Magnateria a sejmiki i zjazdy wielkopolskie w dobie rokoszu Zebrzydowskiego

Abstract

The subject of interest is the activity of the magnates at the Środa sejmiki and conventions convened by the rebels and royalists during the rebellion. Included are pre-sejm, post-sejm and deputy assemblies, the Koło general, conventions convened on the occasion of municipal and land courts. The strategies of political struggle used in the various phases of the rokosz movement were examined. We were interested in what methods of influencing the nobility were used and under what circumstances they were used. The Zebrzydowski’s rebellion turned out to be an excellent testing ground for the study of these issues, due to the density of political events and their varied nature. Greater Poland proper was shown against the background of the other Greater Poland provinces, namely Sieradz and Łęczyca. This portrayal was determined by the similar rather strong position of the middle and wealthy nobility, which, in the face of the relatively weak, especially in terms of property, magnate, was even slightly larger than in Greater Poland proper. In addition, the Sieradz province and the Łęczyca province oriented themselves, as a rule, to the Środa sejmik. The analysis of the sources showed that the strategy of the magnates in all Greater Poland provinces was similar, as the goal of the action was identical as well, namely to cause the greatest possible absenteeism at the rebellion convention in order to undermine its authority in the eyes of the nobility as much as possible. It should also be emphasized that any forceful confrontation was carefully avoided. Translated by Stefan Kubiak