Most Serene Commonwealth - Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth TL

Chapter I
Chapter I

In 1764 Stanisław August Poniatowski was elected as new King and Grand Duke. It was a success of Russian diplomacy, which believed that he will continue current state of anarchy. King however wanted to reform the Commonwealth. First reforms were introduced on Convocation Sejm. Reforms weren't supported by Russia, intrusted in mantaining current status quo.

Important position on royal court held russian ambassador Nicholas Repnin. He was supported by empress Catherine II. His position gave him real influence on the Commonwealth.

One of polish problems was religious intolerance, total opposite from situation one hundred years ago. While Western Europe began to tolerate protestants, war with lutheran Sweden deepened intolerance and catholic faith of nobles. Repnin wanted to use this situation in order to get rid of Poniatowski's reforms. In Radom he organised confederation in order to defend people of other faith, return old liberties and cancel king's reforms. King wanted to use army in order to crush rebellion, however russian army supported confederation. Confederated Sejm was tied in Warsaw, worked under russian bayonetes. Repnin dictated new legislation called "Cardinal Laws", guaranteing "Golden Liberty", which in reality made Commonwealth dependant on Russia. Poniatowski was dethronized and new king, Frederick Augustus I Wettin was elected.
 

Toraach

Banned
One of polish problems was religious intolerance, total opposite from situation one hundred years ago.
Untrue. There is a difference what written in books of various "philosophers" who seated nicely in Frederic or Catharine's pockets, and what was really in Poland. There was no "dissident" envoys to the Sejm, because nearly all nobility had been already catholic, and of course the ban of dissidents from the Sejm wasn't that important and diffrent from things which were elsewhere. What rights did the catholics have in Prussia, Russia, Sweden? But of course we cannot forget about so liberal, so enlighted Britain, where catholics didn't have any public rights, and in Ireland their situation was even worse under penal laws. When in Poland that was just a ban of "dissidents" from the Sejm, and noone cared about religion of people, they didn't all love each other, but tolerated each other. Nobles dealt with jews on daily basis, and had serfs from various kinds of christianity, and even armenian christians lived in towns, and karaims. It was a country without any state aparatus, so there any goverment sponsored religion intolerancje wasn't even possible. Any laws couldn't be abide, because there weren't anyone who could enforce them. Unlike France under Louis XIV who abolished the edict of Nantes, yet, even in his absolutist state some hundreds thousands of hugenots remained.

I don't know much about this new Wettin, probably similar to his father. But still it is good to see Kluchosław out of the polish throne!
 
Chapter II: American Rebellion
Chapter II: American Rebellion

Unrest in Northern America was seeded by British politics towards the colonies. New taxes issued by the Parliament angered the colonists. Inhabitants of New World considered themselves as royal to British Crown and wanted equal representation in the Parliament, like people from Home Islands.

Grounds for Rebellion were prepared for many years before the event itself. Colonists slowly started to identify themselves as "Americans", not people which came from Europe. Despite that society was divided between many ethnicities and religion, common indetity carved out, with help of many organisations, mobilizing Colonies to fight for their rights.

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"Boston Incident"
One of these organisations was called "Sons of Liberty". It was created in Boston, in 1765 but it quickly spread into all of Thirteen, later rebellious Colonies. One of it's most famous operations was so called Boston Incident.

Operation was carried out because of British economic policy. East India Trade Company, had big stockpile of tea. According to the Tea Act, it became a monopoly in New World, which hit american importers.

In 16th December 1773 Sons of Liberty, some of them disguised as Indian Mohawks destroyed entire tea cargo carried by ships in Boston harbour, by dropping it into the sea. After that, immediately British closed Boston harbour.

In following years conflict radicalized. Cooperation of colonies lead to creation of the Continental Congress, formed in 5th Semptember 1774. Congress decited to create Continental Army, lead by George Washington, for upcoming conflict with Great Britain.

First fights which started the war, outbreak in April 1775 and seen rebels victorious. British were forced to withdraw to Boston. Later, with reinforcements of generals Howe, Burgoyne and Clinton, British seized Charlestown Peninsula after costly assault. Biesieged Boston defenders surrender, and were permitted to sail to Nova Scotia unmolested on March 17th 1776.

