Pomerania (Polish: Pomorze, German: Pommern and Pommerellen, Pomeranian (Kashubian): Pņmņrze and Pņmņrskō, Latin: Pomerania, Pomorania) is a geographical and historical region in northern Poland and Germany on the south coasts of the Baltic Sea between and on both sides of the Vistula and Oder (Odra) rivers, reaching the Reknitz river in the west.
Polish Pomerania is currently divided into 3 voivodships: the West Pomeranian Voivodship (Zachodniopomorskie, ZP), Pomeranian Voivodship (Pomorskie, PM) and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship (Kujawsko-Pomorskie, KP). German Pomerania (Vorpommern) is part of the German Bundesland (federal state) of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania).
The history of the region is rich and varied, perhaps due to it having been under the rule of many different powers through the centuries. It was ruled by the Dukes of Pomerania and later it belonged to Poland, Denmark, Saxony, Brandenburg, Prussia, Sweden and Germany. History of Pomerania is very often written from a Polish or German point of view and very rarely from a Pomeranian point of view.
Origin and meaning of the name
The name comes from Polish or other Slavic language and means 'country by/next to/along the sea'
The name of Pomerania was probably first mentioned as Latin words 'longum mare' (=along the sea) in the Dagome Iudex document (ca. 992), issued by the Polish duke Mieszko I, describing the boundaries of his Gniezno state. Next in 1046 there is a mention of Zemuzil dux Bomeranorum (Siemomysl, Duke of Pomeranians). Pomerania is mentioned many times in the chronicles by Adam of Bremem (ca. 1070) and Gallus Anonymous (ca. 1113).
Demographics
