumacher, Geschichte Ost- und Westpreussens, Wurzburg 1959
Publications in Polish
- K. Piwarski, Dzieje Prus Wschodnich w czasach nowożytnych, Gdańsk 1946
- Gerard Labuda (ed.), Historia Pomorza, vol. I-IV, Poznań 1969-2003 (also covers East Prussia)
- collective work, Szkice z dziejów Pomorza, vol. 1-3, Warszawa 1958-61
See also
- Brandenburg
- Brandenburg-Prussia
- List of Kings of Prussia
- Royal Prussia
- Ducal Prussia
- Warmia
- Masuria
- Kaliningrad
- Hohenzollern
- History of Germany
- Franco-Prussian War
- West Prussia
- East Prussia
- Southern Prussia
- New East Prussia