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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 (or Union, after 1791 the Commonwealth of Poland) was a state of Poland and Lithuania 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 the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th-century Europe. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth covered more lands than the present lands of Poland and Lithuania. The lands of the Commonwealth also covered all the lands of present-day Belarus; a large part of Ukraine and Latvia; and western part of present-day Russia.

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth had high levels of ethnic diversity and by religious tolerance. The amount of religious freedom varied over time.

After several decades of prosperity, it entered a period of political, military and economic decline. It ended with the final Partitions of Poland in 1795. Its growing weakness led to it being divided by its more powerful neighbors, Austria, Prussia and the Russian Empire.

Some information

  • In Poland, the official languages were Polish language and Latin language. In Lithuania, the official languages were Old Belarusian, Latin Language, and Lithuanian language.
  • Commonwealth was one of largest countries of its time. It had a large population. At one time, Commonwealth covered about 400,000 square miles. Population was around 11 million. People of different ethnicity lived in Commonwealth.
  • For about 200 years, Commonwealth withstood wars with other powers of Europe of that time: these powers were Muscovy Russians, Ottoman Empire, and the Swedes.
  • The Commonwealth developed a system of laws and legislature. This reduced the power of the monarch. Some concepts of democracy also developed in the Commonwealth and concept like the constitutional monarchy.
  • In theory, the two countries of the Commonwealth were equal. But, Poland had a leading role.
  • The Commonwealth had a leading influence of the Catholic Church. But, the government allowed peoples of different religions to follow their religions. Thus, peoples of many religions lived in the Commonwealth.
  • The Commonwealth also produced a national constitution, the first in Europe.
  • Agriculture was the main economic activity of the persons living in the Commonwealth.


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See also

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

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