Administrative division of Congress Poland
Encyclopedia
Administrative division
An administrative division, subnational entity, or country subdivision is a portion of a country or other political division, established for the purpose of government. Administrative divisions are each granted a certain degree of autonomy, and are required to manage themselves through their own...
of Congress Poland
Congress Poland
The Kingdom of Poland , informally known as Congress Poland , created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna, was a personal union of the Russian parcel of Poland with the Russian Empire...
changed several times. Immediately after its creation, 1815-1816, the Congress Kingdom of Poland was divided into departments, a relic
Administrative division of Duchy of Warsaw
Administrative division of Duchy of Warsaw was based on departments. Headed by a prefect, it was a solution adopted based on the French model, as entire Duchy was in fact created by Napoleon and based on French ideas, although departaments were divided into Polish powiats .There were 6 initial...
from the times of the French-dominated Duchy of Warsaw
Duchy of Warsaw
The Duchy of Warsaw was a Polish state established by Napoleon I in 1807 from the Polish lands ceded by the Kingdom of Prussia under the terms of the Treaties of Tilsit. The duchy was held in personal union by one of Napoleon's allies, King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony...
. In 1816 the administrative divisions were reformed into the more traditionally Polish voivodeship
Voivodeship
Voivodship is a term denoting the position of, or more commonly the area administered by, a voivod. Voivodeships have existed since medieval times in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Serbia....
s, obwód
Obwód
Obwód is a term used in Polish to denote administrative districts in various countries, particularly as a translation of the Russian oblast...
s and powiat
Powiat
A powiat is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture in other countries. The term powiat is most often translated into English as "county", although other terms are also sometimes used...
s. In 1837, in the aftermath of the November Uprising
November Uprising
The November Uprising , Polish–Russian War 1830–31 also known as the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in Warsaw when the young Polish officers from the local Army of the Congress...
earlier that decade, the administrative division was reformed once again, bringing Congress Poland closer to the structure of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, with the introduction of guberniya
Guberniya
A guberniya was a major administrative subdivision of the Russian Empire usually translated as government, governorate, or province. Such administrative division was preserved for sometime upon the collapse of the empire in 1917. A guberniya was ruled by a governor , a word borrowed from Latin ,...
s (governorate
Governorate
A governorate is an administrative division of a country. It is headed by a governor. As English-speaking nations tend to call regions administered by governors either states, provinces, or colonies, the term governorate is often used in translation from non-English-speaking administrations.The...
, Polish spelling gubernia), gradually transforming Congress Poland into the "Vistulan Country
Vistulan Country
Vistula Land or Vistula Country was the name applied to the lands of the Kingdom of Poland following the defeats of the November Uprising and January Uprising as it was increasingly stripped of autonomy and incorporated into Imperial Russia...
". Over the next several decades, various smaller reforms were carried out, either changing the smaller administrative units or merging/splitting various guberniyas.
1816
On January 16, 1816 the administrative division was reformed from the departments of the Duchy of WarsawDuchy of Warsaw
The Duchy of Warsaw was a Polish state established by Napoleon I in 1807 from the Polish lands ceded by the Kingdom of Prussia under the terms of the Treaties of Tilsit. The duchy was held in personal union by one of Napoleon's allies, King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony...
into the more traditionally Polish voivodeship
Voivodeship
Voivodship is a term denoting the position of, or more commonly the area administered by, a voivod. Voivodeships have existed since medieval times in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Serbia....
s, obwód
Obwód
Obwód is a term used in Polish to denote administrative districts in various countries, particularly as a translation of the Russian oblast...
s and powiat
Powiat
A powiat is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture in other countries. The term powiat is most often translated into English as "county", although other terms are also sometimes used...
s.
There were 8 voivodeships:
- Augustów VoivodeshipAugustów VoivodeshipAugustów Voivodeship was created in 1816 from the Łomża Department. Its capital was in Łomża until 1818, when it was transferred to Suwałki. In 1837 it was transformed into Augustów Governorate.-Administrative divisions:It was divided into 7 counties:...
(capital in Suwałki) - Kalisz VoivodeshipKalisz Voivodeship-Kalisz Voivodeship 1975–1998:Kalisz Voivodeship 1975–1998 was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in years 1975–1998, superseded by Greater Poland Voivodeship.Capital city: Kalisz...
- Kraków VoivodeshipKraków VoivodeshipKraków Voivodeship, refers to several historical Voivodeships of Poland in the surrounding regions, with the city of Kraków as its capital.- Kraków Voivodeship 1975-1998 :...
