The history of the Kashubian people is very complex. Their culture was exposed to various influences:

• Throughout the centuries, they were successively ruled by the Teutonic Knights, the Swedes, the Germans (the Brandenburgs) and the Prussians
• Merchants traveling to Gdansk from the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Germany brought the imprints of their way of life, and some people from these countries decided to settle in Kaszuby.
• In search of seasonal work, the Kashubians traveled to Saxony, Rheinland and Westphalia Their fishing voyages took them to various countries on the shores of the Baltic Sea

Slovians probably shaped the name 'Kashuby' during their migrations. First time it appeared in 1238 in pope Gregorian's IX document. Barnin, who was living in 1320-1368 called himself 'dux Cassucorum', which means 'the duke of Kashuby'.

At the end of the first century, in 997 in Kashubians' homeland - at Pomerania honoured saint Wojciech. The bishop of Prague spent Easter in Gdańsk and christened a lot of Kashubians, during his way to Prussians. Three years later in Kolobrzeg there was situated the first bishopric, which was including all Kashubians' land.

The region which was the most difficult to christen were lands at Odra. Here the Świętowit's, Threehead's and power of nature cults were expanded. A capital of that land was Szczecin, where ruled the Grifitan family, which name derives from the Griffin - their land's, coat's of arms and house's sign.

In XII century all West Pomeranian became under Germany rule. In 1181, duke Bogusław I paid homage to Emperor Frederic Redbeard. Thereby all formally connections with Poland were broken off for many centuries. Meanwhile before 1238 słupsko-sławieńskie duchy more than rule independent Gdańsk's dukes.

In 1258 the duke Warcislaw III - 'the duke of Kashubians' set out on the war against Swietopelk - 'the duke of Pomeranian'. In spite of repeated attempts at taking over the rule by Warcislaw III the king remained Swietopelk

The most famous of Griffins was Boguslaw X the Great, who united in 1478 all West Pomerania. He reformed his state, he guarded it before attacks of Brandenburgia and he was looking for friendly relations with Poland.

The Germany colonization and the settling at Germany law took place at East Pomerania too. Here the most aggressive were Knight's of the Cross-, who very quickly dominated local people. They brought technological progression, but they also oppressed Kashubians very much. They couldn't have held an office in towns and Kashubian language became the third language, after German and Latin. Kashubians were the second category people. Of course it discouraged them from being obedient. This oppression became bigger after dead of Przemysla II, who wanted to unite all lands of Poland. In 1308-1309 Knights were ruling at Kashuby and demoting local noble houses, which more and more was discouraging Kashubian from being obedient.

In 1454 the entire Kashubian territory was incorporated into Poland.

The reformation acted out very important role in Kashubians' life. Especially in western regions reformation's ideas came very quickly. Nobility accepted the ideas - especially willingly. In 1584 Szymon Krofej, a pastor from Bytow, wrote a book, which title is 'Duchoene piesnie Dra Marcina Luthra…' ('Spiritual songs for Martin Luter'). This book wasn't written in Kashubian language, but in Polish with a lot of Kashubian words. There wasn't native priest care, so Kashubian culture became poorer and there were a lot of wars. In that time Protestantism liberated in people desires to fight about their culture distinction.

Next wars, especially those with Swedes, left lasting and negative trace in Kashubians' awareness. It was different during war with Turkey. Then Kashubians went with the Polish king Jan III Sobieski to Wien, where they hit Turkish army (1683). Today Kashubians remember that event at festivals. That battle brought Kashuby nearer to the Poland.

When the Rzeczypospolita's power fall in XVIII, it made that Prussian princes controlled the Pomeriania, who were renting this land since dead of the last Griffin (1637). Finally, in 1648 Prussians shared Pomerania with Brandenburgia.

The Kashubians' language and culture died out because of spreading Protestantism and Prussian oppression, but Kashubians still were fighting about their distinction, which was worrying Prussian kings. They weren't sympathetic to Kashubians because they always helped each other and they got on with Jews. People said that one Jew can hoodwink ten Prussians, but one Kashubian - ten Jews.

Since 1848, when the awakening of nations began, small-numbered Kashubian intelligentsia started an open discussion on who the Kashubians actually are and whom they wish to become. At the course of XIX and XX century Kashubians lived on the territory of Germany (Prussia), but in the borderland of German and Polish ethnical group. They formed a typical borderland group that tried to protect their identity from the influence of Prussian policy of Germanization as well as from the disseminating in the predominant Polish national group.

Actually, Poles' situation at the time was the same - both Polish and Kashubian group were endangered by the German Kulturkampf pressure. For centuries the Kashubian territory was diminishing. Constantly influenced by Germans of Western Pomerania, the Kashubians were gradually losing their language and their customs. In the XVI century, when the last member of the indigenous Pomeranian dynasty of Gryfits died, the Kashubians were crowded out into the peasant stratum. The last Cashubian prince died in 1637 and the Gryfits' heritage came into possession German dynasties. The Kashubians lost their representation in the duchy of Kashubia and Pomerania.

In the beginning of XX century several thousands of Kashubians were living in Pomerania around Gdansk. Small, isolated groups lived also in Western Pomerania. It was the first time when their young village intelligentsia started to deal with problem of self-identity. For the first time the Kashubians were able to discuss if they can afford the independence, or should they connect themselves with other, stronger national groups. This Kashubian debate became more significant in the beginning of the World War I. That was crucial time - after 120 years - the new Polish state started to emerge from the ruins of the great empires: Russia, Prussia, Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy. Kashubians were pushed to decide whether they wish to join this new Polish state or Germany. Decision of the majority of them of associating the Kashubian future with Poland was based on the sense of shared ethnic, lingual and cultural background. They chose the Polish identity with observing their separate local character. During the interwar period Kashubians became an integral part on the cultural scene of Polish Pomerania. At the same time they formed Polish representation of the Free City of Gdansk, being the main reason of the Polish policy towards Gdansk. Kashubian farmers were delivering agricultural products to the city. Also the smack crews were recruited from the local, Kashubian fishermen. Actually, Kashubian was the main language one might have heard in Gdansk markets.

The German invaders made an effort to separate and set the Kashubians and Poles dispersed. During the World War II the Cashubians along with the Silesians were within the group subjected to the Volkslist. Introducing different categories of citizenships within the III Reich did not give any effect in setting the two related groups against each other. These happenings - the history of Kashubians in Gdansk before and during the II World War - became a topic of novel Blechtrommel by Günter Grass, the German novelist accepting his Kashubian origin.

Here we present some maps of Kashuby in centuries.

Kashuby between 880 and 925

Kashuby in 925

Kashuby in 1180

Kashuby in 1220

Kashuby in 1370

Kashuby in 1640

Kashuby in 1660

Kashuby in half of XIX century

Kashuby in 1900

Kashuby between WW I and WW II

Kashuby today

Kashuby and Kociewie today