Poloniae Regnum ut et Ducatus Lithuaniae

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during a period of significant political turmoil.

This marvelous copperplate engraved map presents the complicated political outline of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the early decades of the 18th century. Established by the Union of Lublin in 1569, the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania were ruled as a joint federation under one monarch until it was written out of existence by the Third Partition of Poland in 1795. Competing interests and external influences led to significant internal disorder, and just a few years after publication the War of the Polish Succession would outbreak between competing claimants to the throne (supported by various powers across Europe).

The map uses attractive hand color to highlight the federation’s expansive territory between the Baltic and Black Seas, encompassing millions of people from the modern-day nations of Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Moldova, and Slovakia. Rivers, important avenues for transportation and commerce, are boldly shown throughout and forests and mountains are depicted pictorially. To the right of the sheet, the invasion route taken by the dreaded Tatars into Muscovy is noted. Just above, the decorative title cartouche features the state coats of arms for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth under the Wettin Dynasty of Augustus II the Strong. Livestock, sacks of grain, and images of a shepherd, hunter, and allegorical figure representing the harvest reflect the bountiful agricultural production of the region that persists to this day.

The map was published in Augsburg by Matthaus Seutter as the third state around 1731, based on the absence of the Imperial privilege added below the title cartouche in 1741.

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