The historical development of Silesia

In the Middle Ages, Silesia first belonged to Piast Dynasty in Poland, and was later captured by Bohemia Kingdom and became a part of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1526, it was ruled by the Habsburg dynasty in Austria together with the Bohemian kingdom. 1742, Prussian frederick the great won the war of succession to the Austrian throne and gained most of Silesia from Austria. These areas later formed the province of Silesia in Prussia. After World War I, Poland returned to the motherland, and Silesia belonged to Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. After World War II, most of Silesia was included in Poland, and a few belonged to East Germany and Czechoslovakia.

After 1945, most of Silesia was incorporated into Poland. A small part is located in the free state of Saxony, Germany, and the part ruled by Austria-Hungary is now located in the Czech Republic.

At present, most of Silesia is located in Poland and is divided into several provinces:

Greater Poland province

Little Poland province

Lower Silesia province

Rubus province

Opole Province

Silesia province

The provinces of Opole and Silesia are also called Upper Silesia. A small part of Czechoslovakia is called "Czechoslovakia". At present, it is mainly a part of Moravia-Silesia province, and the rest is located in Oro Jordan Mutch province.

Traditionally, Silesia is located between the Quessa River and the Bobur River, while the former is called Lu satya (Lusatia; Formerly known as Mirsko). Since Prussia once owned Lower Silesia, Niederschlescher Oberlausitzkreis and Hoyerswerda are also considered to belong to Silesia. These two regions and Lower Silesia Province are called Lower Silesia. Some people think that "Silesia" comes from Slingar (Siling I; ; Latin: Silingae), a group of Vandals, may live in the Elbe, Oder and Vistula rivers on the south bank of the Baltic Sea in the 2nd century. During the period of European immigration, they left their homes and left behind the remains of their society.

The most obvious legacy is the place name-the Slavic name adopted by all new Slavic residents (Polish? l？ Sk, ancient polish? Lsk [-o] and ььььъ sk ъ [

People lived there as early as the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age.

The earliest literature describing Silesia came from the ancient Roman Claudius Ptolemy (Magna Germany) and the Roman Tacitus (Germany). Tacitus pointed out that in the 1 century, the inhabitants of Silesia were divided into many races, led by the Rugi people. Slingor also belongs to this group. Other East Germanic peoples also live in this sparsely populated area.

After 500 ad

At the beginning of European immigration, most East Germanic peoples left Silesia and migrated to southern Europe. Slavic people from the east have become new residents.

Early documents pointed out that most of the residents at that time may be Slavic people. The Bavarian geographer, who was introduced in about 845, pointed out that these nationalities include Slenzanie, Dzhadoshanie, Opolanie, Lupiglaa and Golenshitse. 1086, a bishop in Prague pointed out that there were Zlasan, Trepaud Viane, Poboran and Dedoz.

9th century to10th century

Today, Great Moravia, Moravia and Bohemia in the Czech Republic successively rule Silesia. Around 990, Mesko I of the pianist dynasty incorporated Silesia into Poland. However, some historians believe that it was his son Poleswa I who annexed this area in 999. During the split of Poland (1 138- 1320), different branches of the dynasty divided the land into principalities.

1 146

Polish Wadysaw II Jagiellonow (W? Addis? Aw II the Exile) Archduke surrendered to the Holy Roman Empire, but was expelled by his own brother. 1 163, his two sons were divided into upper and lower Silesia with the approval of Poleswa IV. As a result, they became two branches of the pianist dynasty, namely Wroclaw (Wroc? Mr Apor sko-Radzibor ska. These two branches continued to be subdivided until1390s * * * had 16 principalities.

124 1 year

The Mongols attacked Little Poland and then invaded Silesia, causing residents to flee in panic. The Mongols plundered most of the area, but they probably gave up attacking Wroclaw fortress because they were repelled by the blessed "magic fireball" of Cheslav. Then, they wiped out the Polish-German allied forces in the battle of Linica. After Wokuotai's death, the Mongols decided not to continue attacking Europe, but to return to the East and choose a new Khan.

The rulers of Silesia decided to rebuild the city and adopt new administrative divisions. They established and rebuilt 65,438+060 cities and 65,438+0,500 towns, and adopted the German city-state law (Madeborg law and? Rhoda? l？ Scarlet style law), replacing the old, customary Slavic and Polish laws. Moreover, from the end of 13 to the beginning of 14, they also encouraged new residents to move there, mostly Germans and Dutch from the Holy Roman Empire. From the end of 13 century to the beginning of 14 century, the Duke of Silesia attracted many Germans to settle there. Germans, Jews and Czechs are mostly in cities. In the suburbs, especially in Upper Silesia, Polish residents still account for the majority. Invite Germans to develop irrigated barren land; The ruling class assimilated German and Slavic residents-this became an ideological struggle between Polish and German nationalists in the late 9th century and the early 20th century.

