Countries that no Longer Exist - The History of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

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