Teschen District

Teschen District (German: Politischer Bezirk Teschen, Czech: Politický okres Těšín, Polish: Powiat polityczny Cieszyn) was a political district (equivalent to okres in the Czech Republic and powiat in Poland) in Austrian Silesia of the Austrian Empire (and since 1867 of Austria-Hungary) existing between 1850–1855 and 1868–1920. Its administrative center was the city of Teschen (now Cieszyn, Poland and Český Těšín, Czech Republic).

History

Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire led to various social, legal and also administrative reforms. In the late December 1849 Austrian Silesia was re-established and was initially subdivided into seven political districts, including one with the seat in Teschen. Political districts were additionally divided into legal districts (German: Gerichtsbezirk). Teschen political district consisted at the beginning of three legal districts: Teschen, Freistadt (Czech: Fryštát, Polish: Frysztat) and Jablunkau (Czech: Jablunkov, Polish: Jabłonków).[1] In the era of Bach's neo-absolutism political districts were abolished and replaced by district offices (German: Bezirksamt) encompassing territories of the abolished legal districts. Political districts were re-established in 1868. Teschen political district was reshaped to include legal district of Friedek (before 1855 a separate political district) whereas Freistadt legal district was excluded to form the new Freistadt political district.[1]

In 1880 Teschen political district was administratively divided into 101 municipalities (49 in Teschen legal district, 32 in Friedek, 20 in Jablunkau).[2] Until 1890 this number grew to 102 (Žermanice were separated from Horní Bludovice) and on 1 January 1890 to 103 (separation of Lomná into Dolní Lomná and Horní Lomná). On 1 October 1901 Friedek legal district (with 33 municipalities) was excluded to form the re-established Friedek political district.[3] After this Teschen political district had an area of 730 km², 70 municipalities (49 in Teschen legal district and 21 in Jablunkau).[4]

According to the censuses conducted in 1880, 1890, 1900 and 1910 the population Teschen and Jablunkov legal districts were as follows:[5]

1880 1890 1900 1910
Teschen legal district 51,099 54,663 62,044 71,809
Polish-speaking 34,551 (69.1%) 39,258 (73.6%) 42,380 (70,2%) 47,982 (68,3%)
Czech-speaking 7,536 (15.1%) 4,912 (9,2%) 5,320 (8,8%) 6,033 (8,6%)
German-speaking 7,869 (15,8%) 9,150 (17.2%) 12,583 (20,9%) 16,133 (23%)
Jablunkau legal district 24,413 26,738 28,987 30,743
Polish-speaking 24,371 (97,5%) 25,607 (97.4%) 27,614 (97%) 26,165 (96,4%)
Czech-speaking 93 (0,4%) 63 (0.2%) 86 (0.3%) 171 (0,6%)
German-speaking 538 (2,1%) 622 (2,4%) 773 (2,7%) 912 (3%)

Traditionally the territory of those two legal districts was inhabited by Cieszyn Vlachs in the north and Silesian Gorals in the south, speaking Cieszyn Silesian and Jablunkov dialects. The results of those censuses and factors shaping national identity of the local population became a perennial subject of the political squabbles in the region.[6] Additionally in terms of religion in 1910 the population with permament residence consisted of Roman Catholics (56,924 or 55.5%), Protestants (42,738 or 41.7%), Jews (2,689 or 2,6%) and 201 others.[7]

After World War I and fall of Austria-Hungary the region of Cieszyn Silesia including the territory of Teschen political district became disputed land between Czechoslovakia and Poland. This led to Polish–Czechoslovak War and the division of the region and district on 28 July 1920, by a decision of the Spa Conference. The part of Teschen district that was found within Czechoslovakia was superseded by Český Těšín District whereas the other part found in Poland was replaced by Cieszyn County, that was enlarged by municipalities of Freistadt and Bielitz districts.

Municipal division

As of 1910:[4]

Jablunkau legal district (Gerichtsbezirk Jablunkau)
  1. Bistrzitz
  2. Boconowitz
  3. Bukowetz
  4. Grudek
  5. Istebna
  6. Jablunkau (town)
  7. Jaworzinka
  8. Karpentna
  9. Koniakau
  10. Koszarzisk
  11. Lischbitz
  12. Unter Lomna
  13. Ober Lomna
  14. Millikau
  15. Mosty
  16. Nawsi
  17. Niedek
  18. Oldrzychowitz
  19. Piosek
  20. Tyra
  21. Wendrin
Teschen legal district (Gerichtsbezirk Teschen]]
  1. Bażanowitz
  2. Nieder Bludowitz
  3. Bobrek
  4. Brzezuwka
  5. Nieder Dattin
  6. Dobratitz
  7. Nieder Domaslowitz
  8. Ober Domaslowitz
  9. Dzingelau
  10. Kameral Ellgoth
  11. Grodischcz
  12. Gumna
  13. Gutty
  14. Haslach
  15. Hnojnik
  16. Kojkowitz
  17. Konskau
  18. Kotzobendz
  19. Krasna
  20. Nieder Lischna
  21. Ober Lischna
  22. Mistrzowitz
  23. Mönichhof
  24. Mosty
  25. Niebory
  26. Ogrodzon
  27. Pastwisk
  28. Pogwisdau
  29. Punzau
  30. Roppitz
  31. Rzeka
  32. Schibitz
  33. Schöbischowitz
  34. Schumbarg
  35. Smilowitz
  36. Stanislowitz
  37. Teschen (town)
  38. Nieder Tieritzko
  39. Ober Tierlitzko
  40. Nieder Toschonowitz
  41. Ober Toschonowitz
  42. Trzanowitz
  43. Trzynietz
  44. Trzytiesch
  45. Wielopoli
  46. Zamarsk
  47. Nieder Zukau
  48. Ober Zukau
  49. Zywotitz

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Janusz Gruchała, Krzysztof Nowak (2013). Śląsk Cieszyński od Wiosny Ludów do I wojny światowej (1848–1918). Cieszyn: Starostwo Powiatowe w Cieszynie. pp. 12–13. ISBN 978-83-935147-3-1.
  2. ↑ Piątkowski, Kazimierz (1918). Stosunki narodowościowe w Księstwie Cieszyńskiem (in Polish). Cieszyn: Macierz Szkolna Księstwa Cieszyńskiego. p. 4.
  3. ↑ Piątkowski, Kazimierz (1918). Stosunki narodowościowe w Księstwie Cieszyńskiem (in Polish). Cieszyn: Macierz Szkolna Księstwa Cieszyńskiego. p. 5.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ludwig Patryn (ed) (1912). Die Ergebnisse der Volkszählung vom 31. Dezember 1910 in Schlesien (in German). Troppau.
  5. ↑ Piątkowski, Kazimierz (1918). Stosunki narodowościowe w Księstwie Cieszyńskiem (in Polish). Cieszyn: Macierz Szkolna Księstwa Cieszyńskiego. pp. 12, 72–75.
  6. ↑ Janusz Gruchała, Krzysztof Nowak (2013). Śląsk Cieszyński od Wiosny Ludów do I wojny światowej (1848–1918). Cieszyn: Starostwo Powiatowe w Cieszynie. p. 20. ISBN 978-83-935147-3-1.
  7. ↑ Piątkowski, Kazimierz (1918). Stosunki narodowościowe w Księstwie Cieszyńskiem (in Polish). Cieszyn: Macierz Szkolna Księstwa Cieszyńskiego. p. 57.