Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: Map & History
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, also referred to as Poland–Lithuania or the First Polish Republic, was a federative real union between the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, existing from 1569 to 1795.
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The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, also referred to as Poland–Lithuania or the First Polish Republic, was a federative real union between the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, existing from 1569 to 1795. This state was among the largest, most populated countries of 16th- to 18th-century Europe. At its peak in the early 17th century, the Commonwealth spanned approximately 1,000,000 km2 (390,000 sq mi) and supported a multi-ethnic population of around 12 million as of 1618. The official languages of the Commonwealth were Polish and Latin, with Catholicism as the state religion.
Modern Countries Once Part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
At its mapped extent, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth covered territory in 8 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Belarus1572–1793 CE · nearly all
- Latvia1572–1705 CE · nearly all
- Lithuania1572–1793 CE · most
- Poland1572–1793 CE · a large part
- Estonia1588–1628 CE · a large part
- Ukraine1572–1793 CE · a large part
- Germany1700–1756 CE · a small part
- Russia1612–1658 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in Depth
History
The Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania underwent an alternating series of wars and alliances across the 13th and 14th centuries. The relations between the two states differed at times as each strove and competed for political, economic or military dominance of the region. In turn, Poland remained a staunch ally of its southern neighbour, Hungary. The last Polish monarch from the native Piast dynasty, Casimir the Great, died on 5 November 1370 without fathering a legitimate male heir. Consequently, the crown passed onto his Hungarian nephew, Louis of Anjou, who ruled the Kingdom of Hungary in a personal union with Poland. A fundamental step in developing extensive ties with Lithuania was a succession crisis arising in the 1380s.
Military
The military in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth evolved from the merger of the armies from the Polish Kingdom and from the Grand Lithuanian Duchy, though each state maintained its own division. The united armed forces comprised the Crown Army (armia koronna), recruited in Poland, and the Lithuanian Army (armia litewska) in the Grand Duchy. The military was headed by the Hetman, a rank equivalent to that of a general or supreme commander in other countries. Monarchs could not declare war or summon an army without the consent of the Sejm parliament or the Senate. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy never played a major role in the military structure from the mid-17th century onwards.
Economy
The economy of the Commonwealth was predominantly based on agricultural output and trade, though there was an abundance of artisan workshops and manufactories – notably paper mills, leather tanneries, ironworks, glassworks and brickyards. Some major cities were home to craftsmen, jewellers and clockmakers. The majority of industries and trades were concentrated in the Kingdom of Poland; the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was more rural and its economy was driven by farming and clothmaking. Mining developed in the south-west region of Poland which was rich in natural resources such as lead, coal, copper and salt. The currency used in Poland–Lithuania was the złoty (meaning "the golden") and its subunit, the grosz.
Culture
The Commonwealth was an important European center for the development of modern social and political ideas. It was famous for its rare quasi-democratic political system, praised by philosophers, and during the Counter-Reformation was known for near-unparalleled religious tolerance, with peacefully coexisting Roman Catholic, Jewish, Orthodox Christian, Protestant and Muslim (Sufi) communities. In the 18th century, the French Catholic Rulhiere wrote of 16th century Poland: "This country, which in our day we have seen divided on the pretext of religion, is the first state in Europe that exemplified tolerance.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: Key Facts
| Capitals | Kraków, Warsaw, Vilnius |
|---|---|
| Official language | Polish |
| Form of government | hereditary monarchy, elective monarchy |
| Currencies | Polish złoty, złoty |
| Founded | 11 June 1569 |
| Dissolved | 24 October 1795 |
Preceded by
- Kingdom of Poland
- Polish–Lithuanian union
Facts from Wikidata Q172107 (CC0).
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth appears, with the other states of the time.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 950,896 km² in 1615 CE.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth exist?
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth is dated to 1572 CE – 1793 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
What was the capital of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth?
The capital of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was ubli.
How large was Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at its peak?
At its peak in 1615 Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth covered about 950,896 km².
How did the map of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth change over time?
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1600 CE to 1700 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Other Sovereign Realms
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Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Industrial Era • Capital: London
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi