Free choice (1573)

not available ← April 5, 1573 - May 16, 1573 →  1576
Elected King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania
candidate	Henry III.	Ernst of Austria	Johann III.
Political party	French faction	Habsburg faction	Protestant faction
candidate	Ivan IV	Albrecht Friedrich
Political party	Lithuanian Group	Protestant faction
Before the election of Sigismund II August		Elected Heinrich III.

The free election of 1573 was the first of its kind to determine the king and grand duke of the Royal Republic of the Polish Crown and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by the nobility as a whole. It took place between April 5 and May 16, 1573 in view of the death of Sigismund II August .

Starting position

Sigismund II probably died of tuberculosis on July 7, 1572. The death was not unexpected for the elites of the Rzeczpospolita , as his health had deteriorated since the spring. Nonetheless, unrest spread among the citizens because the succession of a descendant king was not regulated. The interim leadership through offices and courts aroused fear of anarchic conditions in the population. In addition, there were disputes between the two states of the personal union. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania demanded the return of the Kiev and Podlaskie Voivodeships and the Podlaskie and Volhynia regions , which were incorporated into the Kingdom of Poland as part of the Union of Lublin . Differences between the execution movement and the magnates, as well as between Catholics and Protestants, persisted. In addition, a conflict broke out between Greater and Lesser Poland .

Sigismund II August (portrayed by Marcin Ostrowski )

Ecclesiastical senators from Wielkopolska had already gathered in Łowicz because of the deteriorating condition of Sigismund August . Those present spoke out in favor of the highest ranking Senator Jakub Uchański becoming the acting head of state. Uchański was both Primate Poloniae and Archbishop of Gniezno . A second camp was established around the Marshal of the Crown and Krakow starost Jan Firlej . As the highest-ranking representative of the secular senators and at the same time the informal leader of the Calvinists , he also laid claim to the office of Interrex . The decision made in Łowicz was rejected by the Kujavian and Wielkopolska Szlachta . Firlej, on the other hand, was weakened by the lack of support from the Protestant voivod Piotr Zborowski . There were also differences of opinion between the Senators of Greater Poland and Lesser Poland about the electoral process. While the senators from Lesser Poland - supported by the magnates Jan Zamoyski and Mikołaj Sienicki - forced an "electio viritim", the Senators from Greater Poland feared chaos. Their acceptance was a king election over representatives.

After the king's death, the nobility began to organize. There were at least 16 noble assemblies in the Kingdom of Poland. As a result, general confederations were formed which guaranteed internal and external security. Legal cases were the Femegerichten transmitted because the ordinary courts judged on behalf of the sovereign. At the urging of the nobility, a meeting of Great and Minor Poland dignitaries was organized in Kaski . As a result, the parties agreed to hold a Konvokationssejm (Polish Sejm konwokacyjny ) in Warsaw. In addition to carrying out the election of a king, he was also authorized to deal with the protection of the state border, foreign policy and monetary matters.

At the beginning of the interregnum, the candidate question remained secondary. The main focus was on the right to vote and the removal of legal loopholes in order to prevent the king from becoming arbitrary.

Convocation sejm

Confederation of Warsaw

The Konvokationssejm was first convened on January 6, 1573. The nobility negated its legality, since it was reserved only for the king to convene a meeting. In order to limit the influence of the Senate, the appointment of a marshal was waived. In addition, the meetings were chaired on a rotating basis by MPs from other voivodeships. As a result, the election date could be set, the remote courts approved and unified, and new taxes introduced. In addition, every Szlachcic was allowed to participate in the election of the king, although attendance was not compulsory. The election was to be held in the Mazovia region near Warsaw, which, due to the local denominations, had a positive effect on the Catholic faction. The Warsaw Religious Peace was enacted in order to maintain religious peace and enable a smooth election . No Lithuanian nobles came to the Konvokationssejm, only observers sent by Lithuanian senators. Although the demand of the Grand Duchy to return the former Lithuanian territories continued, the risk of the Union of Lublin being terminated due to the Russian threat in the form of Tsar Ivan IV was limited.

Candidates

Ernst von Habsburg (portrayed by Martino Rota )

The most promising candidate for the royal throne in the period before the elections and at the beginning of the Wahlsejm (Polish Sejm elekcyjny ) was Ernst von Habsburg , who enjoyed the support of the Primate Jakub Uchański. The good relations between Poland-Lithuania and the Holy Roman Empire also had a positive effect on the candidacy . These improved after Sigismund II gave up the expansion policy in the Czech Republic and Hungary. The nobility, however, feared aristocratic rule and thus the underrepresentation of the classes ; the Habsburg monarchy was known to put the dynasty above territorial integrity . There were considerations about a possible alliance of the Habsburgs with Russia against the Ottoman Empire , but there were fears that this could be connected with compensatory assignments of territory to Russia. The Protestants also had great misgivings because they assumed that political and religious freedoms would be restricted.

Many Protestants were the Swede Johann III. (Husband of Katharina Jagiellonica ) inclined because he was associated with the continuation of the Jagiellonian tradition. However, due to his Protestant beliefs, the applicant had little chance of success. In addition, Swedish law prohibited the ruler from staying outside the country's borders. The son of Sigismund III. was of Catholic faith, but was no longer considered due to his minority.

While Sigismund II was still alive, the Piast Duke Friedrich III. acted as a possible successor. This died however in the year 1570. His son Heinrich XI. disqualified himself given his lavish lifestyle. Furthermore, a candidate from the Rzeczpospolita (analogous to Johann Zápolya ) was at risk of civil war.

Ivan the Terrible (unknown painter)

A serious candidate for the throne was the Russian Tsar Ivan IV. His son Fyodor I was also taken into account. Despite the knowledge of the tsar's sadistic tendencies and atrocities (see Oprichnina ), the Lithuanian candidacy was supported by the Radziwiłł family and a large number of Polish nobles. The supporters promised that the tsar would put an end to the ongoing border conflicts. Furthermore, it is assumed that the nobles of the execution movement could have promised his unconditional action against the boyars . In contrast to the Habsburgs, the Rurikide was associated with an expansion of noble privileges. Incidentally, there was no fear that the Orthodox churches would be given preference with the accompanying persecution of people of different faiths.

Despite receiving the Lithuanian embassy, ​​the tsar showed no interest in the Polish crown either himself or for his son. Ivan IV. Guaranteed Adel Although privileges, but at the same time presented unacceptable demands for an incorporation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania until the Daugava by Tsardom and the merger of Poland, Lithuania and Russia in a political union with hereditary monarchy . In the end, the candidacy was rejected after the Tsar did not send any envoys to the Wahlsejm. The support of the Radziwiłł family was probably motivated by political calculations in order to minimize the risk of a Russian invasion of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the interregnum.

Henry III. (portrayed by Jean de Court )

Another promising applicant was Heinrich III. , Brother of the French King Charles IX. His candidacy was assessed during Sigismund II's lifetime. In 1566, the court dwarf Jan Krassowski made Caterina de 'Medici aware of her son's possible candidacy for the Polish throne. France linked with the candidacy of Henry III. a reduction in Habsburg influence, a new ally against the "House of Rakuski" and economic advantages through trade on the Baltic Sea . Carol IX could in turn get rid of his potential competitor Henri von Valois in this way. Before the death of Sigismund, the French royal family sent Jean de Montluc de Balagny , who managed to win the support of the Zborowski family and the Grand Chancellor of the Crown, Walenty Dembiński . An official delegation around the Bishop of Valence Jean de Monluc was sent on August 17, 1572. The gifted ambassador Monluc succeeded in promoting the French candidates, so that his unclear role in the Bartholomew Night had done no harm to him. Despite the massacre of the Huguenots, Monluc idealized the French heir to the throne as a tolerant personality. At the same time, the French promoted Henry III in the states of the Holy Roman Empire, Venice, Rome and the Ottoman Empire. Of great importance was the support of the apostolic legate Giovanni Commendone , who was increasingly irritated as a result of intrigues by the Habsburg faction (initiated by the Primate Stanisław Karnkowski and the Apostolic Nuncio and Archbishop Vincenzo dal Portico ). Henri von Valois continued to benefit from the fear of a strong Habsburg monarchy and the hope that the Turkish wars would soon end as a result of good Franco-Ottoman relations. In addition, a wealthy ruler offered the opportunity to improve the budget situation.

choice

The Rzeczpospolita at the zenith of its power. Golden freedom . The election in 1573 (painted by Jan Matejko )

A copy of Heinrich III's election protocol. for the city of Poznan

The Wahlsejm began on April 5, 1573 on the election field in Kamion . Due to the hard and long winter, only a few nobles had traveled from distant provinces, whereas the Masovian nobility had appeared in large numbers . The Wahlsejm met on a place - delimited by a moat - which was intended for the senators. All around the nobles were divided according to the respective voivodships. In addition to the Habsburg, Swedish, Russian and French candidacies, Duke Albrecht Friedrich of Prussia was also considered. A Piast king was considered without a name. The candidacy of Johann III. was canceled after his greatest supporter Jan Firlej had appeared with an armed unit including cannons . He was accused of violently influencing the election.

Ivan IV decided not to send an embassy. The demands made to incorporate Lithuania into the tsarist regime were also fatal for Ernst von Habsburg. According to rumors, a Russian-Habsburg alliance should lead to the division of the confederation. The establishment of a Piast became a farce after a certain Piotr Opaliński proposed the simple Szlachcic from Bydgoszcz Wawrzyniec Słupski . Valois experienced increasing popularity, which was successfully advertised by Monluc. During the presentation of the individual applicants, Monluc impressed the nobility with a three-hour speech marked by promises. The speech had already been translated into Polish and 1,500 printed copies were distributed to the electorate. Henry III. got the support of Anna Jagiellonica , who enjoyed a high reputation among the Masovian nobility. For 100,000 ducats and the promise of a revision of the Lublin Union, Monluc bought the support of the Radziwiłł and Chodkiewicz families . The latter represented the majority of the Lithuanians present, who had great leverage in threatening to terminate the Union of Lublin.

