從「歐洲解放者」到「歐洲最落後的民族」??14至18世紀波蘭國家及民族形象在全歐的轉變

From“Savior of Europe”to“Europe’s Most Backward Nation”: The Transformation of the Polish State and National Image across Europe from the 14th to the 18th Century

1386至1696間的波蘭-立陶宛聯盟暨後續的波蘭王政共和國，曾經主宰歐陸東半部的政局達400百年之久，此一歷程中，透過對不分強弱的全體貴族權益的集體保障，及對各支宗教派系信仰的寬容對待，使得其國勢在各方來歸及所屬成員誠心依附的狀態下，得以蒸蒸日上，逐步建構起其於中東歐至東歐世界的霸主地位。亦因此故，使得此一國度至15-17世紀之時，先後在歐洲各界之中為自身博得諸如「沒有火刑架的國度」、「歐洲解放者」及「土耳其尅星」等讚譽，不難看出其時此一國度威名遠播的盛世氣象。然而進入18世紀初期之後，過去厥為建構波蘭國勢興盛的兩大關鍵要素：貴族權益至上及宗教信仰寬容，因百餘年來的流弊叢生及遭到破壞，卻因囿於各方私心自用而未能及時匡正，終使此一國度迅速在國際場域上遭到各層面的嚴重打擊，無論就軍事、政治、宗教及輿論界等皆然，最後導致波蘭王政共和國的形象短短數十年間由正轉負，致而產生出「全歐最落後的民族」、「每一層面皆低賤的民族」及「波蘭式經濟」等等負面標語，成為此一國度在步向亡國歷程中的鮮明標記。本文將就波蘭-立陶宛暨後續的波蘭王政共和國的外在形象轉變為題，分析其由正至負轉變之關鍵，以及其間歷程中何以此一國度難以力挽狂瀾而重回正軌的深層因素之所由。

The Polish-Lithuanian Union from 1386 to 1696 dominated the politic in the eastern half of the European continent. In this process, through the protection of the rights and interests of all szlachta (nobles), and its tolerant treatment of various religions, gradually established its hegemony in the East Central Europe and Eastern Europe, making it difficult for neighboring countries to compete with it, its territory at its peak stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. For this reason, by the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, this country had successively won praises from all over Europe, such as“the country without the stakes,”“the Savior of Europe”and“the Conqueror of Turks.”It fully witnesses to the prosperity of this country at that time. However, after entering the early 18th century, the two key elements that had built Poland’s national prosperity in the past: the supremacy of aristocratic rights and the tolerance of religious beliefs had become rife and destroyed due to abuses over the past century, but they were also limited by the selfish interests of all parties. The failure to correct it in time eventually caused this country to quickly suffer serious blows at all levels in the international arena, including military, political, religious and public opinion circles. In the end, the image of the Polish Royal Republic was shortened by just a few decades. The period turned from positive to negative, resulting in the emergence of negative slogans such as“the most backward nation in Europe”and“Polish economy,”which became a clear symbol of this country toward national subjugation. This article will take the topic of the transformation of the external image of Poland-Lithuania and Polish Royal Republic, analyze the key to its transformation from positive to negative, and the underlying factors why it was difficult for this country to turn the tide and get back on track during the process.