The Constitution of 3 May 1791: Poland's Last Hope

On 3 May 1791, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth adopted Europe's first written constitution and the world's second after the US. This episode explores the dramatic passage of the Constitution of 3 May, the Enlightenment ideals behind it, and how it aimed to reform the dysfunctional Golden Liberty that had paralyzed the state. We discuss key figures like King Stanisław August Poniatowski, reformer Hugo Kołłątaj, and patriot Ignacy Potocki, as well as the opposition from magnates and the Russian Empire. The constitution introduced a hereditary monarchy, abolished the liberum veto, and granted rights to burghers, but it came too late to save the Commonwealth from the Targowica Confederation and the subsequent Russian invasion. We also touch on the legacy of May 3rd as a Polish national holiday, celebrated even under partitions. #ConstitutionOf3May #PolishLithuanianCommonwealth #StanisławAugustPoniatowski #HugoKołłątaj #LiberumVeto #GoldenLiberty #TargowicaConfederation #Enlightenment #Sejm #May3rd #PolandHistory #Warsaw #EasternEurope #Polska #Reform #Constitution #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo