The Disintegration of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: Causes of Independence Loss

The article examines the reasons for the disintegration of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the end of the 18th century, when the Russian Empire, Prussia, and Austria took advantage of the internal conflicts within the weak state. The first partition in 1772 was the result of a well-coordinated geopolitical strategy by its neighbors. Despite attempts to reform the country, Poland failed to avoid losing its independence for 123 years.