1late 3rd century

Red Star Knights, Hospital Knights and Teutonic Knights successively settled in Silesia.

Many pianists tried to incorporate Silesia into Poland and even unify Poland itself. Henryk IV Probus, Duke of Silesia, took the lead in this attempt, but died in 1290 and failed to achieve his goal. So, the Grand Duke of Poland, Przemis II? II) Two provinces in Silesia were unified and crowned king in 1295, but were murdered the following year. According to his last wish, Gewogufu (G? Duke Henrik Gwogosky will inherit the rule of great Poland. Vagaszky also wanted to unify Poland, and even won the title of Duke of Poland. However, most nobles in Great Poland supported Kujawy(Kujawy；; Kuyavia), Duke of Piast, Vadiswav I. Wadyslaw has more aristocratic support, so it is successful. At this time, Vaclav II of Bohemia decided to expand his territory and became king of Poland in 1302. In the next half century, Vadiswav I and his son Casimir III fought Bohemia, Brandenburg and Teutonic Knights, all of whom hoped to carve up Poland. Many Silesia dukes ruled the small principality. Although they were connected with Poland, they failed to unite with her, but were dominated or ruled by Bohemia.

1335

Henry VI, Duke of Wroclaw, and the Duke of Upper Silesia surrendered to John, King of Bohemia. 1348, Polish King Casimir was forced to accept Bohemian rule over Silesia. 1368, the independent principality of Piast in this region was completely destroyed. However, the pianist dynasty of Silesia branch gradually declined from 14 to 16 century, and it was not extinct until 1675: 1335, Wroclaw branch; 1368, Sividnica (? Widnica) branch; 1476, Ole Sinica (Ole? Nicka) and Gvoguf (G? Ogów) branch; 1504, Shagani (? Aga) branch; 1532, Mr. Poleko; 1625, Cieszyn branch; 1675, Brzeg)- legnica branch. Frajd Fryderyk Wilhelm, the last male member of the Chechen Kingdom, died on 1625, but his sister El? Bietta Lucreja continued to rule the Principality until her death in 1653.

Silesia also became the territory of the Holy Roman Empire, but Bohemia belonged to the autonomous province of the Empire. Silesia belonged to Bohemia and was ruled by Czech, Polish and German dynasties until 1740. During the reign of Emperor Charles IV of the Holy Roman Empire, the status of Silesia and Wroclaw was improved, and many magnificent buildings and Gothic churches were built there. The local people, as well as their language and culture, have been influenced by German immigrants. Silesia continues to maintain close economic relations with neighboring regions, such as Poland. Especially after the Renaissance, Jewish businessmen in Silesia cities increased their economic activities.

/kloc-In the 6th century, Martin Luther's religious reform movement took the lead in Silesia, and most residents converted to Protestantism. Many Protestant priests promoted the development of local Slavic culture and language.

1526, Austrian emperor Ferdinand I changed the originally elected Bohemian kingdom into Habsburg dynasty. 1537, Frederick II, Duke of Brzeg of Piast family, reached an agreement with Joachim II, the elector of Brandenburg. If Piast family died, members of Hohensolen family in Brandenburg could inherit the principality, but Ferdinand I refused to recognize this agreement.

/kloc-At the beginning of the 7th century, Christian reformers and anti-reformers began religious conflicts and wars, forcing many Czechs (Germans and Slavs) and Silesia Protestants to flee to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where religious policies were more tolerant at that time. Many Protestants settled in the Greater Poland Province and were protected by Protestant dignitaries, such as Rafa Leschinsky. Leszczynski; 1579- 1636). Powerful Czech Protestants (Brotherhood) moved to Lesno, such as Comenius. Protestants in Silesia often build churches on the border with Poland in order to avoid religious restrictions. The Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II tried to revive Catholicism and suppress Protestantism. As a result, in 16 18, the second defense war in Prague took place, which indirectly led to the Thirty Years' War.

Czech Protestants were supported by German parishioners and Hungarian nobles. Bethlen Gabor, a prince of Transylvania and a Hungarian aristocrat, led an army to besiege Vienna, trying to expand the territory of Transylvania and even the Ottoman Empire and annex Bohemia and Silesia. Polish nobles at least verbally supported the Czechs. They think that the Czech and Hungarian nobles are people who support freedom and resist autocratic monarchs, just in response to Polish Schlachta (Szlachta；; Poland's ideal of gold freedom in the late Middle Ages. These nobles did not support attacking Protestants, and the Polish House of Representatives (Sejm) did not even allow King Sigismund III (Swedish: Sigismund III Vasa; ; Polish: Zygmunt III Waza) helped its Catholic ally, the Habsburg dynasty. The king wanted to help Austria, but because he signed a defense treaty, he could only refuse the employment of Polish-Lithuanian troops by the Holy Roman Emperor Matthias. This is because Poland and Lithuania were at war with Sweden and Moscow Principality respectively, and their military strength was exhausted. The relationship with the Ottoman Empire deteriorated because of the aristocratic war in Modavia.

