Michelauer Land

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The Michałowo Land (Polish Ziemia michałowska, Latin Terra Michaloviensis, German Michelauer Land) was sometimes also considered part of Chełmno Land, yet is east of the river Drwęca. It is a historical region (ziemia) in central Poland, currently part of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship.

It was named after Castle Michałowo (it is currently part of the city of Brodnica), which was destroyed well before 1789. At the same place, in 1789, the Strasburgische Kämmereidorf Michelau was situated.

The land of Michałowo and Lubawa (Lobovia) were part of Prussian territory in direct vicinity of the Chełmno Land. Conquered in the 11th century a territory named Masovia developed as borderland between the Prussians and Masovians, who had made themselves independent of the Polish rulers. The small territories of Michalovia and Lobovia were bouncing back and force in between.

The rulers of Kujavia and Masovia had given lands to the monk and apostle of the Prussians, Christian of Oliva, He was declared first bishop of Prussia by the pope and he also bought additional territories. A Prussian chieftain had given bishop Christian his land Lobovia, by accepting christianisation at Rome.

In 1303 the Teutonic Order state received the territory of Michałowo as lien and in 1317 they bought it and received all rights from the Duke of Kujavia.

The area is mentioned in the Treaty of Lake Melno.