Stronnictwo królewskie na sejmie 1776 roku

Abstract

The Royal party was very active on seym of 1776. In this seym partisans of king showed their power and rosolved laws, important for Poland. Seym was confederated in Rada Nieustająca and legates from the opposition did not take part in debates (they were not allowed to attend the deliberations). Polish king was going to give more power to Rada Nieustająca. Because of these reforms legates divided into two groups: partisans of king and his opponents. According to the sources the Royal party had the majority of votes (nearly all of them) in Lithuania and more than an eighty per cent in Poland. In senate the king had about 77-78 per cent of votes. The seym of 1776 clearly showed, that the king (as the estate) was very important person and he had decisive influence on deliberations because of his rights (e.g. the right of veto). In this seym the nobility showed their own trends towards full activity. This seym resolved giving more power to Rada Nieustająca (e.g. a right to interpreting of laws), and it was very courageous move. We should notice, that in times of the Great Seym, the Laws Guard will not receive this kind of right. It testifies to power and superiority of the Royal party. The king and legates also criticized on the hetman’s post. The rights of hetmans were limited by the War Departament of Rada Nieustająca. We can conclude, that Seym of 1776 was very important event. It represented turn of Enlightenment in Polish political culture. It also proved, that educated part of the nobility was ready to support Polish king in his activity.