AHC: Surviving Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

Dont be taken over by the Russians.

Au contraire. By 1772, the PLC had practically become a Russian protectorate. You just need slight changes to the Russian courty politics to avoid at least the Second and Third partitions and perhaps even the First. With the possible exception of Royal Prussia going to the Kdm of Prussia at some point.
This way, a PLC that is de facto Russian but de jure independent could go on a long time.
 
As an independent power? Depends how far back you're willing to go but a Time of Troubles that permanently cripples Russia might do it.
 
How about getting rid of that damn "golden rule". It pretty much permanently crippled the King and any centralized policies. I mean hell the nobles had the right to revolt! It was ridiculous! The only surprising thing about the Commonwealth's fall is that it lasted for as long as it did.
 

ingemann

Banned
How about getting rid of that damn "golden rule". It pretty much permanently crippled the King and any centralized policies. I mean hell the nobles had the right to revolt! It was ridiculous! The only surprising thing about the Commonwealth's fall is that it lasted for as long as it did.

Well yes, but most of the problems existed already earlier, in many way Poland was the version two of HRE, but while the HREmperor owned large personal territories, the Polish kings did not, at least not until the Wettins took over, and they was the only reason someone didn't put Poland out of its misery earlier.
 
A way might be to belate the Constitution of 1791 by a few years,* maybe the optimum time would be during or after the War of the Third or Fourth Coalition, since Prussia, Russia and Austria would be too busy with Napoleon or already defeated by him to go ahead with the last partition. If PLC doesn't side with Napoleon with its own will, the Congress of Vienna will preserve it but they may demand the backtracking of the constitutional reforms but a strong King can sit on his ass despite oral concessions.

Another way can be to have Augustus III be a not complete failure and do something useful for his country. This, added with a PLC participation in the Seven Years War in the winning side (if the Miracle of the House of Brandemburg happens again, with Prussia, if not, with Russia) can give the Commenwealth some years/decades more to implement the constitutional reforms (such as the abolishment of the liberum veto).




*assuming there are no significant changes to the Napoleonic Wars to OTL.
 
maybe it could additionally be allowed to persist as a neutral buffer state between the western European states and Russia?
 
A way might be to belate the Constitution of 1791 by a few years,* maybe the optimum time would be during or after the War of the Third or Fourth Coalition, since Prussia, Russia and Austria would be too busy with Napoleon or already defeated by him to go ahead with the last partition. If PLC doesn't side with Napoleon with its own will, the Congress of Vienna will preserve it but they may demand the backtracking of the constitutional reforms but a strong King can sit on his ass despite oral concessions.

Another way can be to have Augustus III be a not complete failure and do something useful for his country. This, added with a PLC participation in the Seven Years War in the winning side (if the Miracle of the House of Brandemburg happens again, with Prussia, if not, with Russia) can give the Commenwealth some years/decades more to implement the constitutional reforms (such as the abolishment of the liberum veto).




*assuming there are no significant changes to the Napoleonic Wars to OTL.


I can't see it going that way. First off, why does Poland delay the new constitution? Internal fighting? Or a different reason? Second, why would Russia ignore Poland after this new constitution? By the point of the third Coalition onwards Poland's new constitution would be even MORE of a threat then it was OTL. Remember there was a fear OTL that Poland's new constitution would mean that it would ally with France. Here it would have to be true. Either Poland allys with France or is forced to join a Coalition against France. If they ally with France then Russia will invade, if its before the temporary alliance between themselves and France. Afterwards it would be a prime target after Napoleon's failed Russian campaign, just like the Duchy of Warsaw. I see Poland ending the same way as that duchy: A kingdom in union with Russia for a while, then they rebel and are annexed directly.

maybe it could additionally be allowed to persist as a neutral buffer state between the western European states and Russia?

No. At the point of the Partitions everyone wanted a piece of Poland. After the Napoleonic wars, Poland or what was left of it, was associated with Napoleon so no one would trust them.
 
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