Finally, at the end of 16 19, Sigismund III decided to help Austria, but only sent a private mercenary Lisowczycy. One of the reasons is that these soldiers lost their jobs after the Moscow war and went to Lithuania to plunder; Moreover, he thought that he could get a part of Silesia from Austria as a reward. Although Lisowczycy won the battle of the White Mountain in Austria, the Vasa family in Poland did not actually benefit. Austria is only vague, giving them some promises to let several princesses marry the Polish royal family and maintain the alliance between the two countries.

16 19, the polish king took his eldest son, prince Wadyslaw (later polish king vadiswav iv; W? Addis? Aw IV Waza), finally decided to temporarily occupy parts of Silesia by the Polish army, hoping to merge with Poland. During the war, the Holy Roman Empire suffered serious damage. Some Silesia dukes-especially those belonging to Pianist dynasty-and Bishop Wroclaw, Charles of Austria, wanted to be protected by the Polish-Lithuanian Federation to avoid being affected by the war. Austrian Charlie sought help from his superior Polish parish of Gniezno, hoping that it could negotiate with Sigismund III to protect the bishop. 1665438+In May 2009, Prince Lao of Vardis left Warsaw for Silesia at the invitation of his uncle Charlie.

In July, Czech Protestants rebelled against Ferdinand II and demanded that the elector Friedrich V become the king of Bohemia. On September 27th, Prince Lao of Vardis and his uncle may know this news and leave Silesia immediately and return to Warsaw on June 7th 10. In February 65438+, Charlie chose the prince's younger brother Carol Ferdinand Vasa (Duke of paulette) as the acting bishop of Wroclaw and was admitted to the Polish Anglican College. 1620, the original independent parish of Wroclaw returned to the management of Gnezno parish. However, until 1632, the former was actually controlled by Sigismund III, not the archbishop or bishop. 1625, Carol Ferdinand Vasa became Bishop of Wroclaw.

However, with the improvement of the Austrian situation, Ferdinand II refused to cede Silesia and no longer participated in the war against the Ottoman Empire. This is because Poland supports Austria, and actually the Habsburg agent of Osman also supports his decision.

Ferdinand II proposed that Vadiswav IV marry his little daughter, Princess Cecilia Renata (Cecilia Renata; Later, the news reached the Polish government in the spring of 1636. 1October 26th, 1636, 10, he sent his cronies, the roll-tail brotherhood, and his father Wei Lian to Reagan Castle to negotiate with the empire. The dowry of the princess is set at100,000 zvota (z? Oty Polish currency). Ferdinand II also promised to pay the dowry for two wives of former Polish King Sigismund III, namely Anna of Habsburg and constance of Habsburg. Moreover, if Vadiswav IV marries a princess, their future son will receive the Bole-Lazio Principality of Silesia (Ksi? Stwo Opolsko-Raciborskie). But before that, Ferdinand II died in February 1637. Ferdinand III, the successor, refused to let the son of Vadiswav IV get the principality and changed it into a Bohemian fief state (T? Eboň) is a dowry. They got married in September.

1638, vadiswav iv announced that the unpaid dowry of his father and two wives would be kept by the principality of Silesia, and he preferred the principality of Mr. Bole-Razbriz. 1642, he proposed to transfer the Swedish throne to the Habsburg dynasty, hoping to get Silesia. /kloc-in the summer of 0/644, Poland sent Ludovico Van Toni to Austria, suggesting that the income from the fief of Taige State be exchanged for the principality of Bole-Lazio and the principality of Cheshen.

At the beginning of 1645, Vadiswav IV didn't want the Vienna government to delay any longer, so he told maximilian Dietrichstein, the ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire to China, that Poland would cooperate with Sweden. This implies that Poland will join forces with Sweden to seize Silesia, thus threatening Austria. 1645 On March 6th, Swedish Field Marshal Rannar Torstenson defeated the Bavarian-Saxon Allied Forces of the Holy Roman Empire in the Battle of Jankov and marched into Vienna. Ferdinand III was willing to negotiate. In April, he sent Johannes Putz von Adletum to Warsaw, gave Vadiswav IV some privileges, and gave his son Zygmont Kazimir the rights and interests of Mr. Bo Park Jung Su-Razi Milz as a hereditary fief.

