Pomesania
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Pomesania is historical region in northern Poland, located between Nogat and lower Vistula rivers to the west and Drwęca river to the east. It is located around the modern towns of Elbląg and Malbork. Its name was coined after the Prussian term pomedie meaning across the forest.
The area was inhabitated by various tribes of Baltic peoples at least since 9th century and possibly earlier. Although it shared much of its history with the surrounding region of Prussia, it was geographically distinct. Because of that, it formed the last stand of the Prussian people, who retained their language and traditions until 16th century. In 1225 Duke Conrad of Masovia invited the Teutonic Knights to protect his territory from raids of the Pagan Prussians. The city of Elbing (Elbląg) was founded near the ancient Prussian trading town of Truso.
The territory is said in legend to have been named after Pomeso, a son of Widewuto, chieftain of the Prussians, the Baltic people who inhabited the area before being conquered by the Teutonic Order in the 13th century. From 1243 to 1821 Pomesania was a diocese of the Catholic Church of Prussia, under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Bydgoszcz.
The region became a part of the Polish province called Royal Prussia with the Peace of Toruń (1466), but was incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia at the First Partition of Poland in 1772, becoming with the rest of Prussia a part of the German Empire in 1871. After 1920, when most of Royal Prussia returned to Poland as Polish Corridor, Pomesania remained part of the German exclave and province of East Prussia.
In 1945, after 173 years Pomesania was returned to Poland year under the Potsdam Agreement.de:Pomesanien pl:Pomezania