Changes and Significance of Territorial Divisions in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Eighteenth Century

Abstract The territorial divisions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were stable for most of its existence. They were characterized by dualism: in the Kingdom of Poland, territorial divisions and their connection to public institutions were organic; in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, these matters were strictly ordered. Changes appeared in the eighteenth century, when we can observe localized modifications in the network of territories, and during the Partitions period two systematic reforms were passed. The detailed analysis of such changes clearly shows that the ruling class of the Commonwealth was mainly interested in the political aspects of the territorial divisions: the distribution of prestige by the creation of new land offices connected to new territories, and the use of territorial units as constituencies. This second aspect was the main motivation behind the reforms after the First and Second Partitions. The political and election-focused approach to the system of territorial divisions highlights the difference between the Commonwealth and major European states in this period.