PoolaLiivimaa

PoolaLiivimaa refers to the historical territory of Livonia that was under Polish rule. This period is also known as Polish Livonia or Inflanty Polskie in Polish. Following the Livonian War and the Union of Lublin in 1569, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania sought assistance from the Polish Crown. In 1561, the Livonian Confederation, facing Russian aggression, placed itself under the protection of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, becoming a Polish-Lithuanian condominium. The Duchy of Livonia was established, with its western part eventually falling under direct Polish administration, while the eastern part, called the Voivodeship of Livonia, became Polish Livonia.

The period of Polish rule in Livonia lasted until the mid-17th century. During this time, the region experienced significant political and administrative changes. The capital of Polish Livonia was initially Cēsis, later moved to Riga. The territory was characterized by a complex interplay of local nobility, Polish administration, and the ongoing conflicts with Sweden and Russia. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's control over Livonia was contested, leading to numerous wars, most notably the Polish-Swedish Wars.

Eventually, during the Deluge in the mid-17th century, Sweden conquered most of Polish Livonia. The Treaty of Oliva in 1660 formally ceded most of the territory to Sweden, ending Polish suzerainty over the region. The remaining part, known as Latgalia, continued to be administered as part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until the First Partition of Poland in 1772, when it was annexed by the Russian Empire.