Confederation (Poland–Lithuania)
A konfederacja (Polish: [kɔ̃fɛdɛˈrat͡sja] ⓘ, "confederation") was an ad hoc association formed by Polish–Lithuanian szlachta (nobility), clergy, cities, or military forces in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth for the attainment of stated aims. A konfederacja often took the form of an armed rebellion aimed at redressing perceived abuses or trespasses of some (e.g. royal) authority. Such "confederations" acted in lieu of state authority or to force their demands upon that authority.[1] They could be seen as a primary expression of direct democracy and right of revolution in the Commonwealth, and as a way for the nobles to act on their grievances and against the state's central authority.[1]
History and function
In the late 13th century, confederations of cities, aiming to support public safety and provide security from rampant banditry, appeared, with the first confederation being that of several towns (
With the beginning of the 17th century, confederations became an increasingly significant element of the Commonwealth's political scene.
Confederations where usually formed in one part of the country, and could expand into "general confederations" taking in most or all of the voivodeships of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.[1] However, even such general confederations would be formed separately for the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.[1]
Each confederation had a key document explaining its goals, known as the act of the confederation, which was deposited with the court (usually the local court for the region the confederation was formed).
Also in the 18th century an institution known as a "confederated sejm" evolved.[1] It was a parliament session (sejm) that operated under the rules of a confederation.[1] Its primary purpose was to avoid being subject to disruption by the liberum veto, unlike the national Sejm, which was paralyzed by the veto during this period.[1] On some occasions, a confederated sejm was formed from the whole membership of the national Sejm, so that the liberum veto would not operate there.[5]
Confederations were proscribed by law in 1717, but continued to operate, indicating a weakness of the Commonwealth's central authority.
List of confederations
Some confederations from Polish history included:
- a confederation of towns in Greater Poland in 1298, aiming to provide public safety, recreated in 1302;[9]
- a confederation of towns in Silesia in 1311, aiming to provide public safety;[9]
- a confederation of towns from 1349–1350, aiming to provide public safety;[5]
- starost Wierzbięta of Paniewice (1352–1358);[5]
- Confederation of Bartosz of Odolanowo, formed in Radom, aiming to provide security for the period of interregnum following the death of king Louis I (1382);
- a confederation in Radom, formed by magnates, nobility and town, in support of Queen Jadwiga;[5]
- Piotrków Confederation, during a dispute about clergy's right to collect tithe (1406–1407);[5]
- Hussiteinvasion (1423–1424);
- Sieradz Confederation and Korczyn Confederation (1438);[5]
- Confederation of Spytek of Melsztyn supporting the Hussites (1439);[5]
- Prussian Confederation of Prussian towns, formed in Kwidzyn, against the Teutonic Order;[5]
- Lwów Confedeeration of the town and the nobility against a disliked official;[5]
- Chicken War (1537);[10]
- Warsaw Confederation, formed in Sejm (1573);[5]
- Zebrzydowski Rebellion (1605);[11]
- Swedish invasion (1655);[5]
- Lubomirski's Rokosz (1665–1666);[11]
- Szczebrzesz Confederation against the election of Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki (1672);[5]
- Gołąb Confederation for the election of Michał Korybut Wiśnowiecki (1673);[5]
- Starogard Confederation supporting Sweden (1703–1709);[12]
- Greater Poland Confederation (Wielkopolska Confederation) (1703);
- Augustus II of Poland (1704);[5]
- Augustus II of Poland (1704);[5]
- Gorzyce Confederation and Tarnogród Confederation, both formed against the Saxon king Augustus II of Poland (1715);[5]
- Grudziądz Confederation supporting Stanisław Leszczyński (1733–1734);[13]
- Kolbuszowa Confederation supporting Stanisław Leszczyński (1734);[5]
- Dzików Confederation supporting Stanisław Leszczyński (1734);[5]
- Karol Stanisław "Panie Kochanku" Radziwiłł (1764);[5]
- Greek Orthodox believers, demanding the restoration of rights (1767);[5]
- Protestant believers, demanding the restoration of rights (1767);[5]
- Karol Stanisław "Panie Kochanku" Radziwiłł (1767);[5]
- Bar Confederation formed by opponents of king Stanisław August Poniatowski, Russian Empire and the religious minorities (1768–1772);[5]
- Constitution of 3 May (1792–1793);[5]
- Grodno Confederation (1793); and
- Napoleon I and against the Russian Empire (1812–1813).[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Juliusz Bardach, Boguslaw Lesnodorski, and Michal Pietrzak, Historia panstwa i prawa polskiego (Warsaw: Paristwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, 1987, pp. 225–226
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7818-0637-4. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ^ a b Juliusz Bardach, Boguslaw Lesnodorski, and Michal Pietrzak, Historia panstwa i prawa polskiego (Warsaw: Paristwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, 1987, pp. 216–217
- ISBN 978-0-313-03456-5. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7818-0637-4. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-7818-0637-4. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-333-77475-5. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7818-0637-4. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ^ a b Juliusz Bardach (1964). Historia państwa i prawa Polski. Państwowe Wydawn. Naukowe. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ISBN 978-83-01-12163-1. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-24093-2. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ISBN 978-83-86643-32-5. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ Gdańskie Towarzystwo Naukowe; Gdańskie Towarzystwo Naukowe. Wydział I—Nauk Społecznych i Humanistycznych (1986). Rocznik gdański. Gdańskie Towarzystwo Naukowe. p. 126. Retrieved 7 March 2012.