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Poland |
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| 966 |
Conversion
of Mieszko and the Poles to Christianity. Beginnings
of Statehood. |
| 1241 |
Tartar
invasion; destruction of the capital, Krakow.
|
| 1364 |
Founding
of the University
of Krakow. |
| 1386 |
Marriage
of Polish Queen Jadwiga and Lithuanian Grand Duke Jagiello;
conversion of the Lithuanians and union of the two nations,
beginnings of Jagiellonian dynasty and era of Poland's
greatness. |
| 1410 |
Victory
of Polish-Lithuanian-Russian army over the Teutonic
Knights of Grunwald (Tannenburg). |
| 1543 |
Copernicus
"On the Revolutions of Heavenly Bodies" published;
a high point in the country's cultural "golden
age." |
| 1772 |
First
partition of Poland by Russia, Prussia, and Austria. |
| 1791 |
Promulgation
on May 3rd of a republican constitution reforming the
country's government; the historic document guarantees
religious and political rights. |
| 1793 |
Second
partition by Russia and Prussia: Constitution annulled. |
| 1795 |
1795
Third partition by Russia, Prussia, and Austria; failure
of Kosciuszko uprising to save the country; Poland erased
from map. |
| 1830 |
"November
Uprising" against Russians crushed; Chopin and
the poet Adam Mickiewicz, among others, leave the country
in exile. |
| 1843 |
Uprisings
fail in Germany and Austrian zones. |
| 1863 |
Defeat
of the "January Uprising" against the Russians;
Joseph Conrad leaves the country; implementation of
severe policies of Russification and Germanization;
great peasant migrations to America begin. By 1914,
3.5 million people have left Poland. |
| 1918 |
Poland
regains her independence thanks to President Wood row
Wilson, Joseph Pilsudski, Ignacy Paderewski and others. |
| 1939 |
Nazi
Germany attacks Poland and World
War II begins. |
| 1944 |
Communist
party forces proclaim a government tightly allied to
the Soviet Union. |
| 1945 |
At
Yalta, in February, the Communists win Allied approval
to head the future Polish state. |
| 1956 |
Wladyslaw
Gomulka released from prison and named First Secretary
of the ruling Communist Party (PZPR). A period of political
relaxation ("Thaw") begins. Workers riot in
Poznan; coming to power of Wladyslaw Gomulka - promising
to end Stalinist policies. |
| 1970 |
Gomulka
is overthrown and replaced by Edward Gierek following
massive riots on the seacoast. |
| 1976 |
"Workers
Defense Committee" (KOR) created. |
| 1978 |
Polish
Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Krakow
is elected Pope. |
| 1979 |
Pope
John Paul II makes first visit to Poland. |
| 1979 |
Leonid
Brezhnev of Soviet Union demands that the First Secretary
Edward Gierek stops Popes visit. |
| 1980 |
Nationwide
strikes end Gierek's rule; rise of Solidarity. Solidarity
Trade Union formed by Lech Walesa in Gdansk, Poland. |
| 1981 |
Gen.
Wojciech Jaruzelski appointed Prime Minister of Poland. |
| 1981 |
Congress
of Solidarity establishes Trade Union. |
| 1981 |
Prime
Minister Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski proclaims Martial
Law in Poland. |
| 1982 |
Government
forces dissolution of Solidarity. Many Solidarity members
put in jail. |
| 1986 |
At
a meeting with Michael Gorbachev of Soviet Union, Wojciech
Jaruzelski suggests that Gorbachev to meet with Pope
John Paul II in the Vatican - the meeting takes place
on December 1, 1987. |
| 1987 |
Pope
John Paul II meets Prime Minister Gen. Jaruzelski in
the Vatican. |
| 1988 |
A
wave of Solidarity strikes. |
| 1988 |
Polish
Government legally recognizes Solidarity Trade Union. |
| 1989 |
Solidarity
meets with Polish Government at the Round Table Negotiations. |
| 1989 |
First
Free Presidential Elections in Poland begin. General
Assembly elects Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski President of
the Republic of Poland. Tadeusz Mazowiecki becomes first
non-communist Premier of the Polish postwar government. |
| 1990 |
Lech
Walesa elected as first President of free Poland.
|
| 1991 |
President
Lech Walesa meets with Pope John Paul II in the Vatican.
|
| 1995 |
Aleksander
Kwasniewski is elected President of Poland |
