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Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth facts for kids

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Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów
1569–1795
Flag of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Royal Banner
Royal Coat of arms of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Royal Coat of arms
Motto: Latin: Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos (If God is with us, then who is against us)
Pro Fide, Lege et Rege
(Latin: For Faith, Law and King, since 18th century)
The location of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The location of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Capital Commonwealth and Crown of the Polish Kingdom: Kraków, Warsaw ca. 1600; Grand Duchy of Lithuania: Vilnius
Common languages
Religion
Government Monarchy
King & Grand Duke  
• 1569–1572
Sigismund II Augustus
• 1764–1795
Stanisław II Augustus
Legislature Sejm
• Privy Council
Senate
History  
July 1 1569
• fief of the Ottoman Empire
1672-1676
1768
• 1st Partition
August 5, 1772
• May 3rd Constitution
May 3, 1791
January 23, 1793
• 3rd Partition
October 24 1795
Area
1582 815,000 km2 (315,000 sq mi)
1618 1,153,465 km2 (445,355 sq mi)
Population
• 1582
6500000
• 1618
10500000
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Coat of arms Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)
Coat of arms Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Kingdom of Prussia
Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria
Russian Empire
Today part of  Belarus
 Estonia
 Latvia
 Lithuania
 Moldova
 Poland
 Russia
 Slovakia
 Ukraine

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a huge country in Europe. It existed from 1569 to 1795. It was formed when the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania joined together. They had been connected since 1386.

This Commonwealth was one of the biggest and most populated countries in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. Its lands covered much more than just modern-day Poland and Lithuania. It also included parts of what is now Belarus, Ukraine, Latvia, and western Russia.

The Commonwealth was known for having many different groups of people. It also allowed a lot of religious freedom. This freedom changed a bit over time.

After a time of being strong and successful, the Commonwealth started to get weaker. It faced problems with its government, army, and economy. In the end, it was divided up by its powerful neighbors: Austria, Prussia, and the Russian Empire. This happened in stages, with the final division in 1795.

What Was the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth?

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a special kind of country. It was a union of two separate states, Poland and Lithuania. They shared one ruler, who was both the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania. This union was created by the Union of Lublin treaty in 1569.

A Giant Country

The Commonwealth was truly massive for its time. It covered about 400,000 square miles (about 1,036,000 square kilometers). At its peak, around 11 million people lived there. These people came from many different backgrounds and spoke various languages.

For about 200 years, the Commonwealth was a strong power. It fought many wars against other big European powers. These included the Russians from Muscovy, the Ottoman Empire, and the Swedes.

A Special Government

The Commonwealth had a unique system of government. It developed laws and a parliament called the Sejm. This system worked to limit the power of the king. It was an early example of a constitutional monarchy, where the ruler's power is limited by a constitution.

Even though Poland and Lithuania were supposed to be equal partners, Poland usually had a stronger role. The Commonwealth also created the first national constitution in Europe in 1791. This was a very important step for its time.

Languages and Religions

Many languages were spoken in the Commonwealth. In Poland, the main languages were Polish and Latin. In Lithuania, people spoke Old Belarusian, Latin, and Lithuanian. Other languages like German, Hebrew, and Yiddish were also common.

The Catholic Church had a strong influence in the Commonwealth. However, the government allowed people of many different religions to practice their faith. This meant that people who were Catholic, Greek Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim lived side-by-side. The Warsaw Confederation of 1573 was an important act that guaranteed religious freedom.

Daily Life and Economy

Most people in the Commonwealth worked in farming. This was the main way people earned a living. The country was known for exporting grains.

Why Did It End?

After a long period of success, the Commonwealth began to decline. It faced many challenges, including wars and internal political problems. Its neighbors, the Russian Empire, Prussia, and Austria, grew stronger.

These powerful neighbors started to take parts of the Commonwealth's land. This process is known as the Partitions of Poland. The first partition happened in 1772. The second in 1793, and the third and final one in 1795. After the third partition, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth ceased to exist as an independent country.


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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: República de las Dos Naciones para niños

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