Gdynia - History

History

The area of the later city of Gdynia shared its history with Pomerelia (Eastern Pomerania); in prehistoric times it was the center of Oksywie culture; it was later populated by Slavs with some Baltic Prussian influences.

• Late 10th century: Pomerelia was united with Poland.
• During the reign of Mieszko II Pomerelia seceded from Poland and became independent.
• 1116/1121: Bolesław III reunited Pomerelia with Poland.
• 1209: First mention of Oxhöft (now known as Oksywie, which is now a part of Gdynia).
• 1227: Pomerelia again became an independent Duchy.
• 1253: First known mention of the name "Gdynia", as a Pomeranian (Kashubian) fishing village. The first church on this part of the Baltic Sea coast was built there.
• 1294: Pomerelia was inherited by the future Polish king Przemysł II., and remained as part of Poland until –
• 1309-1310; The Teutonic Order conquered Pomerelia and added it to Prussia.
• 1380: The owner of the village which became Gdynia, Peter from Rusocin, gave the village to the Cistercian Order.
• 1382: Gdynia became property of the Cistercian abbey in Oliva, now Oliwa.
• 1454; Thirteen Years' War started.
• 1466: Thirteen Years' War ended. Pomerelia became part of Royal Prussia, a newly established province of the Kingdom of Poland, and later on of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
• 1772: In the First Partition of Poland, Royal Prussia (including Gdynia) was annexed into the Kingdom of Prussia. Gdynia became known in German as Gdingen, and was expropriated from the Cistercian Order.
• 1789: There were only 21 houses in Gdynia.
• 1870:
  • The Kingdom of Prussia became part of the German Empire.
  • The village of Gdingen had some 1,200 inhabitants, and it was not a poor fishing village as it is sometimes described. It was a popular tourist spot with several guest houses, restaurants, cafes, several brick houses and a small harbour with a pier for small trading ships. The first Kashubian mayor of Gdingen was Jan Radtke.
• 1919: Treaty of Versailles and the start of the dismemberment of eastern Germany.
• 1920: Gdingen (now named Gdynia), along with other parts of former West Prussia, became a part of the new Republic of Poland; simultaneously, the city of Danzig and surrounding area was declared a free city and put under the League of Nations, though Poland was given economic liberties and requisitioned for matters of foreign representation.