(despite the name of this province, the city of Kraków was not included; Kraków was a free cityFree City of KrakówThe Free, Independent, and Strictly Neutral City of Kraków with its Territory , more commonly known as either the Free City of Kraków or Republic of Kraków , was a city-state created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815, and controlled by its three neighbours until 1846, when in the aftermath of the...
until the Kraków UprisingKraków UprisingThe Kraków Uprising of February 1846 was an attempt, led by Edward Dembowski, to incite a Polish fight for national independence. Even though most of Poland was part of the Russian Empire, the Polish risings were conducted mainly in Prussia and in the Austrian Empire.-History:Most of the...
of 1846; the capital was first MiechówMiechówMiechów is a town in Poland, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, about 40 km north of Kraków. It is the capital of Miechów County. Population is 11,852 ....
, then KielceKielceKielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...
). - Lublin VoivodeshipLublin Voivodeship- Administrative division :Lublin Voivodeship is divided into 24 counties : 4 city counties and 20 land counties. These are further divided into 213 gminas....
- Mazowsze Voivodeship (capital in WarsawWarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
) - Płock Voivodeship
- Podlasie VoivodeshipPodlasie VoivodeshipAdministrative subdivision of Congress PolandIt was created in 1816 from the Siedlce Department.Its capital was in Siedlce.-References:* Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland...
(capital in SiedlceSiedlceSiedlce ) is a city in eastern Poland with 77,392 inhabitants . Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously the city was the capital of a separate Siedlce Voivodeship ....
) - Sandomierz VoivodeshipSandomierz VoivodeshipSandomierz Voivodeship was a unit of administration and local government in Poland from the 14th century to the partitions of Poland in 1772–1795. It was part of the Little Poland region. Originally Sandomierz Voivodeship also covered the area around Lublin, but in 1474 its three eastern counties...
(capital in RadomRadomRadom is a city in central Poland with 223,397 inhabitants . It is located on the Mleczna River in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of Radom Voivodeship ; 100 km south of Poland's capital, Warsaw.It is home to the biennial Radom Air Show, the largest and...
)
1837
On 7 March 1837 the Congress Poland voivodeships were renamed as 8 guberniyaGuberniya
A guberniya was a major administrative subdivision of the Russian Empire usually translated as government, governorate, or province. Such administrative division was preserved for sometime upon the collapse of the empire in 1917. A guberniya was ruled by a governor , a word borrowed from Latin ,...
s (governorates):
- Augustów GovernorateAugustów GovernorateAugustów Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.It was created in 1837 from the Augustów Voivodship, and had the same borders and capital as the voivodship...
(with capital in Łomża) - Kalish Governorate (with capital in KaliszKaliszKalisz is a city in central Poland with 106,857 inhabitants , the capital city of the Kalisz Region. Situated on the Prosna river in the southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city forms a conurbation with the nearby towns of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Nowe Skalmierzyce...
) - Krakov Governorate (with capital in KielceKielceKielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...
) - Lublin GovernorateLublin GovernorateLublin Governorate ) was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.-History:It was created in 1837 from the Lublin Voivodeship, and had the same borders and capital as the voivodeship....
(with capital in LublinLublinLublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
) - Masovia GovernorateMasovia GovernorateMasovia Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.It was created in 1837 from the Masovia Voivodeship; in 1844 it was merged into a larger Warsaw Governorate....
(with capital in WarsawWarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
) - Plotsk Governorate (with capital in Płock)
- Podlyase Governorate (with capital in SiedlceSiedlceSiedlce ) is a city in eastern Poland with 77,392 inhabitants . Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously the city was the capital of a separate Siedlce Voivodeship ....
) - Sandomir Governorate (with capital in RadomRadomRadom is a city in central Poland with 223,397 inhabitants . It is located on the Mleczna River in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of Radom Voivodeship ; 100 km south of Poland's capital, Warsaw.It is home to the biennial Radom Air Show, the largest and...
)
1844
In 1844 several governorates were merged with others, and some others renamed. 5 governorates remained:| Governorate | Name in Russian | Name in Polish | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw Governorate Warsaw Governorate Warsaw Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.It was created in 1844 from the Masovia and Kalisz Governorates, and had the capital in Warsaw... |
Варшавская губерния | Gubernia warszawska | Warsaw Warsaw Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most... |
| Augustów Governorate Augustów Governorate Augustów Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.It was created in 1837 from the Augustów Voivodship, and had the same borders and capital as the voivodship... |
Холмская губерния | Gubernia augustowska | Suwałki |
| Lublin Governorate Lublin Governorate Lublin Governorate ) was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.-History:It was created in 1837 from the Lublin Voivodeship, and had the same borders and capital as the voivodeship.... |
Люблинская губерния | Gubernia lubelska | Lublin Lublin Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river... |
| Płock Governorate Płock Governorate Płock Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.It was created in 1837 from the Płock Voivodship, and had the same borders and capital as the voivodship... |
Плоцкская губерния | Gubernia płocka | Płock |
| Radom Governorate Radom Governorate Radom Governorate was a governorate of the Congress Poland.-History:It was created in 1844 from the merger of the Sandomierz Governorate with Kielce Governorate... |
Радомская губерния | Gubernia radomska | Radom Radom Radom is a city in central Poland with 223,397 inhabitants . It is located on the Mleczna River in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of Radom Voivodeship ; 100 km south of Poland's capital, Warsaw.It is home to the biennial Radom Air Show, the largest and... |
1867
The 1867 reform, initiated after the failure of the January UprisingJanuary Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
, was designed to tie the Congress Kingdom (now de facto the Vistulan Country
Vistulan Country
Vistula Land or Vistula Country was the name applied to the lands of the Kingdom of Poland following the defeats of the November Uprising and January Uprising as it was increasingly stripped of autonomy and incorporated into Imperial Russia...
