# Prussian Settlement Commission (1886)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1886-prussian-settlement-commission
Location: Poznań

The Prussian state created a commission to buy land from Poles and settle German farmers in Posen and West Prussia. Poles responded with cooperative banks and land societies. Within the broader Partitioned Poland period: Without a state, Poles preserved their nation through uprisings, emigration, Romantic literature, 'organic work' and modern political movements, while facing Russification and Germanisation. At this point in the timeline (1886), the governing authority was Alexander III (King of Poland (Tsar of Russia)). His reign brought the most intensive Russification of education and administration in Congress Poland. Prussian Settlement Commission mattered because it altered the structure of power and the direction of Polish statehood. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Prussian Settlement Commission mattered because it altered the structure of power and the direction of Polish statehood.

Ruler at the time: [Alexander III](https://poland-history.com/rulers/alexander-iii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Prussian Settlement Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussian_Settlement_Commission)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Prussian Settlement Commission](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Prussian+Settlement+Commission)
- [Wikipedia — History of Poland (1795–1918) (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_(1795%E2%80%931918))