- Polish–Lithuanian union
The term Polish–Lithuanian Union sometimes called as United Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania refers to a series of acts and alliances between the Kingdom of Poland and the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania that lasted for prolonged periods of time and led to the creation of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth —the "Republic of the Two Nations"—in 1569 and eventually to the creation of a short-lived unitary state in 1791. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12181a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia - Poland] ]The most important acts in the process of union were:
* 1385 –
Union of Krewo — apersonal union that broughtGrand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila to Polish throne;
* 1401 –Union of Vilnius and Radom reassured sovereignty ofGrand Duchy of Lithuania ;
* 1413 –Union of Horodło - heraldic union, that granted manyszlachta rights toLithuanian nobility ;
* 1432 (1432–34) –Union of Grodno a declarative attempt to renew closer union;
* 1499 –Union of Kraków and Vilnius personal union turns todynastic union , recognises sovereignty of Lithuania and sescribes interation between two states;
* 1501 –Union of Mielnik -personal union renewed;
*July 1 ,1569 –Union of Lublin — areal union that resulted in creation of the semi-federal, semi-confedederalRepublic of the Two Nations ; and
*May 3 ,1791 –Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791 : the Kingdom of Poland and theGrand Duchy of Lithuania were abolished, and a common state was created in their place. The changes were modified with theReciprocal Guarantee of Two Nations that stressed the continuity of bi-national status of the state, and were reversed completely in 1792 under pressure ofRussian Empire forces.References
*pl icon Anna Pasterak, [http://www.wsp.krakow.pl/kbin/bss/hpol/unie.html Unie polsko-litewskie] ,
Pedagogical University of Cracow , 2004Notes
See also
* Lithuanian–Swedish union
* Polish–Swedish union
*Polish–Lithuanian–Ruthenian Commonwealth
*Polish-Lithuanian-Muscovite Commonwealth
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.