The Completely Avoidable Collapse of Poland

In the early 17th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth stood as one of Europe’s largest and most formidable states, stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea. By 1618, its territory had expanded to twice the size of France, thanks to military victories against Muscovy during the chaotic “Time of Troubles.” But that glory also came at the cost of internal stagnation and decay. The Commonwealth’s political system was both its strength and its fatal flaw. Proudly self-identified as a “Christian Republic,” it operated under a unique elective monarchy where power was shared between the king, the Senate, and the Chamber of Envoys (Sejm), which with time would cease all progress Travel to Thailand with me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our sister podcast the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mystery of Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Coffee Collab With The Lore Lodge ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠COFFEE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bonus episodes as well as ad-free episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Submit your relatives on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices