Which ethnic and religious groups lived in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth?

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was a diverse, multiethnic, and multifaith state. Its population included several distinct ethnic and religious groups that coexisted within its borders.1

Ethnic Groups

The Commonwealth was inhabited by a variety of peoples, including:
* Poles and Lithuanians1
* Ruthenians1
* Germans1
* Jews, who grew to represent a significant portion of the population over time12
* Tatars, Armenians, and Scots, who were present in smaller numbers1

Religious Groups

The state was characterized by its religious diversity, encompassing:
* Roman Catholics, who eventually became the dominant group as the state adopted a mission as a "Catholic bastion"13
* Eastern Orthodox Christians, whose status shifted significantly following the 1596 Union of Brest-Litovsk, which created the Eastern rite (Uniate) church and drove the traditional Orthodox church underground for a period14
* Protestants1
* Jews, who maintained legal autonomy and self-administration through institutions like the Council of the Four Lands1
* Muslims1

While the Commonwealth was initially known for its pluralism, the 17th century saw a rise in religious intolerance, leading to the exclusion of non-Catholics from public office and the emergence of the "Pole-Catholic" identity.3