) more tightly to the administration structure of the Russian Empire. It divided larger governorates into smaller ones. A new lower level entity, gmina
Gmina
The gmina is the principal unit of administrative division of Poland at its lowest uniform level. It is often translated as "commune" or "municipality." As of 2010 there were 2,479 gminas throughout the country...
, was introduced. This time 10 governorates were formed:
| Governorate | Name in Russian | Name in Polish | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw Governorate Warsaw Governorate Warsaw Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.It was created in 1844 from the Masovia and Kalisz Governorates, and had the capital in Warsaw... |
Варшавская губерния | Gubernia warszawska | Warszawa |
| Kalisz Governorate Kalisz Governorate Kalisz Governorate was an administrative unit of the Kingdom of Poland.-History:It was created in 1837 from the Kalisz Voivodeship, and had the same borders and centre as the voivodeship.... |
Калишская губерния | Gubernia kaliska | Kalisz Kalisz Kalisz is a city in central Poland with 106,857 inhabitants , the capital city of the Kalisz Region. Situated on the Prosna river in the southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city forms a conurbation with the nearby towns of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Nowe Skalmierzyce... |
| Kielce Governorate Kielce Governorate Kielce Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.-History:It was created in 1841 from the Kraków Governorate, both with capital in Kielce... |
Келецкая губерния | Gubernia kielecka | Kielce Kielce Kielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship... |
| Łomża Governorate Łomża Governorate Łomża Governorate was an administrative unit of Congress Poland with seat in Łomża.-History:In 1867 territories of the Augustów Governorate and the Płock Governorate were divided into a smaller Płock Governorate, Suwałki Governorate and a recreated Łomża Governorate.In 1893, a small amount of... |
Ломжинская губерния | Gubernia łomżyńska | Łomża |
| Lublin Governorate Lublin Governorate Lublin Governorate ) was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.-History:It was created in 1837 from the Lublin Voivodeship, and had the same borders and capital as the voivodeship.... |
Люблинская губерния | Gubernia lubelska | Lublin Lublin Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river... |
| Piotrków Governorate Piotrków Governorate Piotrków Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland. Its capital was in Petrokov.-History:It was created in 1867, split off from parts of Radom and Warsaw Governorates.-Language:*By the Imperial census of 1897... |
Петроковская губерния | Gubernia piotrkowska | Piotrków Piotrków Trybunalski Piotrków Trybunalski is a city in central Poland with 80,738 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodeship , and previously was the capital of Piotrków Voivodeship... |
| Płock Governorate Płock Governorate Płock Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.It was created in 1837 from the Płock Voivodship, and had the same borders and capital as the voivodship... |
Плоцкская губерния | Gubernia płocka | Płock |
| Radom Governorate Radom Governorate Radom Governorate was a governorate of the Congress Poland.-History:It was created in 1844 from the merger of the Sandomierz Governorate with Kielce Governorate... |
Радомская губерния | Gubernia radomska | Radom Radom Radom is a city in central Poland with 223,397 inhabitants . It is located on the Mleczna River in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of Radom Voivodeship ; 100 km south of Poland's capital, Warsaw.It is home to the biennial Radom Air Show, the largest and... |
| Siedlce Governorate Siedlce Governorate Siedlce Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.-History:It was created in 1867 from the division of the Lublin Governorate. It was in fact a recreation of the older Podlasie Governorate, but now renamed to Siedlce Governorate.-Language:*By the Imperial census of 1897... |
Седлецкая губерния | Gubernia siedlecka | Siedlce Siedlce Siedlce ) is a city in eastern Poland with 77,392 inhabitants . Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously the city was the capital of a separate Siedlce Voivodeship .... |
| Suwalki Governorate Suwalki Governorate Suwałki Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland with seat in Suwałki. It covered a territory of about 12,300 km².-History:... |
Сувалкская губерния | Gubernia suwalska | Suwałki |
1893
A minor reform of 1893 transferred some territory from the Plotsk and Lomzha Governorates to Warsaw Governorate.| Governorate | Name in Russian | Name in Polish | Seat | Area, in thousands of km2 |
Population, in thousands,(1905) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw Governorate Warsaw Governorate Warsaw Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.It was created in 1844 from the Masovia and Kalisz Governorates, and had the capital in Warsaw... |
