Danzig arbitrariness

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The Gdansk arbitrariness , Gdansk law , Gdansk constitution was the city ​​law valid in Gdansk for many centuries .

The word arbitrariness means “that which is chosen with will”. Until the 18th century, in the German language - contrary to modern usage - it referred to a legal regulation or a collection of legal provisions.

Around 1224, the East Pomeranian Duke Swantopolk II (Zwantepolc de Danceke) granted Luebian law to the German merchant settlement in Danzig. After Danzig was taken over by the Teutonic Order in 1308, the so-called right city was created . A small artisan settlement was granted restricted rights around 1370, the old town of Gdańsk .

In 1440, the Rechtstadt was a founding member of the Prussian Federation , which was directed against the rule of the Teutonic Order, and the old town joined a few weeks later. In 1452 the Prussian cities got their privileges and celebrations from Emperor Friedrich III. confirm that the Teutonic Order, which also had the emperor as overlord, was prevented from offending their privileges and celebrations. The federation rose up against the order in 1454, which triggered the Thirteen Years' War among the cities of Prussia. The independent, but now allied with the Polish king, Danzig had a legal system created according to its own will, and thus in the sense of the term arbitrary , probably based on older drafts. In return for the loyalty to the respective Polish king as patron, he had to recognize the Danzig special rights in the "Danzig Privilege".

There have been various revisions of arbitrariness in Gdansk over the centuries . Research differentiates:

  • The oldest known written constitution of Gdańsk's arbitrariness dates from 1455
  • The second oldest Gdańsk arbitrariness probably originated between 1479 and 1500.
  • The arbitrariness of 1574.
  • The arbitrariness of 1597.
  • The arbitrariness of 1761.

Even after Danzig became part of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1793 , the arbitrariness of 1761 initially continued to apply. It was only replaced on October 1, 1857 by the introduction of West Prussian provincial law in Danzig.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Price publications, Fürstlich Jablonowski'sche Gesellschaft zu Leipzig, Weidmann, 1847 [reference]
  2. ^ Gottfried Lengnich ius publicum civitatis, Kaiser Friedrich III. 1452 confirmed the rights and privileges of the Prussian cities
  3. ↑ [1]

literature

  • Paul Simson: History of Danzig Arbitrariness . Sources and representations on the history of West Prussia No. 3. Danzig 1904. Reprint: Nicolaus-Copernicus-Verlag, Münster 2006, ISBN 978-3-924238-36-0 .