Looking forward to the events organised by @LTEMBASSYUK and @PolishEmbassyUK today to celebrate the 230th anniversary of the Polish-Lithuanian constitution of 1791. So great was international interest that an English translation appeared in London soon after ratification 🇵🇱🇱🇹 
Even though history overtook Poland-Lithuania and the constitution barely came into force for more than a few months, it's hard to overestimate the importance of Europe's first written constitution, which sought to rationalise a chaotic commonwealth rather than overthrow the past
The constitution of 3 May was indeed revolutionary in the sense that it was radical and forward-looking, but it represented a very different kind of revolution from the bloody convulsions that were then shaking France
Poland-Lithuania showed that far-reaching political reform and constitutional monarchy were possible without bloodshed and violent revolution; and although Poland-Lithuania was soon swallowed up by Russian autocracy, a torch had been lit that could not be put out
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