Варшавская губерния | Gubernia warszawska | Warszawa | 17,6 | 2233 |
| Kalisz Governorate Kalisz Governorate Kalisz Governorate was an administrative unit of the Kingdom of Poland.-History:It was created in 1837 from the Kalisz Voivodeship, and had the same borders and centre as the voivodeship.... |
Калишская губерния | Gubernia kaliska | Kalisz Kalisz Kalisz is a city in central Poland with 106,857 inhabitants , the capital city of the Kalisz Region. Situated on the Prosna river in the southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city forms a conurbation with the nearby towns of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Nowe Skalmierzyce... |
11,3 | 964 |
| Kielce Governorate Kielce Governorate Kielce Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.-History:It was created in 1841 from the Kraków Governorate, both with capital in Kielce... |
Келецкая губерния | Gubernia kielecka | Kielce Kielce Kielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship... |
10,2 | 899 |
| Łomża Governorate Łomża Governorate Łomża Governorate was an administrative unit of Congress Poland with seat in Łomża.-History:In 1867 territories of the Augustów Governorate and the Płock Governorate were divided into a smaller Płock Governorate, Suwałki Governorate and a recreated Łomża Governorate.In 1893, a small amount of... |
Ломжинская губерния | Gubernia lubelska | Łomża | 10,6 | 645 |
| Lublin Governorate Lublin Governorate Lublin Governorate ) was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.-History:It was created in 1837 from the Lublin Voivodeship, and had the same borders and capital as the voivodeship.... |
Люблинская губерния | Gubernia łomżyńska | Lublin Lublin Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river... |
16,9 | 1341 |
| Piotrków Governorate Piotrków Governorate Piotrków Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland. Its capital was in Petrokov.-History:It was created in 1867, split off from parts of Radom and Warsaw Governorates.-Language:*By the Imperial census of 1897... |
Петроковская губерния | Gubernia piotrkowska | Piotrków Piotrków Trybunalski Piotrków Trybunalski is a city in central Poland with 80,738 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodeship , and previously was the capital of Piotrków Voivodeship... |
12,2 | 1640 |
| Płock Governorate Płock Governorate Płock Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.It was created in 1837 from the Płock Voivodship, and had the same borders and capital as the voivodship... |
Плоцкская губерния | Gubernia płocka | Płock | 9,4 | 613 |
| Radom Governorate Radom Governorate Radom Governorate was a governorate of the Congress Poland.-History:It was created in 1844 from the merger of the Sandomierz Governorate with Kielce Governorate... |
Радомская губерния | Gubernia radomska | Radom Radom Radom is a city in central Poland with 223,397 inhabitants . It is located on the Mleczna River in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of Radom Voivodeship ; 100 km south of Poland's capital, Warsaw.It is home to the biennial Radom Air Show, the largest and... |
12,4 | 917 |
| Siedlce Governorate Siedlce Governorate Siedlce Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland.-History:It was created in 1867 from the division of the Lublin Governorate. It was in fact a recreation of the older Podlasie Governorate, but now renamed to Siedlce Governorate.-Language:*By the Imperial census of 1897... |
Седлецкая губерния | Gubernia siedlecka | Siedlce Siedlce Siedlce ) is a city in eastern Poland with 77,392 inhabitants . Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously the city was the capital of a separate Siedlce Voivodeship .... |
14,3 | 894 |
| Suwalki Governorate Suwalki Governorate Suwałki Governorate was an administrative unit of the Congress Poland with seat in Suwałki. It covered a territory of about 12,300 km².-History:... |
Сувалкская губерния | Gubernia suwalska | Suwałki | 12,4 | 629 |
1912
The 1912 reform created a new governorate - Kholm GovernorateKholm Governorate
Kholm Governorate or Chełm Governorate was an administrative unit of the Russian Empire. Its capital was in Chełm ....
- from parts of the Sedlets and Lublin Governorates. However this was split off from the Vistulan Country
Vistulan Country
Vistula Land or Vistula Country was the name applied to the lands of the Kingdom of Poland following the defeats of the November Uprising and January Uprising as it was increasingly stripped of autonomy and incorporated into Imperial Russia...
and made part of the Southwestern Krai
Southwestern Krai
Southwestern Krai , also known as Kiev General Governorate or Kiev, Podolia, and Volhynia General Governorate was a subdivision of the Russian Empire that included much of the territory of modern-day Ukraine covering both banks of the Dnieper River.The Governorate General consisted of several...
of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
.