The Congress of Vienna (1814) marked the defeat of Napoleon and his French forces. The victors would divided the territories that were gained by the French during the Napoleonic Wars. The Duchy of Warsaw was divided between the Russian Empire (Kongress Kingdom of Poland) and the Prussian Empire (Grand Duchy of Posen). The area surrounding Danzig (including the port city of Danzig) was incorporated into the Province of West Prussia. Prussia would also gain lands that bordered France. The newly gained Prussian territories would be included in the United Prussian States, which replaced the Kingdom of Prussia (Wikipedia, Congress of Vienna, 2010).
1815-1824
Provinz Westpreußen (Province of West Prussia)
-Regierungsbezirk Danzig (Stadtkreise Danzig, Stadtkreise Elbing, Kreis Berent, Landkreise Danzig, Landkreise Elbing, Kreis Karthaus, Kreis Marienburg, Kreis Neustadt, and Kreis Prueßisch Stargard).
-Regierungsbezirk Marienwerder (Kreis Deutsch Krone, Kreis Flatow, Kreis Graudenz, Kreis Konitz, Kreis Kulm, Kreis Löbau, Kreis Marienwerder, Kreis Rosenberg, Kreis Schlochau, Kreis Schwetz, Kreis Strasburg, Kreis Stuhm, and Kreis Thorn).
Provinz Ostpreußen (Province of East Prussia)
-Regierungsbezirk Königsberg (Kreis Allenstein, Kreis Braunsberg, Kreis Prueßisch Eylau, Kreis Fischhausen, Kreis Friedland, Kreis Gerdauen, Kreis Heiligenbeil, Kreis Heilsberg, Kreis Prueßisch Holland, Kreis Königsberg, Stadtkreis Königsberg, Landkreise Labiau, Kreis Memel, Kreis Mohrungen, Kreis Neidenburg, Kreis Ortelsburg, Kreis Osterode, Kreis Rastenburg, Kreis Roessel, and Kreis Wehlau).
-Regierungsbezirk Gumbinnen (Kreis Angerburg, Kreis Darkehmen, Kreis Goldap, Kreis Gumbinnen, Kreis Heyderkrug, Kreis Insterburg, Kreis Johannisburg, Kreis Lötzen, Kreis Lyck, Kreis Neiederung, Kreis Oletzko, Kreis Pillkallen, Kreis Ragnit, Kreis Sensburg, Kreis Stallupönen, and Kreis Tilsit).
Großherzogtum Posen (Grand Duchy of Posen)
-Regierungsbezirk Posen (Stadtkreis Posen, Kreis Adelnau, Kreis Birnbaum, Kreis Bomst, Kreis Fraustadt, Kreis Gostyn, Kreis Grätz, Kreis Jarotschin, Kreis Kempen, Kreis Kosten, Kreis Krotoschin, Kreis Lissa, Kreis Meseritz, Kreis Neutomischel, Kreis Obornik, Kreis Ostrowo, Kreis Pleschen, Kreis Posen, Ost Kreis Posen, West Kreis Rawitsch, Kreis Samter, Kreis Schildberg, Kreis Schmiegel, Kreis Schrimm, Kreis Schroda, Kreis Schwerin, and Kreis Wreschen).
-Regierungsbezirk Bromberg (Stadtkreis Bromberg, Kreis Bromberg, Kreis Czarnikau, Kreis Filehne, Kreis Gnesen, Kreis Inowroclaw, Kreis Kolmar, Kreis Mogilno, Kreis Schubin, Kreis Strelno, Kreis Wirsitz, Kreis Witkowo, Kreis Wongrowitz, and Kreis Znin).
When describing place names in Prussian Poland, during the years of 1815-1824, I recommend using the format listed below:
Village, Kreis, Regierungsbezirk, Provinz, United Prussian States
Sumin, Kreis Prueßisch Stargard, Regierungsbezirk Danzig, Provinz Westpreußen, Die Vereinigten Preußischen Staaten
or
ex. Sumin, Prussian Stargard County, Department of Danzig, Province of West Prussia, United Prussian States
or
Village, Kreis, Provinz, United Prussian States
ex. Sumin, Kreis Stargard, Provinz Westpreußen, Die Vereinigten Preußischen Staaten
or
ex. Sumin, Stargard County, Province of West Prussia, United Prussian States
These administrative districts would last from 1815-1824, until the Prussian Government performed redistricting of their administrative divisions. Information regarding the administrative districts of a village, town, or city can be obtained through parish records,
Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs (Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire), written histories,
East and West Prussia Gazetteer,
GOV – the genealogical gazeteer,
JewishGen ShtetlSeeker – Town Search,
Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, or by various other means.
References:
Brandt, E. R. & Goertz, A. (2002). Genealogical guide to East and West Prussia. Minneapolis: E. R. Brandt
Clark, C. (2006). Iron kingdom: the rise and downfall of Prussia, 1600-1947. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Davies, N. (2005). God’s playground: a history of Poland in two volumes volume II 1795 to the present. New York: Columbia University Press.
Goertz, A. (2005). FAQ: Prussia. Mennonite genealogy. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from http://www.mennonitegenealogy.com/faq/faqpruss.htm
Magocsi, P. R. (2002). Historical atlas of Central Europe. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
Wikipedia. (2010). Congress of Vienna. Retrieved June 19, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_of_Vienna
If there are any errors in my findings, please contact me.
Best Regards,
Al
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