The Geopolitics of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

[@guciodestroyer2432]

Thank you from the Polish-Lithuanian-Ruthenian Commonwealth 2.0

[@TomeXzz]

Polish-Lithuanian

[@Ciech_mate]

We need more of this content

[@davissae]

Poland-Lithuania was tolerant and cosmopolitan compared to the backwards autocracy of Muscovy.

[@slawomirkulinski]

And there was a reason why Muscovy was so backwards. It was created as a struggle to regain freedom from Mongols. To achieve that Muscovy employed exactly same methods as Mongols. Mongols at that time were just a parasite living off the conquered nations. They didn't even station their troops in Muscovy. They were expecting annual tribute. Mongols would only pillage if the tribute was not paid. Usually it was organised in away that two leaders of the biggest domains were present at the tribute and were trying to win over Mongol's favour over each other. Very often only one was going back alive. This engrained bribery into the Muscovy as a natural way of doing things.

[@nodata3660]

Apparently, the Cossacks of Bogdan Khmelnitsky rebelled, unable to withstand Polish tolerance.

[@jjforcebreaker]

Great talk! Thank you.

[@mikadorek1]

Thank you.

[@slawomirkulinski]

12:55 Important is understanding the internal power balance. King is less powerful than Magnateria (Highest Aristocracy). King is coming from Lithuania so it has to campaign to get noble's support. This results in always expanding rights and privileges for nobility. After end of Jagiellonian dynasty kings are elected so they don't even think long term as they are unable to secure succession for their offspring. This leads to situation in which nobility in Poland has rights which are introduced in rest of the Europe 200-300 years later (ownership, bodily integrity, right to fair trial).

[@rkobojcz]

Nobody will understand Polish history (from XV century) and Polish soul (current point of view) without understanding very fundamental difference between Poland and all other countries in that time. Starting from XV century Poland became a REPUBLIC (name Rzeczpospolita is direct translation of Latin Republic "Res Public"). So the subject of country idea was citizen - nobles - szlachta (people owning some land, about 10% of population, in some districts even 20% - very high number of political life participants even for current times!) with their rights - to private property, freedom, religion etc... There were local Parliaments (Sejmiki) electing delegates to main Parliament - SEJM, which was electing our Kings to serve the people - not vice versa!!! (they had to swear-in "pacta servanta"). King power was very limited, he had only few hundreds of clerks, very small army, and there were really no taxes. Law system was build around protecting citizen rights so central power was very limited. Every time there were needed extra funds (for war/military) or some extra action taken - like in diplomacy, the King had to get approval from our Parliament. In case of war each citizen has duties as there was common mob and had to serve in person or fund somebody else (with all equipment) - our army especially Calvary was very famous. Parliament can approve new laws only via consensus - and this worked excellent way till XVIII century when our oligarchs and foreign powers started to corrupt delegates (unfortunately we were not hanging traitors) blocking any changes in political system. There was even treaty signed in 1720 in Potsdam between Prussia and Russia - they agreed to "protect" Polish law system from any changes making it operational again... really the same situation as we have today with EU (or rather with Germany ruling EU). Republic is excellent system made for people, guarantying personal freedom, nobody can oppress you without clear reason (especially on your own property!!!) but on other side it has very weak government. In Republic you are always ready to fight for your rights and you do not respect too much hierarchy and oppressing laws. Very good example of Republic is shown in Star Wars with Harrison Ford and all that diverse ZOO-like citizens - weak but free for everybody. Monarchies, Imperia and all Tyranies have much stronger country organisation but people are like servants - they HAVE TO follow all laws and respect all government bodies... so they could have legal concentration camps, people can be jailed for comments in Internet, they children can be taken from them... they are like Sturman uder Darth Wader 😀

[@czmychal]

So PLC was weak, nearly anarchic political being with no authority and that's why it came to an end. That was inevitable - merely a logical consequance of not having strong protector in the form of succesive kingship.

[@wojtek1582]

17:04 - the blueline shows extent of Swedish maximum control not how far the Muscovite forces got. There is nothing on the map showing their actions and territory control.

[@rkobojcz]

Additional historic comment... Till 1569 Union of Lublin Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was really on king level only - Polish agreed to have Lithuanian king (Jagiello family) but countries were separated including laws and citizenship (maybe because of that there were so big problems with diplomacy!). After 1569 Union went deeper and now citizens could move between countries, many Polish moved east (in many cases due to war rewards which was land on east parts - there was very low population density, and still is). Unfortunately during that time Polish nobility was not inclusive, especially for new citizens and that made huge problems later on...

[@harpunonosy1232]

Royal Prussia (stupid name) is Gdańsk Pomerania and it was Polish for more than 300 years before Teutons conquered it.

[@REGameFly]

They were more baltic if we’re talking about the same time period

[@rafatymoniewicz7735]

@@REGameFly Royal Prussia wasn't part of the Old Prussian territory so it wasn't Baltic, but Slavic (unlike Ducal Prussia)

[@REGameFly]

@@rafatymoniewicz7735 It’s a sad fact that they stopped being baltic and were dispersed later. We have books how to speak Prussian for fun

[@wojtek1582]

@@REGameFly Once again, area called Royal Prussia (or Gdańsk Pomerania) had Slavic native population not Baltic. They didn't speak Prussian. It was part of Polish Kingdom till 1309 when this land was conquered by Teutonic Order. You are confusing this territory with lands east from Vistula which were the proper Prussia where native population was composed of many Baltic tribes which got slowly germanized.

[@REGameFly]

@@wojtek1582 K

[@ardayldrm2656]

skip richard butterwick

[@johnnotrealname8168]

It was good with enemies at the gates but disaster was a nobleman's veto away. It's tenacity is proved by the Constitution it formed, and I write as a Habsburg supporter. I really think the Habsburgs should have been elected.

[@SouIkey]

Habsburgs were traitors, stabing us together with Prussians and Russians. I think John III Sobieski is still turning in his grave, after battle of Vienna.

[@kml8732]

You think wrong.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@kml8732 No, you.

[@kml8732]

@@johnnotrealname8168 You know nothing about Polish history. Habsburgs were always rivals of Poland. No Habsburgs never took polish throne because of many valid reasons. Stick to your wet german dreams of power and leave history to the ones that know it.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@kamil8732 Habsburgs were not always rivals to Poland, in fact more times than not they were allies. Actually until the end, reluctant as Maria Theresia was, they were allies. The main reason the Habsburgs were not on the Throne was Balance of Power and France.