1 July 1569, the Union of Lublin was signed in Lublin and created a single state, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, one of the largest countries in Europe at the time. It created one of the most democratic and tolerant states in 16th-century Europe.
https://i.redd.it/rf8l7qbs5x9d1.jpeg
by Efficient_atom
18 comments
Shall revive from the dead an be alive again.
“one of the most democratic and tolerant states in 16th-century Europe” – not much of a flex tbh. It was a horrible place and horrible time.
Wikipedia: “the royal power continued to wane, and while the neighbouring states continued to evolve into strong, centralized absolute monarchies, the Commonwealth slid with its [Golden Liberty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Liberty) into a [political anarchy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchy#Examples_of_state-collapse_anarchy) that eventually cost it its very existence.”
Strong, centralized absolute monarchies was the right choice back then. France, Spain and UK are still here, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth is a largely forgotten entity.
Also the origin of Ukraine and Belarus
Fun fact: polish was the dominant language, and lithuanian only survived due to the poor people speaking it.
I am myself lithuanian with my dad’s side coming from poland, it is quite interesting learning about the kingdom.
The Grandfather of European Union
Also one of the most unworkable political systems ever created.
Calling the PLC “democratic” is like calling the Roman republic democratic.
*I love democracy*
– Chancellor Palpie
Eventually every democracy fails unfortunately.
The way it was signed wasn’t very nice to the Grand Duchy.
Also one of the most dysfunctional states in Europe.
One of the most glorious, chaotic, unhinged in every way, at times overpowered and three more times glorious creations ever made.
Aye. I remember it well.
It was also fatally dysfunctional as fuck. Political stagnation, extremely limited reforms, a near-powerless monarch and plain old greed saw the Commonwealth degrade into a limbering mess, which ultimately got abused and ripped apart by its more centralized, stable and (frankly) power-hungry neighbors.
One of the cruellest ironies is that one of the partitioners, Austria, was actually saved by Poland (or at least, Polish forces were a critical component in their defeat) less than a century earlier when the Ottomans were besieging Vienna (the famous Winged Hussars charge) with some 300,000 soldiers.
Yes, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was democratic and tolerant in the same way the Holy Roman Empire was holy, Roman and an empire…
Union to be potentially most powerful empire in Europe destroyed by greed of aristocracy
People here calling PLC “one of the most dysfunctional states in Europe” yet that “dysfunctional state” lasted more than German Empire or Austria Hungary
Very tolerant, just not for Orthodox people