Szlachta Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Szlachta (pronounced: ) were the privileged class in Poland from the late middle ages up to 18th and to a lesser extent to the 19th century.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Rise of szlachta 3 Religious beliefs 4 Related articles 5 External links |
The origins of the szlachta can be probably traced to a Slavic class of free warriors. However, this is far from certain, as there is very little documentation on the early history of Poland.
There were many differences between the szlachta and the nobility in other countries, the most important being that while the power of nobility wanded and rulers gained power steering their countries towards absolute monarchy, in Poland the reverse process happened: szlachta gained power at the expence of the king and political system was evolving towards democracy (or as some argue anarchy).
Thus szlachta had many rights that no other noble class had, and each new king granted more and more priviliges to szlachta. Near the end of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth members of Szlachta could legally make confederations, that is armed rebellions, against the king or state officers if they thought that the law was being broken. The szlachta were also more numerable than the usual noble class - about 10% of population of Poland, and in some regions like Mazowsze even about 30% population were members of the szlachta - while the usual percentage in Europe was closer to 1-3% (with the exception of Spain). The king was elected by all members of the szlachta, and that no change in law or other important decision like taxation or declaration of war could be made by unilateral decision of the king. Instead, all changes had to be approved by representants of the szlachta from all lands during the Sejm. During the Jagiellonian Dynasty, candidates were chosen from all members of the dynasty; later, there were no limitations on the choice of candidates.
Szlachta were also protected by laws similar to Habeas corpus (a law called neminem captivabimus - granted by the act of Jedlnia, 1430) and had many privileges that were denied to all other classes. The act of nihil novi of 1505 greatly strenghtened the political position of szlachta.
The system was quite complex - many types of laws required unanimity (liberum veto) of all lands, others just a majority. Despite having a king, Poland was called the Republic (Rzeczpospolita) at that time because the king was elected and Poland was considered to be property of the class, not of the king or ruling dynasty.
Until the Reformation, the Polish szlachta were mostly Catholic or Orthodox. However, many families quickly adopted the reformed religions. After the Counter-Reformation, when the Roman Catholic Church regained power in Poland, the szlachta became almost exclusively Catholic, despite the fact that Roman Catholics were not the majority religion in Poland (the Catholic and the Orthodox churches counted approximately 40% of the population each, while the remaining 20% were Jews and members of various Protestant churches).
In the 17th century many followers of Jacob Frank joined the ranks of Polish gentry of Jewish origins.
This is an Article on Szlachta. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Szlachta Origins
Rise of szlachta
Religious beliefs
Related articles
External links