By the beginning of the 18th century, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, one of the largest and most populous European states, was little more than a pawn of its neighbors (the Russian Empire, Prussia and Austria), who interfered in its domestic politics almost at will.
18. sajandi alguseks oli Rzeczpospolita, üks suuremaid ja rahvarohkemaid Euroopa riike, veidi rohkem kui oma naabrite ettur (Venemaa Keisririik, Preisimaa ja Austria), kes sekkusid selle sisepoliitikasse peaaegu suvaliselt.