Sulecin
Encyclopedia
Sulęcin s is a town in western Poland
with 10638 inhabitants (2008), the capital of Sulecin County
, since 1999 in Lubusz Voivodeship
.
, by the river Postomia, tributary of the Warta River
. The surrounding landscape is formed by many hillocks on the plateau of Lubusz. The highest of them is the Bukowiec (227 m). The closest big city is Gorzów Wielkopolski
(45 km). Over 50% of the area of the Sulecin Commune is occupied by forests.
, the town with 10 surrounding villages was handed over by Henry I the Bearded
to Mroczko from Pogorzela, who in 1244 gave it to the Knights Templar
. In 1249 Sulęcin became a part of March of Brandenburg
. In 1269 Otto, the Margrave of Brandenburg ordered to build a castle in the town. After disbanding of the Knihts Templar Order by Pope Clement V
in 1312 Sulęcin was ruled by the Knights Hospitaller
. They leased the city in 1318 to the Brandenburg Margrave Woldemar. Eight years later the city was reclaimed by the Knights Hospitaller Order and stayed under their supremacy until 1810.
In 1419 Sulęcin suffered a severe damage, as the Hussite Wars
reached the city. In 1733 Frederick William I
, King of Prussia visited the town. As a result of the new Prussian district division of 1818 a new district Landkreis Sternberg was established. Sulęcin was the capital of it until 1852. In 1873 Sternberg was divided into Landkreis Oststernberg with Sulęcin as a capital and Landkreis Weststernberg. At that time the city's industry was based on textile production and mills. In the middle of 19th century number of inhabitants reached 4500. After the discovery of lignite in the vicinity of the city a briquette factory was set up in Sulęcin. This led to the development of infrastructure and resulted in an increase of the population to 5769 inhabitants in 1885. After the World War I
a number of companies involved in timber processing set up in the town. The number of residents in 1939 according to the last German census was 5867.
On 2 May 1945 Sulęcin was taken by the Red Army
. Although there was no resistance, the houses in the city center were plundured by the soldiers and set on fire. As a result around 50% of Sulęcin was completely destroyed. After the World War II
Sulęcin became a part of Poland. In years 1945 - 1975 it was a capital of a county
.
with:
Beeskow
, Kamen
, Friedland
, Nowy Tomyśl
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...
with 10638 inhabitants (2008), the capital of Sulecin County
Sulecin County
Sulęcin County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lubusz Voivodeship, 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 Sulęcin, which lies south of...
, since 1999 in Lubusz Voivodeship
Lubusz Voivodeship
- Administrative division :Lubusz Voivodeship is divided into 14 counties : 2 city counties and 12 land counties. These are further divided into 83 gminas....
.
Geography
Sulęcin is located in the centre of Lubusz VoivodeshipLubusz Voivodeship
- Administrative division :Lubusz Voivodeship is divided into 14 counties : 2 city counties and 12 land counties. These are further divided into 83 gminas....
, by the river Postomia, tributary of the Warta River
Warta River
The Warta is a river in western-central Poland, a tributary of the Oder river. With a length of approximately it is the country's third longest river. The Warta has a basin area of 54,529 square kilometers...
. The surrounding landscape is formed by many hillocks on the plateau of Lubusz. The highest of them is the Bukowiec (227 m). The closest big city is Gorzów Wielkopolski
Gorzów Wielkopolski
Gorzów Wielkopolski is a city in western Poland, on the Warta river. It is the biggest city in the Lubusz Voivodeship with 125,149 inhabitants...
(45 km). Over 50% of the area of the Sulecin Commune is occupied by forests.
History
Excavations have shown that the area around Sulęcin was inhabited already in the 2nd century BC. The city developed from a Slavonian settlement and was mentioned for the first time in documents in 1241. Until 12th century under dominion of he Silesian line of the Piast dynastyPiast dynasty
The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. It began with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej . The first historical ruler was Duke Mieszko I . The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great...
