Beyond the borders of Poland and Lithuania, the existence of the once mighty Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth might be only known to some players ot Grand Strategy Games like Europa Universalis IV.

The Commonwealth was a federal state that emerged in 1569 as a result of the Union of Lublin, uniting the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

It was one of the largest and most populous states in Europe, almost twice the size of France. The Commonwealth was a multicultural and multilingual state, home to various ethnic groups including Poles, Lithuanians, Ukrainians and Belarusians, and was known for its religious tolerance, allowing Jews and Eastern Orthodox Christians to practice their faith freely.

The Polish-Lithuanian Federation had a unique political system ruled by a king but characterized by its strict checks upon monarchical power. The Commonwealth was a major power in the 16th and 17th centuries and played a key role in shaping the political landscape of the continent.

It was not until the late 18th century that the Commonwealth was weakened by a series of internal conflicts. Despite adopting one of the world’s most progressive constitutions in 1791, the state was unable to withstand the pressure of the growing great powers at its borders, leading to the eventual partition of its territory between Russia, Prussia and Austria.

Although now largely forgotten beyond the borders of Poland and Lithuania, the Commonwealth left a lasting legacy of ethnic diversity and religious tolerance that is still celebrated and cherished today.

Content of this Video:
00:00 Intro and Background
00:41 Sigismund II Augustus
00:57 Union of Lublin
01:27 Political System
01:55 King Henry Articles
02:31 Golden Age
03:00 Second Northern War
03:13 Military and Winged Hussars
03:44 Decline and Liberum Veto
04:34 Polish Partitions
04:54 Constitution of the 3rd of May 1791
05:27 Polish-Russian War 1792 and Dissolution

#polishhistory
#lithuanianhistory
#lithuania
#commonwealth
#europauniversalis4
#historiapolski
#lietuva

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