Greater Poland (sometimes Great Poland; Polish: Wielkopolska, German: Grosspolen, Latin: Polonia Maior) is one of the historical regions of Poland. It is located in western-central Poland, encompassing much of the area drained by the Warta River) and its tributaries. There is also a region in south-eastern Poland, known as Lesser Poland.
Its principal cities are Poznan, Leszno, Kalisz and Gniezno. Most of the historical region (except some southwestern communities) is included the Greater Polandvoivodship (administrative province) created in 1999.
Wielkopolska was the core of the early medieval Polish state, often called the cradle of Poland, and at times was called just Poland (in Latin: Polonia). The name of Greater Poland is mentioned first in Latin form Polonia Maior in 1257, and in Polish form w Wielkej Polszcze in 1449.
