This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 66.47.62.78 (talk) at 12:36, 10 April 2002 (*Ermland laws and recent Ermland memorial). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 12:36, 10 April 2002 by 66.47.62.78 (talk) (*Ermland laws and recent Ermland memorial)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Warmia (German Ermeland or Ermland, Latin Varmia) a region between Pomerania and Masuria in northern Poland. Together with Mazuria it forms the Warminsko-Mazurskie region.
Ermland was one of the four dioceses into which Prussia was divided (1242) by the papal legate William of Modena. The other dioceses, under the archbishop of Riga, were Culmer Land, Pomesania and Samland. One of its most notable bishops was Enea Silvio Piccolomini, later Pope Pius II.
Ermland passed with western Prussia from the rule of the Teutonic Order to Polish sovereignty under the second Treaty of Thorn (1466).
Ermland became an excempt bishopric and remained Catholic in contrast to the other Prussian states.
The Ermland state government laws of September 22,1526 of the bishopric of Ermland (Ermland Landtsordnung des Bischoffthums Ermland von 22. Sept 1526) were re-recorded as addition to the Kulm Laws (Appendix zum Jus Culmense correction Brunsbergae 1711 S.109-124),Braunsberg, 1711, pages 109-124.
Annexed by the kingdom of Prussia in the first Partition of Poland (1772), it became a part of the Province of East Prussia in 1919. Geographically it has always been in eastern Prussia. It was overrun by Soviet troops and became a part of Poland in 1945.
Ermland's most famous citizens were the family members of Lucas Watzenrode or Watzelrode, who was bishop of Ermland and who raised and educated his nephew Nicolaus Copernicus and his brother Andreas following their father's death.
In 1755 the imperial mapmaker of Elbing Johann Friedrich Endersch completed work on a beautiful map of Ermland or Varmia. It details all surrounding towns.
After the killing and expulsion of a large number of the native Ermland population by the Polish and Russian Soviets a brave attempt at confronting the past is now being made by current pastors. A memorial stone was hurriedly erected in September 2001; hurriedly, before the elections would put communists back into positions. This memorial stone is near Allenstein or Olszyn and commemorates the priests and inhabitants of the diocese of Ermland, murdered and martyred during the years 1939 - 1947. A Polish Army honor guard, the wife of the prime minister of Poland Jerzy Buzek, church officials and the murdered priests' family members, expellees (Vertriebene) now living in Germany, attended.
Outside link memorial of murdered Ermland priests, on bottom list of names ]
External link to map: ]