1656 treaty to divide the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth between the signing parties
The Treaty of Radnot was the first formal plan to partition the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, foreshadowing its eventual 18th-century dismemberment.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- 6 December 1656
- War context
- Second Northern War
- Number of signing parties
- 5
- Immediate military consequence
- George II Rákóczi invaded Commonwealth, January 1657
- Treaty location (historical)
- Radnot, Transylvania
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Swedish forces invading the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth faced unexpectedly strong Polish resistance. To overcome this, King Charles X Gustav of Sweden proposed that his allies jointly partition the Commonwealth among themselves, incentivizing their continued military cooperation against Poland.
On 6 December 1656, the Treaty of Radnot was signed in Transylvania, formally dividing the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth among Sweden, Bogusław Radziwiłł, Brandenburg, the Cossack Hetmanate under Khmelnytsky, and Transylvania under George II Rákóczi, each assigned specific territories.
George II Rákóczi invaded the Commonwealth in January 1657 as a direct result of the treaty. However, the Commonwealth recovered militarily, repulsed all invaders, and the treaty was never fully implemented. It is historically regarded as a precursor to the actual partitions of Poland carried out in the 18th century.
Political Outcome
Treaty signed but never fully implemented; the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth repulsed invaders and recovered its territory.
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth intact, under Swedish invasion pressure
Planned partition agreed on paper; ultimately reversed as Commonwealth repelled all signatories