Mazurian ethnic group
From Free net encyclopedia
The Mazurs are members of a Polish sub-ethnic group in the Masovian and Warmian-Masurian voivodships in Poland. The Mazurs from Mazovia are mostly Roman Catholic while the Mazurs from the Masuria region of former East Prussia are mostly Lutheran Protestants. The Mazurs from the latter region are often known as Masurians in English.
Their name derives from the Lekhitic tribe of Masovians (Mazowszanie) who gave their name to the land of Masovia (Mazowsze). In the Middle Ages the inhabitants of the northern part of Masovia were called Mazurzy. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, settlers from northern Mazovia moved to former teritories of the Old Prussians following their conquest by the knights of the Teutonic Order.
Because of the influx of Masovians into the southern Masurian Lakeland of Ducal Prussia the area started to be known as Masuria (Polish: Mazury, German: Masuren). During the Reformation Masurians, like most of Ducal Prussia, became Lutheran Protestants, while Masovia remained Roman Catholic.
Example of 19th century Germanization:
Data from Oletzko County, a historical East Prussian county with capital in Oletzko, populated by Masurs. In the process of Germanization, the number of Polish-speaking people decreased:
1818 - over 90% of population
1852 - 65%
1861 - 58%
1890 - 46%
1900 - 33.5% (Prussian census)
1890(?) - 19%
In 1888, the Polish language was completely forbidden in schools of all levels. Over 50% of the Mazurian towns and villages had their names changed to German in 1938.
After 1956 many Mazurians emigrated to West Germany.Template:Fact
See Masuria for more detail.
Compare Warmiak.
See also:
- Andrzej Sakson - Polish sociologist researching the Mazurian ethnic grouppl:Mazurzy