Elbląg (river)

The Elbląg (German: Elbing, Polish: Elbląg) is a 14.5-kilometre (9.0 mi) river in northwest Poland connecting Lake Drużno with the Vistula Lagoon. The city of Elbląg is situated on the river.

Elbląg
Location
CountryPoland
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationLake Drużno
Mouth 
 • location
Vistula Lagoon
 • coordinates

Tributaries include:

  • Fiszewka
  • Kumiela
  • Tina

The oldest known mention of the river in the form Ilfing comes from the report of sailor Wulfstan from the end of the 9th century. The report was included in The Voyages of Ohthere and Wulfstan which was written in Anglo-Saxon in King Alfred's reign.

Etymology

Latest research suggest Scandinavian origin of the name. According to Elbląg museum[1] the elusive Truso settlement was founded and inhabited mostly by Scandinavians. The recent research shows that the name Ilfing was Anglo-Saxon form of a Scandinavian name, which could be reconstructed as Old-Nordic Elfeng, Elfangr or Elfing from Old-Nordic elf-r - meaning "river", and Old-Nordic eng, enge, engi meaning "meadow".[2] The 16th century German pastor, historian and cartographer Caspar Henneberger, wrote in his book Erklärung der preußischen größeren Landtafeln oder Mappen ("explanation of the larger Prussian maps"):

"Anno 1237. Zog. Herman Balck Landmeister/mit den zwey Schiffen/so ihm der Marggraff Heinrich aus Meissen/hat machen lassen/auf ein Werder in Pogezanien/bey dem Haff gelegen/mit dem Fluss Elbing beflossen/darauff bawet er eine Burg/und hies sie nach dem Fluss Elbing/oder von Oelfang/Eelfang".[3]

The theory of the Old Germanic origin of the name Elbing river has been also strongly supported by prominent Polish linguist Jan Michał Rozwadowski.[4] Thus the meaning of the river's name would be "River flowing through boggy meadows".[5]

References
  1. Jagodziński M. F. Wikingowie i Truso, [w:] Pacifica Terra. Prusowie-Słowianie –Wikingowie u ujścia Wisły, red. J. Trupinda, Muzeum Zamkowe w Malborku, p. 55-63., 2004
  2. Uwagi na temat Truso i jego zaplecza w swietle źródeł (Truso and its hinterland in the light of sources),[w:] Elbląskie Studia Muzealne, nr 1, 2009, s. 33-72.
  3. C.Henneberger, "Erklärung der preußischen größeren Landtafeln oder Mappen", Koenigsberg 1595, p. 112.
  4. J. Rozwadowski, Studia nad nazwami wód słowiańskich, Kraków 1948, p. 173 - 174.
  5. R.Panfil, Uwagi na temat Truso i jego zaplecza w świetle źródeł, Elbląskie Studia Muzealne, t. 1, 2009, p. 43.
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