Kingdom & Nobles' Republic
Poland's history is one of Europe's most dramatic — a constant shift between greatness and catastrophe, rebirth and downfall.
The Beginnings (10th–14th Century)
966 AD Prince Mieszko I was baptized in Poznań — the birth of the Polish state and Christian civilization in this part of Europe. His son Bolesław the Brave was crowned the first king of Poland in 1025.
In the 14th century, Poland experienced its first flourishing under King Casimir the Great (Kazimierz Wielki): He founded the Jagiellonian University in Kraków (1364, the second oldest in Central Europe), protected the Jewish population with an edict of tolerance, and built dozens of castles and towns. The famous saying: "He found Poland made of wood and left it made of stone."
The Golden Era: The Polish-Lithuanian Union (1385–1795)
In 1385, the Union of Krewo created the Polish-Lithuanian personal union — and in 1569, the Union of Lublin established the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Rzeczpospolita): the largest state in Europe, stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
This nobles' republic was a remarkably modern experiment:
- Elective monarchy: The king was elected by the nobility — no hereditary right!
- Golden Liberty: The nobility (10% of the population, more than in any other European country) had extensive participatory rights
- Constitution of May 3, 1791: The first democratic constitution in Europe (and the second worldwide after the USA!)
- Religious tolerance: Poland was Europe's most tolerant country — Jews, Protestants, Orthodox Christians, and Muslims lived relatively peacefully together, while religious wars raged elsewhere. This made Poland a refuge for persecuted Jews from all over Europe.
