Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

The **Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth**, formally known as the **Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania** and, after 1791, the **Commonwealth of Poland**, was a state of Poland and Lithuania that was ruled by a common monarch. The Commonwealth was an extension of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, a personal union between those two states that had existed from 1386. It was one of the largest countries in Europe in the 16th and the 17th centuries and had one of the largest populations. The Commonwealth covered more than the present lands of Poland and Lithuania since it also had all of present-day Belarus, a large part of present-day Ukraine and Latvia, and the western part of present-day Russia.

The Commonwealth had high levels of ethnic diversity and religious tolerance. However, the amount of religious freedom varied over time.

After several decades of prosperity, it entered a period of political, military and economic decline. The Commonwealth ended with the final partition of Poland in 1795. Its growing weakness had led to it being invaded and divided by its more powerful neighbours: Austria, Prussia and Russia.

## Some information

- In Poland, the official languages were Polish and Latin. In Lithuania, the official languages were Old Belarusian, Latin, and Lithuanian.
- The Commonwealth was one of largest countries of its time. It had a large population and at one time covered about 400,000 square miles. Its population was around 11 million. People of different ethnicities lived in the Commonwealth.
- For about 200 years, the Commonwealth fought wars with other powers of Europe of that time: Muscovy Russians, the Ottoman Empire, and the Swedish Empire.
- The Commonwealth developed a system of laws and legislature that reduced the power of the monarch. Some concepts of democracy also developed in the Commonwealth like constitutional monarchy.
- In theory, the two countries of the Commonwealth were equal, but Poland had a leading role.
- The Commonwealth had a major influence of the Catholic Church. However, the government allowed  people to practice different religions and so there were many religions in the Commonwealth.
- The Commonwealth also produced a national constitution, which was the first in Europe.
- Agriculture was the main economic activity in the Commonwealth.

## References

**Notes**

## Infobox (former country)

- **conventional long name**: Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
- **status**: State union
- **p1**: Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)Kingdom of Poland
- **flag p1**: Flag of the Kingdom of Poland.svg
- **p2**: Grand Duchy of Lithuania
- **flag p2**: Royal banner of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.svg
- **s1**: Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria
- **flag s1**: Flag of Galicia and Lodomeria (1849-1890).svg
- **s2**: Russian Empire
- **flag s2**: Flag of Russia.svg
- **s3**: Kingdom of Prussia
- **flag s3**: Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1750-1801).svg
- **era**: Early modern period
- **year start**: 1569
- **date start**: 1 July
- **event start**: Union of Lublin, Union established
- **year end**: 1795
- **date end**: 24 October
- **event end**: Third Partition of Poland, 3rd Partition
- **event2**: First Partition of Poland, 1st Partition
- **date event2**: 5 August 1772
- **event3**: Constitution of 3 May 1791, 3 May Constitution
- **date event3**: 3 May 1791
- **event4**: Second Partition of Poland, 2nd Partition
- **date event4**: 23 January 1793
- **native name**: Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów (Polish language, Polish)

Res Publica Utriusque Nationis (Latin language, Latin)
- **image flag**: Chorągiew królewska króla Zygmunta III Wazy.svg
- **flag type**: Banner of Poland, Royal Banner ()
- **flag border**: no
- **image coat**: Herb Rzeczypospolitej Obojga Narodow.svg
- **symbol type article**: Coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
- **symbol type**: Royal Coat of arms
- **image map**: Rzeczpospolita 1619 - 1621.png
- **image map caption**: The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (green) with vassal states (light green) at their peak in 1619
- **legislature**: General Sejm, General _sejm_
- **house1**: Senate of Poland#History, Senate
- **type house1**: Privy council
- **title leader**: List of Polish monarchs, King / List of rulers of Lithuania, Grand Duke
- **leader1**: Sigismund II Augustus <small>(first)</small>
- **year leader1**: 1569–1572
- **leader2**: Stanisław August Poniatowski <small>(last)</small>
- **year leader2**: 1764–1795
- **religion**: **Official:**
Catholic Church, Roman Catholicism
- **capital**: * Kraków (1569–1793)
* Warsaw (1793–1795)

* Kraków (1569–1596)
* Warsaw (1596–1795)
- **stat area2**: 815000
- **stat pop2**: ~8,000,000
- **stat year2**: 1582
- **stat area3**: 1000000
- **stat pop3**: ~12,000,000
- **stat year3**: 1618
- **national anthem**: Gaude Mater Polonia
"Rejoice, oh Mother Poland"

- **common languages**: **Official:**
Polish language, Polish and Latin