The hearing of the embassies from neighboring countries, monetary and military matters and disputes in Royal Prussia dragged the election out. At the beginning of May the Masovian nobility put pressure on the primate to begin electing a king and otherwise threatened to negotiate the election on their own. The ballot papers were collected between May 3rd and 9th. Henry III. emerged as the clear winner with a lead in 22 to 10 voivodeships. The next day the opposing Firlej camp left Kamion and went to Grochów . The mediator Piotr Zborowski was seconded to prevent independence and double election . A consensus probably came after the faction of Heinich III. had reaffirmed the religious peace anchored in the Confederation of Warsaw. On May 11, 1573, Primate Uchański nominated Henri von Valois as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. The French embassy thereupon took the obligatory oath on the Articuli Henriciani and the Pacta conventa . On May 16, Heinrich III. proclaimed the new king by the Marshal of the Crown Jan Firlej. His coronation followed on February 21, 1574.

Remarks

1. ↑ Direct election of the king by the whole of the nobility.
2. ↑ "Rakusy": after the ethnographer Zygmunt Gloger , this is an old Polish term for Austria; the original name probably refers to a Germanic tribe.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Stanisław Cynarski: Zygmunt August. Ossolineum , Wrocław 2004, ISBN 83-04-04714-4 , pp. 201-202.
2. ↑ ^{a b} Stanisław Płaza: Wielkie bezkrólewia. Krajowa Agencja Wydawnicza, Kraków 1988, ISBN 8303023292 , p. 4.
3. ↑ Ewa Dubas-Urwanowicz: Koronne zjazdy szlacheckie w dwóch pierwszych bezkrólewiach po śmierci Zygmunta Augusta. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Białostockiego, Białystok 1998, ISBN 83-86423-84-6 , p. 12.
4. ↑ Ewa Dubas-Urwanowicz: Koronne zjazdy szlacheckie w dwóch pierwszych bezkrólewiach po śmierci Zygmunta Augusta. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Białostockiego, Białystok 1998, ISBN 83-86423-84-6 , p. 11.
5. ↑ Anna SEARCHi-Grabowska: Spory Królów ze Szlachta w Złotym wieku. Krajowa Agencja Wydawnicza, Kraków 1988, ISBN 8303020390 , p. 55.
6. ↑ Wacław Sobieski: Trybun ludu szlacheckiego. Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warszawa 1978, pp. 127-129.
7. ^ Mariusz Markiewicz: Historia Polski 1492-1795. Wydawnictwo Literackie, Kraków 2002, ISBN 9788308041284 , p. 388.
8. ^ Zbigniew Wójcik: Historia powszechna. Wiek XVI-XVII. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa 1991, ISBN 9788301146030 , pp. 214-215 or pp. 314-315.
9. ^ Stanisław Grzybowski: Dzieje Polski i Litwy (1505-1648). FOGRA Oficyna Wydawnicza, Kraków 2003, ISBN 8385719482 , p. 476.
10. ↑ Urszula Augustyniak: Historia Polski 1572-1795. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa 2008, ISBN 9788301155926 , p. 535.
11. ^ Stanisław Grzybowski: Dzieje Polski i Litwy (1505-1648). FOGRA Oficyna Wydawnicza, Kraków 2003, ISBN 8385719482 , p. 477.
12. ↑ Stanisław Cynarski: Zygmunt August. Ossolineum , Wrocław 2004, ISBN 83-04-04714-4 , p. 163.
13. ^ Beata de Robien: Le nain du roi de Pologne. Plon, Paris 1994, ISBN 2-259-18052-3 . Polish counterpart: Beata de Robien: Karzeł króla Jegomości. Twój Styl, 1995, ISBN 8385443800 .
14. ^ Zygmunt Gloger: Encyklopedia staropolska. In: literat.ug.edu.pl. Retrieved September 3, 2017 (Polish). 
15. ↑ Stanisław Płaza: bezkrólewia Wielkie. Krajowa Agencja Wydawnicza, Kraków 1988, ISBN 8303023292 , pp. 14-17.
16. ↑ Urszula Augustyniak: Historia Polski 1572-1795. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa 2008, ISBN 9788301155926 , p. 536.
17. ↑ Ewa Dubas-Urwanowicz: Koronne zjazdy szlacheckie w dwóch pierwszych bezkrólewiach po śmierci Zygmunta Augusta. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Białostockiego, Białystok 1998, ISBN 83-86423-84-6 , p. 270.
18. ↑ Wacław Sobieski: Trybun ludu szlacheckiego. Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warszawa 1978, p. 134.
19. ↑ Urszula Augustyniak: Historia Polski 1572-1795. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa 2008, ISBN 9788301155926 , p. 537.
20. ^ Stanisław Grzybowski: Dzieje Polski i Litwy (1505-1648). FOGRA Oficyna Wydawnicza, Kraków 2003, ISBN 8385719482 , p. 481.
21. ↑ Ewa Dubas-Urwanowicz: Koronne zjazdy szlacheckie w dwóch pierwszych bezkrólewiach po śmierci Zygmunta Augusta. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Białostockiego, Białystok 1998, ISBN 83-86423-84-6 , pp. 272-274.