, the town with 10 surrounding villages was handed over by Henry I the Bearded
Henry I the Bearded
Henry I the Bearded , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty, was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław from 1201 and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland - internally divided - from 1232 until his death.-Heir of Wroclaw:...
to Mroczko from Pogorzela, who in 1244 gave it to the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
. In 1249 Sulęcin became a part of March of Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
. In 1269 Otto, the Margrave of Brandenburg ordered to build a castle in the town. After disbanding of the Knihts Templar Order by Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V, born Raymond Bertrand de Got was Pope from 1305 to his death...
in 1312 Sulęcin was ruled by the Knights Hospitaller
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
. They leased the city in 1318 to the Brandenburg Margrave Woldemar. Eight years later the city was reclaimed by the Knights Hospitaller Order and stayed under their supremacy until 1810.
In 1419 Sulęcin suffered a severe damage, as the Hussite Wars
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars involved the military actions against and amongst the followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia in the period 1419 to circa 1434. The Hussite Wars were notable for the extensive use of early hand-held gunpowder weapons such as hand cannons...
reached the city. In 1733 Frederick William I
Frederick William I of Prussia
Frederick William I of the House of Hohenzollern, was the King in Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg from 1713 until his death...
, King of Prussia visited the town. As a result of the new Prussian district division of 1818 a new district Landkreis Sternberg was established. Sulęcin was the capital of it until 1852. In 1873 Sternberg was divided into Landkreis Oststernberg with Sulęcin as a capital and Landkreis Weststernberg. At that time the city's industry was based on textile production and mills. In the middle of 19th century number of inhabitants reached 4500. After the discovery of lignite in the vicinity of the city a briquette factory was set up in Sulęcin. This led to the development of infrastructure and resulted in an increase of the population to 5769 inhabitants in 1885. After the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
a number of companies involved in timber processing set up in the town. The number of residents in 1939 according to the last German census was 5867.
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...
. Although there was no resistance, the houses in the city center were plundured by the soldiers and set on fire. As a result around 50% of Sulęcin was completely destroyed. After the 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...
Sulęcin became a part of Poland. In years 1945 - 1975 it was a capital of a county
Powiat
A powiat is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture in other countries. The term powiat is most often translated into English as "county", although other terms are also sometimes used...
.
Education
- Szkoła Podstawowa im. Polskich Olimpijczyków - Primary School Homepage
- Gimnazjum im. Jana Pawła II - Secondary School Homepage
- I Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Adama Mickiewicza - High School Homepage
- Zespół szkół licealnych i zawodowych - High School Homepage
Monuments
- St Nikolaus gothic church built by Knights Templar, rebuilt after war damage of 1945
- Old town houses from 18th and 19th century
- Defensive walls with remains of gates and a tower
Notable residents
- Ernst KrauseErnst KrauseDr Ernst Krause also known under the pen-name Carus Sterne was a German biologist.-External links:* at www.eiszeitstrasse.de...
(1839-1903) German biologist - Ulli LommelUlli LommelUlli Lommel , is a German actor and director, noted for his many horror films, and for his career as an actor on Rainer Werner Fassbinder's films.-Career:...
(born 1944), German actor - Siegfried SchnellSiegfried SchnellMajor Siegfried Schnell was German World War II Luftwaffe 93 victories Flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
(1916-1944), LuftwaffeLuftwaffeLuftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
officer
Twin towns — Sister cities
Sulęcin is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
Beeskow
Beeskow
Beeskow is a town in Brandenburg, Germany, and capital of the Oder-Spree district. It is situated on the river Spree, 30 km southwest of Frankfurt an der Oder....
, Kamen
Kamen
Kamen is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, in the district Unna.-Geography:Kamen is situated at the east end of the Ruhr area, approx...
, Friedland
Friedland, Lower Saxony
Friedland is a municipality in the district of Göttingen, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Leine, approx. 13 km south of Göttingen. Its seat is in the village Groß Schneen.-References:...
, Nowy Tomyśl
Nowy Tomysl
Nowy Tomyśl is a town in western Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship. It is the capital of Nowy Tomyśl County. The population is 15,627 ....