Finally, Habsburg won the negotiation. The principality was not a hereditary fief, but was leased for 50 years. Its owner wanted to surrender to the Bohemian king, so the Polish king could not accept the fief. However, Vadiswav IV will still rule the principality until his son comes of age. In addition, he also promised to lend Ferdinand III a sum of 1 million Zvota, minus the above three unpaid dowries.

From 65438 to 0648, after thirty years of war, the Habsburg dynasty strongly advocated Catholicism and converted 60% of Silesia's population to Catholicism. 1675, the Silesia branch of Piast Dynasty perished. 187 1 year, the German Empire was established and Germany was unified. Silesia owned by Prussia became a province of Germany. Upper Silesia experienced large-scale industrialization, which attracted many residents to live here. The population of Lower Silesia is mostly German and Lutheran, including Wroclaw, a city called breslau since the late Middle Ages. However, in some areas, such as Mr Pollet (Landkreis；; Later, it was the government district of oberon (Regierungsbezirk Oppeln) and the suburbs of Upper Silesia. Many residents and even most of the population are Slavs and Catholics. Generally speaking, 30% of Silesia's population is Polish, and most of them live near Katowice in the southeast of Upper Silesia. German Chancellor otto von bismarck launched the Kulturkampf, which suppressed the development of Catholicism in Germany and aroused the resistance of Poles. 1884, the first meeting of the Khovysian Group was held in Katowice, which opened the voice of Zionism.

At this time, ostrava and Calvina in Silesia began to develop their industries. Poles in these areas are mostly Lutherans. In contrast, the population of Austria-Hungary is mainly Germans and Catholics.

Germany and Austria-Hungary were defeated in the First World War. According to the Treaty of Versailles, Upper Silesia should hold a referendum to decide the future of the region, but it does not include the 333-square-kilometer Khrushin region (Hlu? ín； Hotschner gmbh. Aumlndchen)-directly taken over by Czechoslovakia, although the local population is mostly German. The League of Nations finally held a referendum in 192 1.

In Silesia, Cheshire, Rattana Lodova Ksi? Stwa Cieszyńskiego and národním v & amp； YacuteBorem pro Slezsko planned to divide the Principality of Cheshire according to race, but it was rejected by the Czechoslovak government. 1919 65438+1October 23rd, Czechoslovakia attacked Cheshire Silesia, but1October 30th, 65438+withdrew its troops from the Vistula River near Skochov, and the League of Nations originally planned to hold a referendum for Cheshire Silesia, but it didn't come true. 1920 On July 28th, the Versailles Treaty Council of Ministers decided to divide it. This border forms part of the border between Poland and the Czech Republic today. Between the two world wars

After the referendum, Polish nationalists launched three Silesia uprisings.

First time:1965438+August 091June-August 26.

Second time:1920 August19-August 25th.

Third time:1921May 2-July 5.

Therefore, the League of Nations decided to subdivide Silesia. In the easternmost part of Upper Silesia, most local residents voted for German rule, but they still became the autonomous region of Polish Silesia province (Wojewodztwo? l？ Wojciech Colfanti is one of the politicians who caused these influences.

Silesia, which still belongs to Germany, was reclassified into upper Silesia and lower Silesia. On the Crystal Night of 1938, synagogues in breslau and other cities in Silesia were destroyed. In June+10, 5438, Poland occupied Cheshen Silesia in Czechoslovakia, the disputed area west of Orza, which was then called Zaozzle. It covers an area of 906 square kilometers and has 258,000 residents.

The Second World War

1939 In September, Nazi Germany launched the Polish campaign and occupied the Silesia region mentioned above, which triggered the Second World War. The local residents welcomed the German wehrmacht. 1940, Germany built the famous Auschwitz concentration camp in Upper Silesia, which was the main place to slaughter Jews. In the same year, Gross-Rosen concentration camp was built in Lower Silesia, and later a concentration camp branch was built in a nearby city.

After World War II

1945, the Soviet red army occupied the whole territory of Silesia. Many German residents fled Silesia, hoping to escape the Soviet attack. After Germany surrendered, many residents returned home. However, according to the Yalta Conference of 1944 and the Potsdam Agreement of 1945, Germany's Silesia east of the Oder River and the Nice River belongs to Poland. Before World War II, there were 4 million German residents in Silesia. After the war, most people who stayed in the area were expelled by Soviet troops.

After the war, Silesia's industry was rebuilt, and many Poles moved here, many of whom came from Polish territory occupied by the Soviet Union. Today, nearly 20% of Poland's population lives in Silesia, but many families are not indigenous people.

Some German-speaking residents still live near Mr pollet. There are also some Slavic-speaking or bilingual residents in Upper Silesia.