Royal Prussia

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Royal Prussia (Polish: Prusy KrÃÂ³lewskie, German: KÃÂ¶nigliches Preussen) was a Polish province formed from the western part of the Lands of the Teutonic Order following the Thirteen Years War or "War of the Cities".

During the war, the Prussian Confederation, led by the cities of Danzig (now Gdansk), Elbing (now Elblag) and Thorn (now Torun) and gentry from Kulmerland (now Chelmno Land) rose (February 1454) with Polish support against the Order's rule. The rebelion inlcuded also a major cities from the Eastern part of Teutonic Order state i.e. Kneiphof.

The resulting war ended with Second Treaty of Thorn (October 1466) provided for the Order's cession to the Polish crown of its rights over the western half of Prussia - Danzig Pomerania, Elbing, Marienburg (now Malbork) and Culm (now Chelmno) districts and the bishopric of Ermeland (now Warmia).

The eastern part of Prussia remained under the rule of the Order and its successors, until 1660 under Polish suzerainty as a Polish fief, becoming the Duchy of Prussia in 1525 when the Order's Grand Master Albert of Brandenburg adopted Lutheranism and secularised his land as hereditary ruler.

Until the 1569 Union of Lublin, Royal Prussia enjoyed substantial autonomy in its affiliation to the crown of Poland - it had its own Diet, treasury and monetary unit and armies. In 1569 the province was directly included into the Polish Crown. During the First (1772) and Second (1793) Partitions of Poland Royal Prussia was incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia.

Royal Prussia included Eastern Pomerania (Pomeranian Voivodship), Chelmno Land, Malbork Voivodship, Gdansk, Torun and Elblag.

Map of Royal Prussia:

In the second half of the 16th century, Royal Prussia lay mostly west of the Vistula river, Ducal Prussia lay east of this river

See external links to Maps of Prussia for locations and description throughout the centuries.

Royal Prussia

Further reading