English were bribing Indian tribes to fight on their side. Congress scared of Anglo-Indian invasion from Quebec, order an offensive. Area was inhabited by significant Francophone population, and Americans expected to be welcomed as liberators from British rule. Quebec City was assaulted in December 1775 but rebels were ultimately defeated. After failed siege, Americans withdrew in May 1776. Failed counter-attack in June, ended American operations in the area.

After Quebec campaign British counter-attacked withdrawing rebels. General Howe pursuited Washington's army. Fight broke out on Brooklyn Heights in which George Washington was injured. He couldn't command Continental Army anymore, and later died. With lose of their leader rebels were being pushed back by British forces. After a years rebellion was crushed. Thirteen Colonies officialy surrendered in 23 April 1777, in Philadelphia, on last session of Continental Congress which ceased to exist that day.
 
Chapter III: French Revolution
Chapter III: French Revolution

In late 18th Century France faced budget deficit and nearing bankruptcy. Rich life of royal court and costly involvements in Seven Years' War of Louis XV, left his succesor, Louis XVI with financial crisis to deal with. Finance minister Turgot, after failing to enact reforms was dissmised. After that, Genovan banker, Jacques Necker was appointed Comptroller-General of Finance.

Necker realised that regressive tax system had lower classes burdened with taxes, while exemptions existed for nobility and clergy. In his opinion exemptions should be reduced and borrowing more money would solve budget shortages.

His propositions weren't however, well received by King's minister and nobility. This lead King to dismissal of Necker, and appointing Charles Alexander de Callone to the Comptrollership. New Comptroller quickly understood that new tax code needs to be created.

Proposed reform consisted of land tax, which included taxation for nobility and clergy. Opposition towards proposals lead to weakening of Callone's position. In response Louis XVI called Estates-General for June 1795, for the first time since 1614.

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Estates-General at Versailles

Estates-General was Assembly representing three main estates in French realm: Clergy ("First Estate"), Noblity ("Second Estate") and everybody else ("Third Estate"). Elections were held in spring of 1795. For Third Estate, every French-born or naturalised male, above 25 years, who have paid taxes was elegible to vote. Elections resulted in 1,205 delegates, including 303 clergy, 291 nobles, and 614 of Third Estate.

First Estate represented 100,000 catholic clergy, which owned about 10% of land and collected its own tax from peasants. Second Estate represented 400,000 nobles, who owned 25% of land.
Third Estate represented 95% of population, from educated lawyers and local officials, people in trades and industry to wealthy land owners. They however, had almost no political powers. Liberal clergymen, Abbé Sieyès adressed this problem in his pamphlet Qu'est-ce que le tiers état? (What is the Third Estate?). He wrote: "What is the Third Estate? Everything. What has it been until now in the political order? Nothing. What does it want to be? Something."

Angered middle class estabilished National Assembly, and tried to pressure aristocracy for more liberal reforms. They declared themselves as representing not three estates but French people. They invited others to join, but they stated that they will proceed with discussing nation's affairs with or without them.

King tried to prevent Assembly from conveining. He ordered closure of the hall in which Assembly was meeting. Fearing attack ordered by Louis XVI, instead of meeting outdoors, Assembly met in tennis court. There, in so called Tenis Court Oath, they swore to to not separate until they gave France the consitution. Paris and other cities sent messages of support to the Assembly, but military started to gather in numbers outside Paris and Versailles.

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Storming of Bastile, August 1795

Revolution started on 23rd August 1795, with Storming of Bastile, fortress which was perceived as a symbol of royal power. Prison fell after few hours of combat. Although it only held few prisoners (noblemen kept for immoral behaviour and suspected murder) it served as symbol of Ancien Regime and absolutist rule of Bourbons.

King alarmed by violence backed down and visited Paris. During the visit he accepted tricolore cockade to cries of Vive la Nation! and Vive la Roi!

