Polish historic regions are regions that were related to a former Polish state, or are within present-day Poland, with or without being identified in its administrative divisions.
There are several historic and cultural regions in Poland that are called ethnographic regions. Their exact borders cannot be drawn, as the regions are not official political or administrative units. They are delimited by culture, such as country traditions, traditional lifestyle, songs, tales, etc. To some extent, the regions correspond to the zones of Polish language dialects. The correspondence, however, is by no means strict.
Historical regions within the current Polish state
Historical regions with long existence within the Polish state The following historic regions within Poland's modern borders belonged to the Polish state during most of its existence, inhabited by a majority or a sizeable Polish- or Cashubian-speaking population, thus forming the core Polish territory:
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. Poznań Land () in west Poland, named after the historical capital and largest city Poznań. Wschowa Land () in west Poland, named after the historical capital Wschowa. 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. 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 (Płock). One of the major historical regions of Poland since the Middle Ages. Periodically ruled by Prussia, Austria and Russia during the Partitions of Poland. Lands of Płock Voivodeship (1495–1793) Płock Land () Zawkrze () in north-central Poland. Largest town: Mława. Historical capital: Szreńsk. Lands of Rawa Voivodeship (1462–1793) Rawa Land () Sochaczew Land () Gostynin Land () Lands of Masovian Voivodeship (1526–1795) Czersk Land () Zapilicze in central Poland. Largest town and historical capital: Białobrzegi Warsaw Land () Zakroczym Land () Ciechanów Land () Łomża Land () Wizna Land () Różan Land () Nur Land () Liw Land () Wyszogród Land () Kurpie in north-central Poland, in northern Masovia. It is located in Łomża Land, Nur Land and Ciechanów Land.
Podlachia ( or archaic ) 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 () Bielsk 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.
Suwałki Region (, - the latter term may, however, also refer to the earlier Yotvingia, only part in modern Poland, also a Lithuanian historical region () with largest city Marijampolė ()) in north-eastern Poland, named after the largest city and historical capital Suwałki. A 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 (, German: Garten an der Memel), a small part of the region is in north-eastern Poland, while the remainder, including the historical capital and largest city Grodno (Garten), is in Belarus. Largest town in the Polish part is Sokółka. The Belarusian part retains a sizeable Polish minority. Formerly entirely part of Poland.
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.
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 (now Lviv) 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
Spisz (, ), only partially in Poland, remainder in Slovakia, including the largest city Poprad. Formerly at various times either entirely or partially part of Poland.
Gdańsk Pomerania or Pomerelia () (German: Danziger Pommern) 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 (Danzig). Formerly entirely part of Poland. One of the major historical regions of Poland since the Middle Ages, it was periodically ruled over by the Teutonic Order, which played an immense role in transforming the region and later by the Kingdom of Prussia during the Partitions of Poland. The region, despite being under the control of the Crown of Poland for long periods of time, held an incredibly significant and vast German population that heavily influenced the region’s civic administration, commerce, and development from the early 13th century until their ethnic erasure by the Soviets and communist Poles in 1945. 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 (, part of it known also as ) Chełmno Land () in north-central Poland, named after the historical capital Chełmno. Largest city: Toruń.
Historical regions being a part of Poland for varying amounts of time Another group of territories constituted (either directly or as a fief) a part of the Polish state for varying amounts of time, ranging from episodes in the Middle Ages (e.g. Kłodzko Land, Lusatia) to several hundreds of years in the case of most, like Silesia, Warmia and Powiśle. Among them, only Warmia, Powiśle, southern Masuria, as well as Upper, Cieszyn and eastern and northern Lower Silesia retained sizeable Polish-speaking populations into the beginning of 20th century. Regions forming part of Poland since first historic rulers Mieszko I and Bolesław I the Brave of the Piast dynasty:
Silesia (, , German: Schlesien), mostly in Poland, small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Largest city and historical capital: Wrocław (Breslau). One of the major historical regions that was periodically ruled over by Poland during the Middle Ages; however, rule over the region mostly belonged to the Bohemian, Austrian, Hungarian, and Prussian Crowns for the majority of its history. Lower Silesia (, , German: Niederschlesien), mostly in Poland, small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Largest city and historical capital: Wrocław. Upper Silesia (, , German: Oberschlesien), 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.
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.
Pomerania understood as excluding Pomerelia (, German: Pommern), mostly in Poland (central and eastern parts), remainder in Germany. Largest city and historical capital: Szczecin (Stettin). The region was either wholly or partially ruled by Polish states at various times in the past, and was also under Danish, Swedish (partially), and German suzerainty for a significant part of its history. Farther Pomerania (, German: Hinterpommern), in north-western Poland. Largest city: Koszalin. Western Pomerania (, German: Vorpommern), small part in north-western Poland with the historical capital and largest city of Szczecin, remainder in Germany.
Orawa (, ), small part in southern Poland, remainder in Slovakia, including the largest town Dolný Kubín. Formerly entirely part of Poland.
Kłodzko Land (, German: Grafschaft Glatz), in south-western Poland, named after the historical capital and largest town Kłodzko (Glatz). Periodically under Polish rule in the past, but mostly was under Bohemian, Austrian and German rule in the past. Sometimes also considered part of Lower Silesia.