Wielkopolska

wielkopolska poland

Greater Poland

Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland) is the historical heart of Poland, and even sometimes termed "the cradle of Poland". The Wielkopolska region is a flat region interspersed with forests and lakes. It was the base of the ancient Polanie tribe, a Slavic tribe from which the Polish nation emerged. Some historians believe that Gniezno is where Mieszko, Poland's first historical ruler, was baptized in 966, and which became Poland's first capital. Despite Poland's capital changing to Kraków in 1038, Wielkopolska, however, remained an integral part of Poland until its annexation by Prussia at the time of the second partition (1773). From that date on the region underwent intensive Germanization. After Germany's defeat in the first world war most of the region was reincorporated into Poland, the rest at the end of the Second World War.

Greater Poland comprises much of the area drained by the Warta River and its tributaries, including the Noteć River. There are two major geographic regions. In the north, the lake district, full of post-glacial lakes and hills. In the south, the rather flat plain. See also: Wielkopolskie and Lubuskie.