Page 217 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

THE HIST OR Y OF LITHU ANIA  215

The marriage formed a Polish-Lithuanian hand, were deprived of all political rights as
alliance that endured for centuries. This well as the right to own land, while the
proved particularly effective as peasants were forced to become
a bul wark against enemies in serfs, subject to severe punishment
the West and in the East. if they attempted to flee.
Under Grand Duke Vytautas The 17th century was a
(r.1401–30), Lithuania was able disastrous period for Lithuania, with
to extend its reach between misrule in Warsaw, plague and fires
the Baltic and the Black seas. in Vilnius and a calamitous invasion
Throughout the first half of by the Russians in 1655. Governed
the 16th century, however, a Portrait of Grand Duke Vytautas by a string of ineffective rulers and
on a tile
mili tant Russia compelled a noblemen who were either
stronger union between Lithuania and deliberately divisive or simply unin terested
Poland, cemented at the Union of Lublin in in state affairs, the steadily weakening
1569. The Commonwealth that resulted Commonwealth became, throughout the
lasted for over 200 years. 18th century, little more than a puppet state
to Tsarist Russia. In a series of partitions in
Decline of the Commonwealth 1772, 1793 and 1795, the vast lands of the
When King Sigismund Augustus (r.1548–72) Commonwealth were divided between
died without an heir, the combined Russia, Prussia and Austria, despite brave
position of Grand Duke of Lithuania and armed resistance by Lithuanian patriots.
King of Poland became an elected one, One such failed uprising was led by Jokūbas
chosen by the all-powerful nobility. Warsaw, Jasinskis (1761–94). By 1795, with the final
midway between the old capitals of Vilnius par tition of the Commonwealth, Poland and
and Kraków, became the base. Stefan Lithuania had ceased to exist.
Bathory (1533–86) was one of the
most successful of these elected
heads of state. Apart from founding
Vilnius University, he also introduced
sweeping military and judicial
reforms. During the Livonian Wars
(see p37), he successfully led a
decisive campaign against the
Russians, regaining control over
Livonia in 1582.
Under the Commonwealth, Poland
established its hege mony, with the
Poles domi nating the Lithuanian
nobility. The bourgeoisie, on the other Russians paying tribute to Stefan Bathory in a painting by Jan Matejko

1569 Union of Lublin creates Polish- Bronze doors of the Vilnius
Lithuanian Commonwealth
University library
1579 Vilnius’s academy assumes the
status of a university 1772 First partition of 1795 Final partition of
the Commonwealth the Commonwealth
1500 1600 1700 1800
1568 Jesuits 1793 Second Partition of the
found an 1655 Russian Commonwealth
academy army
in Vilnius sacks Vilnius
Coat of arms, Polish-
Lithuanian Commonwealth

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