Gmina Jemielnica
Encyclopedia
Gmina Jemielnica, German Gemeinde Himmelwitz is a rural gmina
(administrative district) in Strzelce County
, Opole Voivodeship
, in south-western Poland
. Its seat is the village of Jemielnica
(Himmelwitz), which lies approximately 9 kilometres (6 mi) north-east of Strzelce Opolskie
and 35 km (22 mi) south-east of the regional capital Opole
.
The gmina covers an area of 113.21 square kilometres (43.7 sq mi), and as of 2010 its total population is 7,526. Since 2006 the commune, like most of the area, has been officially bilingual in German and Polish, a substantial German population remaining in the area after it was transferred to Poland after WWII.
A famous tourist sight in the area is Himmelwitz Abbey, where the German Baroque composer Johannes Nucius
died in 1620.
that granted the settlement German town law
. In 1280 Duke Bolko I of Opole
founded the Cisterian Himmelwitz Abbey with the assistance of the monastic community of Rauden
. In the year 1285 the All Saint's Church was built, which served as the parish church until 1810.
After the death of Duke Bolko I, the town passed to his youngest son Albert, the duke of Strehlitz. Like his brothers this came under the suzerainty of the Kingdom of Bohemia
in 1327, becoming part of the kingdom after the signing of the Treaty of Trentschin in 1335 by the Polish King. With the death of Duke Albert, before 1375 withouts sons, the direct line of the Duchy of Strehlitz came to an end, and Himmelwitz passed to duke Bolko III. After the childless death of Duke John II in 1532, the duchy passed to the Bohemian crown and was later absorbed by the Habsburg Empire.
After the First Silesian War in 1742 Himmelwitz was ceded along with most of Silesia
to Prussia
. In 1750 a monastic grammar school was opened, providing local children with access to higher education. In 1810 the Prussian government secularized the monastery and dissolved its holdings. The All Saints Church, formerly the parish church, was made into the cemetery church and the former abbey's Church of the Assumption took its place as parish church.
In 1818 Himmelwitz was incorporated as part of the newly-formed Landkreis (county) of Groß Strehlitz
, where it remained until 1945. In 1826 the former abbey's holdings were sold to Count Andreas Maria Renard.
After World War II
Silesia was annexed by Poland as decided at the Yalta Conference
. Already by January 1945 it was occupied by the Red Army
, and by April 21st the new Polish administration had tentatively renamed the town Imielnica. Subsequently the commune was incorporated into the new Silesian Voivodship and renamed Jemielnica on 30 March 1947. In 1950 it was transferred to Opole Voivodship.
On 28 August 2006 German was declared an official language of the commune, and on November 14 2008 the old German place-names were reintroduced, with bilingual signage set up.
nationality. 1,096 inhabitants (14.2%) declared no nationality.
, Strzelce Opolskie
, Wielowieś
and Zawadzkie
.
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...
(administrative district) in Strzelce County
Strzelce County
Strzelce County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Opole Voivodeship, south-western Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Strzelce Opolskie, which...
, Opole Voivodeship
Opole Voivodeship
- Administrative division :Opole Voivodeship is divided into 12 counties : 1 city county and 11 land counties. These are further divided into 71 gminas.The counties are listed in the following table .- Economy :...
, in south-western Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Its seat is the village of Jemielnica
Jemielnica
Jemielnica is a village in Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Jemielnica...
(Himmelwitz), which lies approximately 9 kilometres (6 mi) north-east of Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie is a town in south-western Poland with 19,628 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Strzelce County. Strzelce Opolskie is one of the biggest centers of German minority in Poland....
and 35 km (22 mi) south-east of the regional capital Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
.
The gmina covers an area of 113.21 square kilometres (43.7 sq mi), and as of 2010 its total population is 7,526. Since 2006 the commune, like most of the area, has been officially bilingual in German and Polish, a substantial German population remaining in the area after it was transferred to Poland after WWII.
A famous tourist sight in the area is Himmelwitz Abbey, where the German Baroque composer Johannes Nucius
Johannes Nucius
Johannes Nucius was a German composer and music theorist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras...
died in 1620.
History
The village was first mentioned as Gemelnici in a document dated 29 November 1225 from the Duchy of OpoleDuchy of Opole
Duchy of Opole was one of the duchies of Silesia ruled by the Piast dynasty. Its capital was Opole in Upper Silesia.After Bolesław I the Tall and his younger brother Mieszko I Tanglefoot backed by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa had retained their Silesian heritage in 1163, they divided the...
that granted the settlement German town law
German town law
German town law or German municipal concerns concerns town privileges used by many cities, towns, and villages throughout Central and Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages.- Town law in Germany :...
. In 1280 Duke Bolko I of Opole
Bolko I of Opole
Bolko I of Opole , was a Duke of Opole from 1282 , Niemodlin and Strzelce Opolskie until his death.He was the third son of Władysław, Duke of Opole-Racibórz, by his wife Euphemia, daughter of Władysław Odonic, Duke of Greater Poland.-Life:Around 1277 Bolko I was named co-ruler of the Duchy of...
founded the Cisterian Himmelwitz Abbey with the assistance of the monastic community of Rauden
Rudy, Silesian Voivodeship
Rudy , also known as Rudy Wielkie or Rudy Raciborskie, is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Kuźnia Raciborska, within Racibórz County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately east of Kuźnia Raciborska, north-east of Racibórz, and west of the regional...
