War of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764) pt 2

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!
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nevermore
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War of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764) pt 2

Post by nevermore » Wed Jun 10, 2015 8:52 am

War of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764) pt 2

Lots more photos uploaded at http://www.victorian-steel.com/

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.

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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. Warfare with the Cossacks and Russia left Ukraine divided; the eastern part, lost by the Commonwealth, became a dependency of the Tsardom of Russia.

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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.

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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. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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.


Scenery - miniatures GWS
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Friedrich August I.
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Re: War of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764) pt

Post by Friedrich August I. » Wed Jun 10, 2015 11:11 am

Nice to see all those fine painted Polish Troops! :D

A small Footnote:
The Saxon Rulers couldn't sort out the filth that has established itself in the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth and they saw that State as a bottomless pit! But even after 100 Years of Wettin Leadership the Poles wanted only a Saxon on the Throne and nobody else!
Therefore and because of another Reason Napoleon placed a Saxon Ruler once again in the Leading Position of the Duchy of Warsaw.

My two cents :wink:

Cheers,
Günter
Last edited by Friedrich August I. on Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
„Macht Euch Euren Dregg alleene“

"Sort your filth out by yourself!" The King of Saxony Friedrich August III., at his abdication 1918, referred to the quarrels in the parliament and the squabbling within the provisional government.
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Re: War of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764) pt

Post by nevermore » Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:58 am

Nice info Gunter, thanks
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Re: War of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764) pt

Post by j1mwallace » Thu Jun 11, 2015 10:16 am

Can I have the address where you keep these , a note of when you are away and 2 clear days start ? Thanks in advance !
Fantastic again.
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Re: War of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764) pt

Post by nevermore » Thu Jun 11, 2015 1:39 pm

If you ever want to visit the club for a large game Jim, you are more than welcome, have people coming all the time, we tend to work round people like yourself for dates you can fix.
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