Rise and Fall of Poland-Lithuania

From small beginnings as a periphery on the edge of Christendom in the 11th Century, Poland rose to become a major component of European politics by the High Middle Ages. Lithuania took much the same path and was by by the largest centralised state in Europe during the Late Middle Ages and early renaissance. The final unification of the two powers in 1569 brought their nations to new heights, and allowed them to take on powers such as Russia, Sweden and the Ottomans. Although initially successful, these wars eventually became the Commonwealth's downfall, as it lost large swaths of territory in the north and east to Sweden and Russia, respectively. The Commonwealth came to an end in 1795 after three separate partitions. Both Poland and Lithuania endured the 19th Century without any real state of their own, until after the First World War when they both gained independence. After a short occupation during the Second World War by Germany and the USSR, Poland became part of the Eastern Bloc, whilst Lithuania was a state within the USSR. They remain in this stte until the collapse of the USSR in 1991, after which they've both been free, independent nations.

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--NOT SHOWN--
Poland-Lithuania controlled a few minor colonies indirectly via their vassal of Courland during the 17th Century
The Napoleonic State known as the Duchy of Warsaw existed between 1808 and 1813
Minor changes as a result of the many wars fought between Poland-Lithuania and Russia
Some parts of Poland were German protectorates durign the Second World War
Between 1945 and 1991, Lithuania was a Socialist Republic within the USSR
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Music: PostHaste Music - From Within

[CanaryMapping]

Lithuania: Welp, if i can't have a coast in the Baltic Sea...
I WILL HAVE IT IN THE BLACK SEA!!

[lukaszdafro]

Thank you Lithuanian brothers for our history. Greetings from Poland.

[biert]

The video lacks some details:
1. In 1807 Napoleon restored some of polish lands as Duchy of Warsaw.
2. In 1944 Lithuania was forced to become one of USSR's socialist republic and was not independent state until 1990.

[V-man]

respect to Poland and Lithuania from Greece

[lortea]

Biggest mistake at the very start. Poland wasn't created as result of "various Christian conquest", which suggest foreign invaders coming upon Poland and forcing people to take Christianity. It was Polish ruler decision to take Christianity and baptised himself and nation/tribe/people.

[bamibestelt]

this looked more like love story between poland and lithuania lol

[Simis]

Several things did not match with my history classes:
1) the absence of Lithuanian lands in the 11-12th centuries;
2) naming almost every event after Poland, even though it was Poland-Lithuania, and actually we name it the Republic Of Both Nations;
3) 1945! Poland gets under the influence of Communists, and Lithuania is in the USSR until 1990 03 11.

Still, thanks for having an interest in our region :)

[jakbspyr]

You forgot about capture of Moscov in 1610.

[quickster]

Happy Independence day to Lithuania! form a lithuanian.

[TheMrBronie]

Shout out to our brothers from Lithuania and Hungary. Really helped us through the history. Also sorry for what we did to Lithuania in XX century.

[Counteris]

Huh...
We used to be a mighty nation, but now even though we are independent we are decaying more and more every day.
I'm sad that we Lithuanians are so hateful towards you Poles, once we were one, a strong happy country but now we hate each other... Why? Because of the occupation of Vilnius in the 20th century... All because of that stupid event and our relations are gone.
I just hope that one day we shall be friends once again.
Untill then, I just hope we Lithuanians will still exist.

I'm sorry Poles for all the idiots of my country that hate/make fun of you. But you have to understand, it's not easy to forget that we lost more than half of the Region of Vilnius after the occupiation.

[rds]

The two nations everyone always wanted to destory.
But today we're alive, and we're flourishing!
*t a k e t h a t r u s s i a*

[justdom]

As a Lithuanian it warms my heart to see all these positive and respectful comments
Love to Poland from lithuania❤️️

[kagtkalem]

I used to be a perfect Commonwhealth king like you, then Sejm happened :(

[galacticpenguintv]

Very well done! For some reason, I always liked the shape of the 2nd Polish Republic.

[monicagirly]

Lets be friends, don't make future mistakes anymore, Lithuania is small country, Poland is bigger, but both of us combined and compared to the world - we are small. Lets cherish the history our countries had together.

[eksiarvamus]

Lithuania restored after World War 2? Being a republic occupied by the Soviet Union is not "restored".

[IllyrianM]

love to Poland and Lithuania from Albania

[EuWhitex]

Its kinda ironic how Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was one of the most advanced European countries in its prime, while now Poland and Lithuania can barely find common ground at high level politics.
I know Europe is about EU nowadays, but these 2 countries always had potential while working together.

[PanZarowka]

After so many years of great coexisting, Lithuanians hate us :-/
Lucky for us Hungarians stil like us :)