. In the year 1285 the All Saint's Church was built, which served as the parish church until 1810.
After the death of Duke Bolko I, the town passed to his youngest son Albert, the duke of Strehlitz. Like his brothers this came under the suzerainty of the Kingdom of Bohemia
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
in 1327, becoming part of the kingdom after the signing of the Treaty of Trentschin in 1335 by the Polish King. With the death of Duke Albert, before 1375 withouts sons, the direct line of the Duchy of Strehlitz came to an end, and Himmelwitz passed to duke Bolko III. After the childless death of Duke John II in 1532, the duchy passed to the Bohemian crown and was later absorbed by the Habsburg Empire.
After the First Silesian War in 1742 Himmelwitz was ceded along with most of Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
to Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. In 1750 a monastic grammar school was opened, providing local children with access to higher education. In 1810 the Prussian government secularized the monastery and dissolved its holdings. The All Saints Church, formerly the parish church, was made into the cemetery church and the former abbey's Church of the Assumption took its place as parish church.
In 1818 Himmelwitz was incorporated as part of the newly-formed Landkreis (county) of Groß Strehlitz
Strzelce County
Strzelce County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Opole Voivodeship, south-western Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Strzelce Opolskie, which...
, where it remained until 1945. In 1826 the former abbey's holdings were sold to Count Andreas Maria Renard.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Silesia was annexed by Poland as decided at the Yalta Conference
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference, sometimes called the Crimea Conference and codenamed the Argonaut Conference, held February 4–11, 1945, was the wartime meeting of the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union, represented by President Franklin D...
. Already by January 1945 it was occupied by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, and by April 21st the new Polish administration had tentatively renamed the town Imielnica. Subsequently the commune was incorporated into the new Silesian Voivodship and renamed Jemielnica on 30 March 1947. In 1950 it was transferred to Opole Voivodship.
On 28 August 2006 German was declared an official language of the commune, and on November 14 2008 the old German place-names were reintroduced, with bilingual signage set up.
Villages
The commune contains the villages and settlements of:- JemielnicaJemielnicaJemielnica is a village in Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Jemielnica...
/ Himmelwitz - BarutBarutLiebenhain is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Jemielnica, within Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It lies approximately east of Himmelwitz, north-east of Groß Strehlitz, and east of the regional capital Oppeln....
/ Liebenhain - BokoweBokowe, Opole VoivodeshipBokowe is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Jemielnica, within Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Jemielnica, north-east of Strzelce Opolskie, and east of the regional capital Opole.Before 1945 the area was part of...
- CentawaCentawaCentawa is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Jemielnica, within Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It lies approximately south of Jemielnica, east of Strzelce Opolskie, and south-east of the regional capital Opole....
- GąsiorowiceGasiorowiceGąsiorowice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Jemielnica, within Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland...
/ Gonschiorowitz - Łaziska / Lasisk
- PiotrówkaPiotrówka, Opole VoivodeshipPiotrówka , German Petersgrätz is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Jemielnica , within Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in the south-western Polish region of Upper Silesia...
/ Petersgrätz - WierchlesieWierchlesieWierchlesie is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Jemielnica, within Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It lies approximately north-east of Jemielnica, north-east of Strzelce Opolskie, and east of the regional capital Opole.Before 1945 the area was part...
/ Wierschlesche
Demographics
As of 31 December 2010, the commune had 7526 inhabitants. At the time of the census of 2002, the commune had 7,702 inhabitants. Of these, 4,091 (53.1%) declared the Polish nationality; 1,871 persons (24.3%) declared the German nationality; and 627 (8.1%) with the non-recognized SilesianSilesians
Silesians , are the inhabitants of Silesia in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. A small diaspora community also exists in Karnes County, Texas in the USA....
nationality. 1,096 inhabitants (14.2%) declared no nationality.
Neighbouring gminas
Gmina Jemielnica is bordered by the gminas of Kolonowskie/ColonnowskaGmina Kolonowskie
Gmina Kolonowskie, German Gemeinde Colonnowska is an urban-rural gmina in Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in Upper Silesia in Poland...
, Strzelce Opolskie
Gmina Strzelce Opolskie
Gmina Strzelce Opolskie is an urban-rural gmina in Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Its seat is the town of Strzelce Opolskie, which lies approximately south-east of the regional capital Opole....
, Wielowieś
Gmina Wielowies
Gmina Wielowieś is a rural gmina in Gliwice County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the village of Wielowieś, which lies approximately north of Gliwice and north-west of the regional capital Katowice....
and Zawadzkie
Gmina Zawadzkie
Gmina Zawadzkie is an urban-rural gmina in Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Its seat is the town of Zawadzkie, which lies approximately north-east of Strzelce Opolskie and east of the regional capital Opole.The gmina covers an area of , and as of 2006 its total...
.
Famous residents
- Johannes NuciusJohannes NuciusJohannes Nucius was a German composer and music theorist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras...
(c. 1556, GörlitzGörlitzGörlitz is a town in Germany. It is the easternmost town in the country, located on the Lusatian Neisse River in the Bundesland of Saxony. It is opposite the Polish town of Zgorzelec, which was a part of Görlitz until 1945. Historically, Görlitz was in the region of Upper Lusatia...
- † 25 March 1620), German composer and abbot of Himmelwitz Abbey - Elisabeth Kollmansberger, German singer
Sister cities
| Laubusch in Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... Wickede Wickede Wickede is a municipality in the district of Soest, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Wickede is situated on the river Ruhr, approx... in Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |