Following three consecutive partitions of Poland carried out between 1772 and 1795, the sovereign state known as the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth disappeared from the map of Europe. In 1918 following the end of World War I, the territories of the former state re-emerged as the states of Poland and Lithuania among others. In the intervening period, the territory of the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was split between the Austrian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia and the Russian Empire. These powers subdivided the territories that they gained and created new toponyms for the territories conquered. The subdivisions created were complicated by changes within those empires as well as by the periodic establishment of other forms of the quasi-Polish provinces led by a foreign head of state.
The below subdivisions do not cover the administrative divisions of the French vassal state created by Napoleon - the Duchy of Warsaw. See subdivisions of the Duchy of Warsaw (1807–1815). For the administrative division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before its final third partition, see subdivisions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. For the subdivisions of the lands awarded to the Russian Empire, see subdivisions of Congress Poland (1815–1918) and History of the administrative division of Russia. For subdivisions of the lands awarded to the Kingdom of Prussia, see Provinces of Prussia.
Austrian Partition
The Austrian Empire, known from the second half of the 19th century as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, annexed territories of the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the First Partition (1772) and the Third Partition (1795). The territories obtained were subdivided into: Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. These lands were held from 1772 to 1918. West Galicia (also known as New Galicia). These lands were held from 1795 to 1809. Free City of Cracow. Administered as a protectorate by the three powers from 1815 to 1846. Annexed by the Austrian Empire in 1846 as the Grand Duchy of Cracow. While nominally independent within the crown lands, it was de facto administered as part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria until 1918.
In the First Partition, the Austrian Empire received the largest share of the Polish population, and second largest land share (83,000 km2 and over 2.65 million people). Austria did not participate in the Second partition. In the Third Partition, Austria annexed 47,000 km2 of territories with 1.2 million people. Overall, Austria gained about 18 percent of the former Commonwealth's territory (130,000 km2) and about 32 percent of its population (3.85 million people). From the geographical perspective, much of the Austrian partition corresponded to the Galicia region.
Prussian Partition
The Kingdom of Prussia (known from second half of the 19th century as German Empire) annexed territories of the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in all three partitions. The territories obtained were subdivided into the following. Netze District - from 1772 to 1793 New Silesia - from 1795 to 1807 New East Prussia - from 1795 to 1807 South Prussia - from 1793 to 1806 East Prussia - from 1773 to 1829 West Prussia - from 1773 to 1824.
In the First Partition, Prussia has received 36,000 km2 and about 0.6 million people. In the second partition, Prussia had received 58,000 km2 and about 1 million people. In the third, similar to the second, Prussia gained 55,000 km2 and 1 million people. Overall, Prussia had gained about 20 percent of the former Commonwealth territory (149 000 km2) and about 23 percent of the population (2.6 million people). From the geographical perspective, much of the territories annexed by Prussia formed the province of Greater Poland (Wielkopolska).
Russian Partition
The Russian Empire which acquired the territories of the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia in all three Partitions, divided the former territories of the Commonwealth by either creating or enlarging the following guberniyas. Belarus Governorate (1802) Bratslav Governorate Chernigov Governorate Kiev Governorate (1708) Lithuania Governorate (1795), later split into Lithuania-Grodno Governorate and Lithuania-Vilna Governorate, the last one later split into Vilna and Kovno Governorates Minsk Governorate (1793) Mogilev Governorate (1772) Podolia Governorate (1773) Polotsk Governorate Pskov Governorate Slonim Governorate (1795) (several months after creation connected to Lithuania Governorate in and split off from it in 1801 as Lithuania-Grodno Governorate) Volhynia Governorate (1793)