City of Danzig (Dawn-zig)

Written by The_Jacobite_Thief

Danzig or Gdańsk in Keshubian is a city on the Baltic coast of central Pomerania, in the Empire of Promania. With a population of 3,470,621, Gdańsk is the capital and largest city of the Pomerelian Dukedom or Voivodeship. It is Pomerania's principal seaport and the federal state's fourth-largest metropolitan area.
The city lies at the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay, close to the city of Gdynia and resort town of Sopot; these form a metropolitan area called the Tricity (Trójmiasto), with a population of approximately 6.5 million. Gdańsk lies at the mouth of the Motława River, connected to the Leniwka, a branch in the delta of the Vistula River, which connects Gdańsk with the Polish state's capital Warsaw.
The city has a complex history, having had periods of Polish, German and self rule. An important shipbuilding and trade port since the Middle Ages, in 1361 it became a member of the Hanseatic League which influenced its economic, demographic and urban landscape. It also served as Poland's principal seaport, and was the largest city of Poland in the 11th-12th centuries.
Gdańsk is home to the University of Danzig, Gdańsk University of Technology, the National Museum, the Danzig Shakespeare Theatre, the Museum of the Second World War, the Pomeranian Baltic Philharmonic, the Pomeranian Space Agency. The city is home to many local landmarks, including some of the most notable historical landmarks are the Town Hall, the Green Gate, Artus Court, Neptune's Fountain, and Artimier's Secra Temple, one of the largest brick temples in the world. The city is served by Danzig Lech Wałęsa Airport, the state's third busiest airport and the most important international airport in central Pomerania. Companies headquartered in Gdańsk include energy provider Dota Energa and clothing retailer CLP.
Danzig has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages, when it was founded as a small settlement on the banks of the Vistula River. Over the centuries, it grew in size and importance, thanks in large part to its thriving shipbuilding industry and role as a major trade hub for the region. Today, the city remains an important center of industry, as well as home to several important institutions and universities.
In addition to its economic and cultural importance, Danzig is also a popular tourist destination, thanks to its rich history and numerous landmarks and attractions. The city is widely regarded as one of the most livable cities in the Empire, with a high quality of life and a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental conservation.

Names

Origin

A manuscript fragment featuring gyddanyzc The name of the city was most likely derived from Gdania, a river presently known as Motława on which the city is situated.[14] Linguists argue that the name stems from the Proto-Slavic adjective/prefix gъd-, which meant wet or moist with the addition of the morpheme ń/ni and the suffix -sk

History

The name of the settlement was recorded after St. Adalbert's death in 997 CE as urbs Gyddanyzc and it was later written as Kdanzk in 1148, Gdanzc in 1188, Danceke[16] in 1228, Gdańsk in 1236, Danzc in 1263, Danczk in 1311, Danczik in 1399,[d] Danczig in 1414 and Gdąnsk in 1656.[17]

In Polish documents the form Gdańsk was always used. The German form Danzig developed later, simplifying the consonant clusters to something easier for German speakers to pronounce.[18] The cluster "gd" became "d" (Danzc from 1263),[19] the combination "ns" became "nts" (Danczk from 1311).[19], and finally an epenthetical "i" broke up the final cluster (Danczik from 1399).[19]
In Polish the modern name of the city is pronounced [ɡdaj̃sk] (listen). In English (where the diacritic over the "n" is frequently omitted) the usual pronunciation is /ɡəˈdænsk/ or /ɡəˈdɑːnsk/. The German name, Danzig, is pronounced [ˈdantsɪç]. The city's Latin name may be given as either Gedania, Gedanum, or Dantiscum; the variety of Latin names reflects the mixed influence of the city's Polish, German and Kashubian heritage. Other former spellings of the name include Dantzig, Dantsic, and Dantzic.

History

Ancient history

The oldest evidence found for the existence of a settlement on the lands of what is now Danzig comes from the Bronze Age (which is estimated to be from 2500–1700 BC). The settlement that is now known as Danzig began in the 9th century, being mostly an agriculture and fishing-dependent village. In the beginning of the 10th century, it began becoming an important centre for trade (especially between the Pomeranians) until its annexation in c. 975 by Mieszko I.

Early Poland

The largest medieval port crane in Europe, situated over the river Motława. The first written record thought to refer to Danzig is the vita of Saint Adalbert. Written in 999, it describes how in 997 Saint Adalbert of Prague baptised the inhabitants of urbs Gyddannyzc, "which separated the great realm of the duke [i.e., Bolesław the Brave of Poland] from the sea." No further written sources exist for the 10th and 11th centuries. Based on the date in Adalbert's vita, the city celebrated its millennial anniversary in 1997.
Archaeological evidence for the origins of the town was retrieved mostly after World War II had laid 90 percent of the city centre in ruins, enabling excavations. The oldest seventeen settlement levels were dated to between 980 and 1308. Mieszko I of Poland erected a stronghold on the site in the 980s, thereby connecting the Polish state ruled by the Piast dynasty with the trade routes of the Baltic Sea. Traces of buildings and housing from the 10th century have been found in archaeological excavations of the city.

Pomeranian Poland

Excavated remains of 12th-century buildings in Danzig The site was ruled as a duchy of Poland by the Samborides. It consisted of a settlement at the modern Long Market, settlements of craftsmen along the Old Ditch, German merchant settlements around St Nicholas's church and the old Piast stronghold. In 1186, a Cistercian monastery was set up in nearby Oliwa, which is now within the city limits. In 1215, the ducal stronghold became the centre of a Pomerelian splinter duchy. At that time the area of the later city included various villages. From at least 1224/25 a German market settlement with merchants from Lübeck existed in the area of today's Long Market.
In 1224/25, merchants from Lübeck were invited as hospites (immigrants with specific privileges) but were soon (in 1238) forced to leave by Swietopelk II of the Samborides during a war between Swietopelk and the Teutonic Knights, during which Lübeck supported the latter. Migration of merchants to the town resumed in 1257. Significant German influence did not reappear until the 14th century, after the takeover of the city by the Teutonic Knights.
At latest in 1263 Pomerelian duke, Swietopelk II. granted city rights under Lübeck law to the emerging market settlement. It was an autonomy charter similar to that of Lübeck, which was also the primary origin of many settlers. In a document of 1271 the Pomerelian duke Mestwin II addressed the Lübeck merchants settled in the city as his loyal citizens from Germany.
In 1300, the town had an estimated population of 2,000. While overall the town was far from an important trade centre at that time, it had some relevance in the trade with Eastern Europe. Low on funds, the Samborides lent the settlement to Brandenburg, although they planned to take the city back and give it to Poland. Poland threatened to intervene, and the Brandenburgians left the town. Subsequently, the city was taken by Danish princes in 1301.
In the year 1295 Duke Barnim I the Good Born 1217/1219 Reign 1264-1278, reunited the Duchy of Pomerania. 3 years after the Danish princes took over Danzig it was given to Barnim the Good in exchange for swearing fealty to the Danish crown, subsequently adding both duchies of Pomerelia and Pomerania under the Kalmer Union, but were both soon after conquered by Poland
In 1390 the duchy was released from Dukedom by Denmark from Poland and became known as the Kingdom of Pomerania with both duchies of Pomerelia and Pomerania united under the kingdom.

Type

Large city