Torun (German Thorn, Latin Thorunensis), city and one of two capitals (with Bydgoszcz?) of Kujawsko-Pomorskie? region in north-central Poland, on the Vistula River. Torun is the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus (1473) and his uncle, bishop of Warmia Lucas Watzenrode?. A university in Torun was founded in 1945.

History

During the 14th century, Thorn joined the Hanseatic League.

• 1440? Hanse cities Thorn, Elbing and Danzig formed the Prussian Confederation
• 1454 the cities of Prussia rose up against the Teutonic Knights: Thorn accepted the overlordship of the Polish crown in return for recognition of its city rights.
• 1466? Treaty of Thorn ends Thirteen Years War and uprisings of Prussian cities: the Teutonic Order cedes sovereignty over western Prussia to Poland.
• 1793 Thorn is annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia, the later nucleus (1871) of the German Empire.
• 1919 After World War I, Torun is annexed to Poland, becoming the capital of the province of Pomorze.
• 1939 After Germany's invasion of Poland, the city is again annexed to Germany as part of the Gau (administrative province) of Danzig-West Prussia, but is restored to Poland on Germany's defeat in 1945.

Population

• 1900 29635.
• 1990 est.: 200800.
• 1995 est.: 203800.

Name of city

• 1598 map of Prussia [[1]]
• Map of Prussia c.1630 [[2]]