The Representation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the final stage of the seym of Lublin (June–August 1569)

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Abiejų Tautų Respublikos Seimas; Bajorai; Etninė kilmė; Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė (LDK; Grand Duchy of Lithuania; GDL); Liublino unija, 1569 (Union of Lublin); Parlamentarizmas; Politinis elitas; Seimas; Visuomeninis statusas; Šlėchta; Diet/Sejm; District envoys; Nobles; Parliamentarism; Political elites; The Grand Duchy of Lithuania; The ethnic origin; The general seym; The social status; The szlachta; Union of Lublin.

ENThe aim of the article is the analysis of the composition of the representation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at the last stage of the seym of Lublin in June–August 1569. Most envoys of the Grand Duchy belonged to the lower and middle szlachta. Envoys belonging to the titled or affluent szlachta constituted a minority. Voivodeships and counties in Lublin were normally represented by nobles connected with the land they represented, mostly of Ruthenian (Belarussian and Ukrainian) and Lithuanian origin. The percentage of envoys with Polish roots was relatively high – they had lived in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for some time. Most envoys of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were officials at the county level or nobles holding no offices. Many envoys were connected with the judicial system of the Grand Duchy. Let us underline that over half of the envoys had been associated with the hospodar’s court earlier. I think that it is an important evidence for the influence of Sigismund Augustus on the election and activity of representatives of the Grand Duchy in Lublin in the summer of 1569. At the same time, the data acquired show that almost two-thirds of envoys participated actively in the public life of the state. Many envoys enjoyed esteem and authority among the local szlachta – they tended to evince a high level of political culture and legal knowledge. About one-third of the envoys of the Grand Duchy for the seym of Lublin after 1569 achieved higher levels of the political career. Nevertheless, only four of them managed to enter the senate of the Rzeczpospolita.

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