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Wielkopolskie Vojvodship (Poland)

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Wielkopolskie flag
Wielkopolskie voivodship coat of arms
Wielkopolskie: the name

Wielkopolskie voivodship flag

image by Pascal Gross, 6 Sept 2000, after photo from this site, reported by Jarig Bakker, 6 Sept 2000

According to Gaceta e banderas the flag of the region of Great Polonia (Wielkopolskie voivodship, capital: Poznań) can be found on the Internet; its flag is red and white vertical. In the red hoist part is a white eagle (a bit different from the national one and also from the little Polonia - Małopolskie eagle) armed and decorated gold. The white part in the fly is tailed in diagonal from upper fly direction to hoist.
Seems that until now only 2 of the 16 new regions have adopted flag, but several have already arms
Jaume Ollé, 3 Sep 2000

The flag and coat of arms of Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, designed by Jerzy Bąk, were established by Council of Voivodeship (Sejmik Województwa) 31 January 2000. Uncrowned white eagle on red field is traditional COA of Wielkopolska region. Eagle on flag and COA is patterned after sigillum of King Przemysł II from 1295. Przemysł II (1257-1296) was a member of Piast Dynasty and Duke of Wielkopolska since 1277. That was period of feudal partition of Poland. Przemysł II united under his rule Wielkopolska and East Pomerania in 1294. In 1295 he was crowned in Gniezno as King of Poland - first crowned ruler of Poland since more then two hundred years. Assassinated by Brandenburgans in 1296, Przemysł II remains a person symbolizing the state-building role of Wielkopolska region and the contribution of Wielkopolska into restoration the Kingdom of Poland. He was also the last ruler of Poland residing in Wielkopolska - after his death, the political centre of Poland moved to Cracow. Trapezial shape of flag is patterned after XVI Century banners of Polish lands.
Grzegorz Skrukwa, 16 Sept 2000

Wielkopolskie voivodship CoA

image by Adam Kromer, from this site.

Wielkopolskie: the name

Wielkopolska/Malopolska are best translated into Latin using the nomenclature Polonia Major/Polonia Minor. That gives you the best feel for it. However, there is a distinction between Wielkopolska and Wielkopolskie, as with some of the other regional names. The word Wielkopolskie is an adjective, with the word "Wojewodztwo" (voivodeship/province) implied. Indeed, Polish has quite a few cases of implied nouns, e.g. "Ide do sklepu" - (I) am going to the shop.
Anyway, the reason this is an issue is that there are probably some areas which have historically thought of themselves, and been accepted as part of Wielkopolska, but have not necessarily ended up in Wojewodztwo Wielkopolskie.
Robert Czernkowski, 8 Sep 2000