On the difficult road to political unity. From the history of the Polish-Lithuanian union until the beginning of the 16th century
LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Abiejų Tautų Respublika (ATR; Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów; Žečpospolita; Sandrauga; Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth); Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis; Stanislaw Wyspianski; Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth; Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis; Stanislaw Wyspianski.
ENA casual observer may wonder what Čiurlionis and Wyspiański had in common, apart from the time they lived in, and similarly others may wonder what in fact decided that the union of such different countries as Poland and Lithuania not only endured throughout centuries but additionally resulted in the transformation of these countries into one political body and in the formation of one (gentry) society. In consequence, it gave both countries and nations a common history in a certain period, quite a long one. [...] Even now private talks about common Polish-Lithuanian past and its implications may give rise to a dispute. The fact that its evaluation raises such emotions indicates different memories about the union and, first of all, about its consequences for the state and the nation. In the union with Lithuania, Poland became a super power. The time of the Jagiellons and of the first elective kings brought a certain idea of the state, a conviction that to have a guarantee of the strength and development of our country located between the East and the West means to be the organizer of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Therefore also in the 20th century the concept of a federation reappeared, which stemmed from the belief that weak and small Poland would not be able to maintain its sovereignty and would be doomed to recognize one of its powerful neighbours as a hegemonic leader. Additionally, Poland’s participation in Christianization and centuries-old unity of the Church had a considerable impact on the emotional attitude towards Lithuania. [Extract, p. 77]
- Dzieje stosunków polsko-litewskich : od czasów najdawniejszych do współczesności / Grzegorz Błaszczyk. Poznań : Wydawnictwo Naukowe UAM, 1998-. 3 kn.
- Litwa na przełomie średniowiecza i nowożytności, 1492-1569 / Grzegorz Błaszczyk. Poznań : Wydaw. Poznańskie, 2002. 336 p.
