Years
1572 to 1795
" Sobieski en Vienna" de Julius Kossak " Constitution of third of may " by Jan Matejko
Years
1572 to 1795
" Sobieski
en Vienna" de Julius Kossak
"
Constitution of third of may " by Jan Matejko
Since the year in which Jagiellonian dynasty died out (1572), Polish kings were elected by the nobility, often among foreign monarchs. In 17th century Poland-Lithuania became the theatre of constant wars: with Muscovy (Russia), Ottoman Turkey, Sweden (including a very devastating one between 1655 and 1660), and also a civil war in the Ukraine. King Sobieski’s victory and the relief of Vienna from Turkish aggression was the last military achievement of Poland-Lithuania. The territory of the state began to diminish. Over the 18th century the country became more and more dependent on the neighbouring powers, falling into disorder and defencelessness mostly because of domestic problems. However, with the election of Stanislaw August Poniatowski as a king in 1764, sweeping reforms were laid out, intended to strengthen the state considerably. A modern educational system was established and, most importantly, the Constitution of the Third of May was passed in 1791. Although it planned for a thoroughly modern political system, in fact it was never put into practice. The neighbouring countries of Russia, Prussia and Austria, in fear of possible political consequences of the Constitution, divided the remaining territory of the Commonwealth between themselves. Polish states ceased to exist, in spite of the Insurrection led by general Kosciuszko, the last attempt to save the country. From that moment Poland was supposed to disappear from the map of Europe forever.
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