Polish-Lithuanian identity

This article is about the use of the Polish-Lithuanian adjective in the context of groups and individuals with histories in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. For other uses, see Polish–Lithuanian.

Painting commemorating Polish–Lithuanian union; ca. 1861. The motto reads "eternal union", in Polish only.

The Polish-Lithuanian identity describes individuals and groups with histories in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth or with close connections to its culture. This federation, formally established by the 1569 Union of Lublin between the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania, created a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state founded on the binding powers of national identity and shared culture rather than ethnicity or religious affiliation.[1][2] The term Polish-Lithuanian has been used to describe various groups residing in the Commonwealth, including those that did not share the Polish or Lithuanian ethnicity nor their predominant Roman Catholic faith.[3][4][5][6]

The usage of "Polish-Lithuanian" in this context can potentially be confusing, particularly as the term is often abbreviated to just "Polish", or misinterpreted as being a simple mix of the 20th century nationalistic usage of the terms Polish and Lithuanian,[1][3] as depending on the context it may include numerous ethnic groups that inhabited the Commonwealth.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ScalesZimmer2005-222 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Stanislaw Gomulka, Antony Polonsky (1991). Polish Paradoxes. Routledge. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-415-07146-8.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Wandycz1980 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Nathalie Clayer, Eric Germain (2008). Islam in inter-war Europe. Columbia University Press. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-231-70100-6. Polish Tatars... Polish-Lithuanian Tatars
  5. ^ Dov Levin (2000). The Litvaks: a short history of the Jews in Lithuania. Berghahn Books. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-57181-264-3. Polish-Lithuanian Jewry
  6. ^ Daniel Stone (2001). The Polish-Lithuanian state, 1386-1795. University of Washington Press. p. 138. ISBN 978-0-295-98093-5.