Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Republic of the Two Nations, or Republic of Both Nations (Polish: Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów, Lithuanian: ?e?pospolita or Abiej? taut? respublika, Belarusian: ??? ?????????? or ??? ?????????? ??????? ???????, Latin: Regnum Serenissima Poloniae) was a federal monarchy?republic formed by the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1569, lasting until 1795.

History

The creation of the Commonwealth by the Union of Lublin in 1569 was one of the signal achievements of Sigismund II Augustus, last king of the Jagiellon dynasty. His death in 1572 was followed by a three-year interregnum during which adjustments were made to the constitutional system that effectively increased the power of the nobility (the szlachta) and established a truly elective monarchy.

Related Topics:
Union of Lublin - Sigismund II Augustus - Jagiellon dynasty - 1572 - Interregnum - Nobility - Szlachta - Elective monarchy

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The Commonwealth reached its Golden Age in the first half of the 17th century. Its powerful parliament (the Sejm) was dominated by nobles who were reluctant to wage offensive wars, thus sparing the country the ravages of the Thirty Years' War. The Commonwealth was mostly victorious against numerous incursions by Sweden, Russia, and vassals of the Ottoman Empire, and even managed for a time to take Moscow during the Russian Time of Troubles. From 27 September 1610 to 4 November 1612 Moscow belonged to the Commonwealth.

Related Topics:
Golden Age - 17th century - Parliament - Sejm - Thirty Years' War - Sweden - Russia - Ottoman Empire - Moscow - Time of Troubles - 27 September - 1610 - 4 November - 1612

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Commonwealth power waned after the double blow of 1648: history's greatest Cossack rebellion (the Chmielnicki Uprising, supported by Crimean Khanate Tatars, in the eastern territories of Kresy), which resulted in Cossacks falling under the Muscovy sphere of influence in 1652, and the Swedish invasion in 1655 (supported by troops of Transylvanian duke George II Rakoczy and Friedrich Wilhelm I, Elector of Brandenburg), known as the Deluge, provoked by the policies of Commonwealth kings from the Swedish royal House of Vasa.

Related Topics:
1648 - Cossack - Rebellion - Chmielnicki Uprising - Crimean Khanate - Kresy - Transylvania - Rakoczy - Friedrich Wilhelm I - Elector - Brandenburg - The Deluge - House of Vasa

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In the late 17th century, the weakened Commonwealth under King Jan III Sobieski was still strong enough to deal crushing defeats to the Ottoman Empire: in 1683, the Battle of Vienna marked the final turning point in a 250-year struggle between the forces of Christian Europe and the Islamic Ottoman Empire. Over the next 16 years (in the "

Related Topics:
Jan III Sobieski - 1683 - Battle of Vienna - Christian - Europe - Islam - Great Turkish War" - Danube River - Central Europe

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By the 18th century, the Commonwealth was facing many internal problems and was vulnerable to foreign influences. This destabilized its political system almost to the brink of anarchy. Attempts at reform, such as those made by the Four-Year Sejm of 1788?1792, which culminated in the May 3rd Constitution of 1791, came too late, and the country was partitioned in three stages by the neighboring Russian Empire, Kingdom of Prussia, and Austrian Empire. By 1795 the Polish?Lithuanian Commonwealth had been completely erased from the map of Europe. Poland and Lithuania re-established their independence, as separate countries, only in 1918.

Related Topics:
18th century - Anarchy - Four-Year Sejm - 1788 - 1792 - May 3rd Constitution - 1791 - Partitioned in three stages - Russian Empire - Kingdom of Prussia - Austrian Empire - 1795 - Lithuania - 1918

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How the Commonwealth disappeared from the map of Europe:

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Image:Rzeczpospolita 1600.png|The Commonwealth at its greatest extent (ca. 1630)

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Image:Rzeczpospolita.png|Losses in the effect of the Deluge (1648)

Related Topics:
The Deluge - 1648

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Image:Rzeczpospolita Rozbiory 1.png|The First Partition (1772)

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Image:Rzeczpospolita Rozbiory 2.png|The Second Partition (1793)

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Image:Rzeczpospolita Rozbiory 3.png|The Third Partition (1795). Poland disappears for 123 years (or for 12 years ? to Duchy of Warsaw).

Related Topics:
1795 - Duchy of Warsaw

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