Familia (party)

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The Familia was a political party in Poland-Lithuania in the 18th century.

history

The Familia originated in Warsaw at the beginning of the 18th century in the multi-ethnic state of Poland-Lithuania, which was then an aristocratic republic . Its aim was to carry out far-reaching reforms of the state apparatus, democratic institutions and the social community against the background of the influence of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Russian Empire . The latter had especially after the Second Northern War from 1655 to 1661, which was called the Swedish Floodwent down in Polish-Lithuanian history, and the associated weakening of the Polish-Lithuanian armed forces expanded its geopolitical authority in Central Europe .

The initiators of the party were the influential magnate families Czartoryski and Poniatowski . Its members included personalities such as the art patron Michał Ogiński , the diplomat Andrzej Hieronim Zamoyski and the grand treasurer Georg von Flemming . In terms of content, their followers were part of the intellectual and social movement of the Enlightenment .

In 1754 the Familia came into opposition to the Polish King August III, who had ruled since 1733 . which she accused of courtly decadence and political weakness. After his death in 1763, their supporters led to a de facto coup d'état a year later with the support of Russian troops . The free elections of 1764 , which were to be held according to rank , were therefore strongly influenced by the party. Their followers viewed themselves as patriots , but at the same time tried to avoid provocations against the militarily rearming foreign countries. For this reason, the chairman of the Familia , August Aleksander Czartoryski , also approved the sending of Russian troops to ensure order during the election.

On September 7, 1764, her candidate, Stanisław August Poniatowski , who was also the preferred candidate of the Russian Empress Catherine II , won the election of the Polish king . For this reason, the Confederation of Bar, which opposed the Familia , was formed in 1768 .

During the parliamentary period from 1788 to 1792 , however, the family and the government camp broke up. With the support of her MP Ignacy Potocki , however, she was significantly involved in the adoption of the first modern European constitution, the constitution of May 3, 1791 .

After the final partition of Poland , the Familia formed a government in exile under Adam Jerzy Czartoryski in Paris .

literature

  • Włodzimierz Bernacki: Myśl polityczna I Rzeczpospolitej. Krakow 2011, ISBN 978-83-60940-10-5 .
  • Wojciech Stanek: Konfederacje a ewolucja mechanizmów walki politycznej w Rzeczypospolitej XVIII wieku. In: Krystyna Stasiewicz, Stanisław Achremczyk (eds.): Między barokiem a oświeceniem. Allenstein 1996, ISBN 83-87643-80-7 .
  • Zofia Zielińska: Walka Familii o reformę Rzeczypospolitej 1743–1752. Warsaw 1983, ISBN 83-01-04268-0 .