The Oxford History of Poland-Lithuania: Volume I: The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, 1385-1569 (Oxford History of Early Modern Europe)

The history of eastern European is dominated by the story of the rise of the Russian empire, yet Russia only emerged as a major power after 1700. For 300 years the greatest power in Eastern Europe was the union between the kingdom of Poland and the grand duchy of Lithuania, one of the longest-lasting political unions in European history. Yet because it ended in the late-eighteenth century in what are misleadingly termed the Partitions of Poland, it barely features in standard accounts of European history. The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union 1385-1569 tells the story of the formation of a consensual, decentralised, multinational, and religiously plural state built from below as much as above, that was founded by peaceful negotiation, not war and conquest. From its inception in 1385-6, a vision of political union was developed that proved attractive to Poles, Lithuanians, Ruthenians, and Germans, a union which was extended to include Prussia in the 1450s and Livonia in the 1560s. Despite the often bitter disagreements over the nature of the union, these were nevertheless overcome by a republican vision of a union of peoples in one political community of citizens under an elected monarch. Robert Frost challenges interpretations of the union informed by the idea that the emergence of the sovereign nation state represents the essence of political modernity, and presents the Polish-Lithuanian union as a case study of a composite state. The modern history of Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Belarus cannot be understood without an understanding of the legacy of the Polish-Lithuanian union. This volume is the first detailed study of the making of that union ever published in English. Cover 1 The Oxford History of Poland-Lithuania: Volume I: The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, 1385–1569 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Preface 8 Acknowledgements 12 Contents 14 List of Maps and Tables 16 Maps 16 Table 16 List of Illustrations 17 List of Abbreviations 18 A Note on Personal and Place Names 21 A Note on Currency 23 A Note on the Genealogies 24 Part I: Towards Union 26 1: Krėva, Крэва, Krewo 28 2: Poland 30 3: Lithuania 43 4: On Unions 61 5: The Krewo Act 72 Part II: Establishing the Union 84 6: Structures 86 7: Baptism 96 8: Cousins 99 9: Vilnius-Radom 116 10: Fruits of Union 124 11: Horodło 134 12: Defending the Union 147 Part III: Crisis, 1422-47 154 13: The Coronation Tempest 156 14: Švitrigaila 176 15: Ruś 183 16: After Jagiełło 202 17: Resolution 207 Part IV: Consolidation and Change 222 18: Defining the Union 224 19: Prussia 234 20: The Thirteen Years War 247 21: Nieszawa 256 22: Peasants 267 Part V: Dynasty and Citizenship 288 23: New Monarchs 290 24: Jagiellonian Europe 302 25: From Sejmiks to Sejm 311 26 Shliakhta 316 27 Litva 334 Part VI: Reform 350 28: Mielnik 352 29: Nihil Novi 369 30: Parliamentary Government 379 31: Mazovia 399 32: Prussia and the Union 406 Part VII: Union Accomplished 428 33: Æque Principaliter 430 34: Transformation 449 35: Execution Proposed 458 36: Execution Achieved 471 37: Failure 481 38: Interlude 494 39: Lublin 502 Bibliography 520 Printed Primary Sources 520 Secondary Sources 523 Unpublished Dissertation 548 Glossary 549 Gazetteer 552 Place names in Polish 552 Place names in Lithuanian 552 Place names in German 553 Place names in Ukrainian 553 Place names in Belarusian 554 Place names in other languages 554 Index 556 The History Of Eastern European Is Dominated By The Story Of The Rise Of The Russian Empire, Yet Russia Only Emerged As A Major Power After 1700. For 300 Years The Greatest Power In Eastern Europe Was The Union Between The Kingdom Of Poland And The Grand Duchy Of Lithuania, One Of The Longest-lasting Political Unions In European History. Yet Because It Ended In The Late-eighteenth Century In What Are Misleadingly Termed The Partitions Of Poland, It Barely Features In Standard Accounts Of European History. This Book Tells The Story Of The Formation Of A Consensual, Decentralised, Multinational, And Religiously Plural State Built From Below As Much As Above, That Was Founded By Peaceful Negotiation, Not War And Conquest. From Its Inception In 1385-6, A Vision Of Political Union Was Developed That Proved Attractive To Poles, Lithuanians, Ruthenians, And Germans, A Union Which Was Extended To Include Prussia In The 1450s And Livonia In The 1560s. Despite The Often Bitter Disagreements Over The Nature Of The Union, These Were Nevertheless Overcome By A Republican Vision Of A Union Of Peoples In One Political Community Of Citizens Under An Elected Monarch. Robert Frost Challenges Interpretations Of The Union Informed By The Idea That The Emergence Of The Sovereign Nation State Represents The Essence Of Political Modernity, And Presents The Polish-lithuanian Union As A Case Study Of A Composite State. V. 1. The Making Of The Polish-lithuanian Union, 1385-1569. Robert Frost. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The history of eastern Europe is dominated by the story of the rise of the Russian empire, yet Russia only emerged as a major power after 1700. For 300 years the greatest power in Eastern Europe was the union between the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Suchy of Lithuania, one of the longest-lasting political unions in European history. Yet because it ended in the late-eighteenth century in what are misleadingly termed the Partitions of Poland, it barely features in standard accounts of European history. This book tells the story of the formation of a consensual, decentralised, multinational, and religiously plural state built from below as much as above, that was founded by peaceful negotiation, not war and conquest. From its inception in 1385-6, a vision of political union was developed that proved attractive to Poles, Lithuanians, Ruthenians, and Germans, a union which was extended to include Prussia in the 1450s and Livonia in the 1560s. Despite the often bitter disagreements over the nature of the union, these were nevertheless overcome by a republican vision of a union of peoples in one political community of citizens under an elected monarch. Robert Frost challenges interpretations of the union informed by the idea that the emergence of the sovereign nation state represents the essence of political modernity, and presents the Polish-Lithuanian union as a case study of a composite state. Publisher This volume tells the story of the formation of the Polish-Lithuanian union: a consensual, decentralised, multinational, and religiously plural state built from below as much as from above, that was founded by peaceful negotiation, not war and conquest