Sejm of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The sejm (
History
Number of Sejm Meetings[1] | ||
---|---|---|
Reign | Location | Times |
Casimir IV Jagiellon (1440–1492) |
Vilnius | 7 |
Brest | 4 | |
Hrodna |
2 | |
Navahradak |
1 | |
Alexander Jagiellon (1492–1506) |
Vilnius | 3 |
Sigismund I the Old (1506–1548) |
Vilnius | 13 |
Brest | 4 | |
Hrodna |
1 | |
Navahradak |
1 | |
Sigismund II Augustus I (1548–1564) |
Vilnius | 3 |
Minsk | 1 | |
Total | 40 |
The first traces of large nobility meetings can be found in the
At first the Sejm did not have the legislative power. It would debate on foreign and domestic affairs, taxes, wars, state budget.[1] At the beginning of the 16th century, the Sejm acquired some legislative powers. The Sejm could petition the Grand Duke to pass certain laws.[1] The Duke usually granted the request as he needed nobility's support and cooperation. At first members of the Sejm were members of the Council of Lords and high state officials. Only gradually all interested nobles could attend the meetings.[2] No invitation was necessary to attend.[1] As the importance of Sejm grew, nobles from more distant regions started electing representatives from their districts and sending them to the meeting. However, the Sejm was dominated by the magnates as they were much more politically active and lesser nobles were more passive observers.[3] However, gradually the lesser nobles understood that the Sejm gave them power to block new taxes and by mid-16th century they started to demand more privileges for themselves. Thus the Sejm shifted from magnate-controlled political tool to a representation of all nobles.[3] This shift was influenced by a similar movement in Poland.
Major reforms were carried out between 1564 and 1566, just before the Union of Lublin. According to the Second
When the separate Sejm for Lithuania was officially abolished in 1569, it adopted the name of Lithuanian Convocations and continued to meet until the
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės parlamentas (XV-XVIIIa.)" (in Lithuanian). Seimas. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
- ^ ISBN 9986-567-81-5.
- ^ ISBN 9986-810-13-2.
- OCLC 20017802.