Sejm i sejmiki I Rzeczypospolitej w relacjach dyplomatów włoskich

Abstract

The article draws attention to the role of the accounts of foreigners staying in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, describing the sejms, and to a lesser extent the sejmiks (local assemblies). Particularly important are the reports of permanent representatives of papal diplomacy, nuncios especially interested in the parliamentary proceedings in connection with the threat of Reformation trends, or efforts to introduce the principles of the Council of Trent. Like the Venetian diplomats, the Holy See was also very interested in engaging Poland in the fight against the Crescent. We currently have many accounts published as part of the “Acta Nuntiaturae Polonae” series, which currently consists of 64 volumes. The characteristics of the political elite of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth are interesting, particularly the account of Honorato Visconti from 1636. This nuncio described 56 people who played a significant role in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Reports from the sejms and the election sejm in the reports of Italian diplomats, as well as other foreign envoys, constitute interesting comparative material in research on the functioning of Polish nobility democracy. Polish influence undoubtedly played a role in the creation and nature of many reports sent by diplomats to their principals in Italy. Many diplomats had informal, social ties with various people from the elite of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. [Translated by Stefan Kubiak]