In November, National Assembly abolished privileges and feudalism. Peasants were released from serfdom and exclusive rights for Second Estate were abolished.

On 20th November 1795, Assembly published Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. It was influenced by leaders of American Rebellion, who fled America after military failure. One of them was Thomas Jefferson who worked on the Declaration, which worked as base for creating first Constitution. Published in 1796, started short era of consitutional monarchy in France, abolished after few years with failure in war of Anti-French Coalition.
 
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Chapter IV: War of Anti-French Coalition
Chapter IV: War of Anti-French Coaltion
In Europe, other monarchies were watching developments in France and considered intervening. Either in support of king Louis XVI or to take advantage of resulting chaos. Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II, became increasingly concerned as the Revolution was growing more radical. On 15 July 1796, Leopold and King Frederick William II of Prussia, in consultation with emigre French nobles, issued Declaration of Vienna, in which they declared concern for the well-being of king Louis and his family. While Emperor wanted to avoid war, leaders in Paris saw the Declaration as serious threat and denounced it.

Ideological differences between France and European monarchies, disputes over status of Alsace, and French concern about agitation of French emigre nobles abroad ultimately led to war. On 25 April 1797 National Assembly of France voted for war with Austria.

France prepared invasion of the Austrian Netherlands. French generals expected local population to rise against Austrian rule. Army however was heavily disorganised by the revolution and faced massive desertion.

Coalition army under Duke Charles William Ferdinand of Brunswick assembled at Koblenz on the Rhine. Army, composed mostly of Prussian veterans, took the fortresses of Longwy and Verdun. The Duke issued an declaration, on 13 July 1797 in which he intended to restore French King to full powers and provided severe punishments for any person or town which opposed him. This motivated revolutionary army to oppose invaders and raised anti-monarchist sentiment.

On 19 September 1797 revolutionary government executed king Louis XVI and declared France an Republic. After this event, European governments including Spain, Naples and the Netherlands turned against revolution. France declared war against Great Britain and soon afterwards against Spain. In response, Holy Roman Empire, kings of Portugal and Naples declared war against France. Thus the Coalition was formed.

While late 1797 saw initial sucesses of French Republic, during the winter war became an stalemate. On
29 April 1798 coalition armies broke the stalemate, and defeated Republican forces at Valmy. Two days later royalist uprising broke out in Vannes. In July 1798 former Republican general, Napoleon Bonaparte marched on Paris with his army and royalist supporters, and have overthrown the Republic. He has restored monarchy with Louis XVII, brother of executed king on the throne, and ended the war with coalition.
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Vannes Uprising

In peace treaty, France was forced to return Duchy of Lorraine to Holy Roman Empire. Revolutionary era and entire XVIII century has ended.
 
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Chapter I

In 1764 Stanisław August Poniatowski was elected as new King and Grand Duke. It was a success of Russian diplomacy, which believed that he will continue current state of anarchy. King however wanted to reform the Commonwealth. First reforms were introduced on Convocation Sejm. Reforms weren't supported by Russia, intrusted in mantaining current status quo.
Important position on royal court held russian ambassador Nicholas Repnin. He was supported by empress Catherine II. His position gave him real influence on the Commonwealth.

One of polish problems was religious intolerance, total opposite from situation one hundred years ago.

By that time list of the Polish problems was quite long and religion was just one of them.

While Western Europe began to tolerate protestants, war with lutheran Sweden deepened intolerance and catholic faith of nobles. Repnin wanted to use this situation in order to get rid of Poniatowski's reforms.

What, for example, liberum veto or unified system of measurements, had to do with a religious tolerance?

In Radom he organised confederation in order to defend people of other faith, return old liberties and cancel king's reforms.

Actually, Radom Confederation was a response of Catholic nobility to the earlier Protestant confederations of Slutzk and Toruń. So, while being about restoring the Golden Liberties, it was hardly about the religious toleration.

Repnin formed separate Protestant and Orthodox confederations.

