Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764)

This forum section is open to posts, questions and comments on conflicts between the end of the Great Northern War and the start of the French Revolution. So, Austrian Succession, SYW AND AWI affecionados .. this is for you!
Post Reply
nevermore
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Posts: 751
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:24 am
Contact:

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764)

Post by nevermore » Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:00 am

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764)

28mm game over 2000 miniatures on the tabletop and 55 photos now uploaded on the website in the gallery, part two next week enjoy.

Image
screenshot tools

From the 17th century, the nobles' democracy, experienced devastating wars and fell into internal disorder and then anarchy, and as a result declined. The once powerful Commonwealth had become vulnerable to internal warfare and foreign intervention. In 1648 the Cossack Khmelnytsky Uprising engulfed the south and east of the vast Polish–Lithuanian state, and was soon followed by a Swedish invasion, which raged through core Polish lands.

Image
image hosting without registration

Warfare with the Cossacks and Russia left Ukraine divided; the eastern part, lost by the Commonwealth, became a dependency of the Tsardom of Russia. John III Sobieski, who fought protracted wars against the Ottoman Empire, revived the Commonwealth's military might once more. In one decisive engagement he helped in 1683 to deliver Vienna from a Turkish onslaught.


Image
photo storage


Further disintegration followed nevertheless. The Commonwealth, subjected to almost constant warfare until 1720, suffered devastating population losses and massive damage to its economy and social structure. The economic regression had not been fully compensated for the duration of the Commonwealth's existence.

Image
photo hosting software

The government became ineffective because of large scale internal conflicts (e.g. Lubomirski's Rokosz against John II Casimir and rebellious confederations), corrupted legislative processes (such as the infamous use of the liberum veto) and manipulation by foreign interests.

Image
free screenshot tool

The nobility class fell under control of a handful of powerful families with established territorial domains, the urban population and infrastructure fell into ruin, together with most peasant farms.

Image
how to use print screen

The reigns of two kings of the Saxon Wettin dynasty, Augustus II the Strong and Augustus III, brought the Commonwealth more political damage and little meaningful reform.

Image
programs to take screenshots

The Great Northern War, a period seen by the contemporaries as a passing eclipse, may have been the decisive blow that critically weakened the Noble Republic. The Kingdom of Prussia became a strong regional power and took Silesia from the Habsburg Monarchy.

Image
free pic

The Commonwealth-Saxony personal union, however, gave rise to the emergence of the reform movement in the Commonwealth, and the beginnings of the Polish Enlightenment culture.

Image
image hosting tinypics

Image
small screenshot utility

Image
screen capture software

http://grimsbywargamessociety.webs.com/
User avatar
j1mwallace
Major General
Major General
Posts: 724
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2005 12:18 am
Location: Dumfries, Scotland

Re: Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764)

Post by j1mwallace » Thu Aug 08, 2013 9:48 am

Absolutely fantastic. My favourite army. Great mix of figures.
very impressive. Which rules did you use ?
nevermore
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Posts: 751
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:24 am
Contact:

Re: Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764)

Post by nevermore » Thu Aug 08, 2013 9:55 am

Club rules
User avatar
obriendavid
General of the Army
General of the Army
Posts: 2627
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:41 pm
Location: Scotland
Contact:

Re: Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764)

Post by obriendavid » Thu Aug 08, 2013 2:57 pm

Great looking army!
The Polish winged hussars have rank as the most colourful units in the period, I'm just surprised that I haven't painted any although I did own some 15mm figures painted by Aly Morrison many years ago.
Cheers
Dave
Post Reply