Question

СРОЧНО 60 БАЛЛОВ Расскажите о династической (Кревской) унии между Литвой и Польшей по следующему плану: А) Причины заключения унии (не менее двух причин). Б) Дата заключения унии. В) Условия заключения унии (не менее двух условий). Г) Охарактеризуйте изменение положения православного славянского населения после унии по следующим параметрам: язык, законы и вера (не менее трёх предложений).

Answer 1

The Union of Krewo between Lithuania and Poland

The Union of Krewo, also known as the Kreva Union, was a dynastic union between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland. It was established in 1385 and had significant implications for the political, cultural, and religious landscape of the region.

A) Reasons for the Union

There were several reasons for the establishment of the Union of Krewo:

1. Geopolitical Considerations: Both Lithuania and Poland faced common threats from the Teutonic Knights and the Mongols. By forming a union, they aimed to strengthen their military capabilities and defend against external aggression.

2. Religious Motivations: The Polish nobility, who were predominantly Catholic, sought to spread Catholicism to the Orthodox Christian population of Lithuania. The union was seen as a way to achieve religious unity and bring the Orthodox Church under the authority of the Pope.

B) Date of the Union

The Union of Krewo was established on August 14, 1385.

C) Conditions of the Union

The Union of Krewo had several conditions:

1. Marriage Alliance: The union was sealed through the marriage of Grand Duke Jogaila of Lithuania to Queen Jadwiga of Poland. This marriage created a personal union between the two states, with Jogaila becoming the King of Poland.

2. Religious Concessions: As part of the union, Lithuania agreed to adopt Christianity and join the Catholic Church. This was a significant change for the predominantly Orthodox Christian population of Lithuania.

Changes in the Position of the Orthodox Slavic Population

The Union of Krewo had a profound impact on the position of the Orthodox Slavic population in the region. Here are some key changes:

1. Language: With the adoption of Catholicism and the Polish language as the official language of the union, there was a gradual shift away from the use of Old Church Slavonic, which had been the liturgical language of the Orthodox Church. Polish became the language of administration, education, and culture, leading to a decline in the use of Slavic languages.

2. Laws: The legal system of the union was based on Polish law, which differed from the legal traditions of the Orthodox Slavic population. This led to a gradual assimilation of the Orthodox Slavic population into the Polish legal system.

3. Religion: The Union of Krewo aimed to bring the Orthodox Church under the authority of the Catholic Church. While the union allowed for the continued existence of the Orthodox Church, it placed it in a subordinate position. The Orthodox Slavic population faced pressure to convert to Catholicism, and over time, many Orthodox churches were converted into Catholic ones.

Overall, the Union of Krewo had a significant impact on the political, cultural, and religious landscape of the region. It brought Lithuania and Poland closer together, but also led to changes in the position of the Orthodox Slavic population, including the adoption of the Polish language, the application of Polish laws, and the subordination of the Orthodox Church to the Catholic Church.

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