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Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1569–1795)

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Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Królestwo Polskie i Wielkie Księstwo Litewskie
Lenkijos Karalystė ir Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė
1569–1795
Flag of Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Royal banner
Coat of arms of Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Coat of arms
Poland–Lithuania in 1620 with vassal states in light green
Poland–Lithuania in 1620 with vassal states in light green
CapitalKraków (de jure)
Warsaw (de facto)
Dominant mode of productionFeudalism
GovernmentElective monarchy
Area
• Total
1,000,000 km²(1618)
Population
• 1582 estimate
8,000,000


The Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania, commonly known as the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, was a large confederation in Eastern Europe that existed from 1569 to 1795. The peasants suffered under feudal exploitation while the aristocracy enjoyed an elected Diet.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Partition[edit | edit source]

In 1795, Catherine Romanov defeated Poland and annexed Lithuania and southern Latvia.[2]

Government[edit | edit source]

Unlike hereditary monarchies, a council of nobles elected the king of Poland. Serfs had no power in these elections.[3]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Domenico Losurdo (2011). Liberalism: A Counter-History: 'Were Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century England and America Liberal?' (p. 125). [PDF] Verso. ISBN 9781844676934 [LG]
  2. W. P., Zelda K. Coates (1940). Russia, Finland and the Baltic: 'Russia, Finland and the Baltic States' (p. 15). [PDF] London, England: Lawrence & Wishart Ltd..
  3. Domenico Losurdo (2011). Liberalism: A Counter-History: 'Crisis of the English and American Models' (p. 131). [PDF] Verso. ISBN 9781844676934 [LG]