Early modern period

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

Period
AD 1572 – AD 1793
Duration
approx. 221 years
Greatest extent
around AD 1612
Area (max.)
approx. 946,000 km²
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at its greatest extent (around AD 1612) · Borders: Cliopatria
▶ View on the interactive map

Profile

Strength

The famous winged hussars (armoured cavalry); one of the largest states in Europe around 1600.

Famous figures

  • Stephen Báthory
  • Sigismund III Vasa
  • Stanisław Żółkiewski
  • John III Sobieski

Wars & battles won

  • Battle of Klushino (1610)
  • Relief of Vienna (1683)

Wars & battles lost

  • The Deluge: Swedish and Russian invasions (1655–60)
  • Partitions of Poland (1772–95)

Languages

  • Polish
  • Lithuanian
  • Latin

Period and duration

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth — according to the map data from AD 1572 to AD 1793, roughly 221 years. The dates refer to the time the empire is drawn as its own territory on the world map; historians sometimes date its founding and end differently.

Greatest extent

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth — greatest extent around AD 1612: the mapped borders then cover about 946,000 km², roughly 0.6% of Earth's land area. The area is calculated from the border lines of the map and is therefore an approximation.

AD 1572Area according to the map data (max. 946,000 km²)AD 1793

Predecessors and successors

States that ruled the same territory directly before and after:

Before (AD 1571)

After

Neighbours around AD 1612

The largest states in the region at the same time:

Learn more

Borders and dates: Cliopatria / Seshat Global History Databank (CC BY 4.0). Coastlines: Natural Earth. Text: Centaurian.