King wanted to use army in order to crush rebellion,

I'm afraid that the term is inappropriate: "rebellion" more or less assumes something illegal while in the Commonwealth the confederations were legal.

however russian army supported confederation. Confederated Sejm was tied in Warsaw, worked under russian bayonetes. Repnin dictated new legislation called "Cardinal Laws", guaranteing "Golden Liberty", which in reality made Commonwealth dependant on Russia. Poniatowski was dethronized and new king, Frederick Augustus I Wettin was elected.

OK, in a reality, all these confederations made, on Repnin's insistence, peace with the King and sent deputation to Catherine asking her to protect the freedoms of the Rzeczpospolita but this is not quite relevant. So far ATL is very close to OTL. However, it is absolutely not clear why would Catherine decide to dethrone Stanislaw August whom she just made a king: everything is going exactly as she wants so why is the messy change of a king?
 
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Untrue. There is a difference what written in books of various "philosophers" who seated nicely in Frederic or Catharine's pockets, and what was really in Poland. There was no "dissident" envoys to the Sejm, because nearly all nobility had been already catholic, and of course the ban of dissidents from the Sejm wasn't that important and diffrent from things which were elsewhere. What rights did the catholics have in Prussia, Russia, Sweden?

Very true (in general :)). The main official Russian beef was about the right of the Orthodox bishops who, by their rank (and by Catherine's opinion), should have seats in the Senate, just as their Catholic equals. Then, while Orthodoxy was a state religion in Russian Empire, its Protestant and Catholic subjects had the same rights: look at the number of Baltic Germans who made it on the top of the Russian civic and military administration or the French immigrants who also did quite well.

In Prussia, IIRC, religious tolerance, at least in theory, was a state policy since the reign of the Great Elector.

As you said, ban from the Sejm in the Commonwealth could be annoying but hardly relevant in the daily life. Of course, no monarch of Commonwealth could just expel the Protestants or force them to convert (surely, this could create serious problems in the Royal Prussia and Lithuania). Even in the Orthodox areas the whole thing ended with a compromise ("Uniat" Church).
 
Chapter IV: War of Anti-French Coaltion
In July 1798 former Republican general, Napoleon Bonaparte marched on Paris with his army and royalist supporters, and have overthrown the Republic. He has restored monarchy with Louis XVII, brother of executed king on the throne, and ended the war with coalition.
300px-GuerreVend%C3%A9e_1.jpg

Vannes Uprising

In peace treaty, France was forced to return Duchy of Lorraine to Holy Roman Empire. Revolutionary era and entire XVIII century has ended.

It is not clear how, if the war started only in 1796, Nappy managed to became a general, even less clear why did he decide to switch the sides and absolutely unclear why the troops followed him. Look what happen to Dumouriez in a similar situation.
 
Chapter V: New Polish Navy
Chapter V: New Polish Navy

Since it's creation, French Republic was haven for revolutionary minds, opressed and rebelled people. After its dissolution in 1797 they had to find a new place for themselves. Popular destination for emigres was Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Poland, despite false allegations of discrimination against Lutheran and Orthodox minorities was the one of the most liberal states in the time.

Amongst refugees to the eastern republic, was American sailor John Paul Jones. After failed Rebellion in America, he stayed in France and for short period in Russia, where he served in Imperial Navy during Russo-Turkish war. Thanks to his friend from Revolutionary War in America, Polish general Tadeusz Kościuszko he settled in Poland.

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John Paul Jones during American Revolutionary War

American admiral quickly brought attention of King Friderick Augustus who was interested in rebuilding Polish Navy. In 1804 Królewska Szkoła Marynarki Wojennej (Royal Naval Academy) where he helped to educate sailors who later crewed 10 ships of new navy - 4 ships of the line (named in reference to galeons from wars with Sweden like ORP Święty Jerzy, ORP Smok) and 6 frigates including one named ORP Strzelec in reference to USS Ranger lead by John Paul Jones during American Revolutionary War.

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Polish Naval Jack

John Paul Jones died in 1807. For his contribution to Polish Navy king Friderick Augustus I elevated him to noble status. He was remembered as great naval commander and person which brought Polish Navy into 19th century.
 
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