Wpływy opozycji magnackiej na sejmikach ziemi chełmskiej w latach 1778–1786

Abstract

The leading magnate families forming the anti-royalist opposition of the period of the Permanent Council were influential in Chełm Land. The Rzewuskis were associated with Siedliska. Luboml played an important role in the activities of Hetman Franciszek Ksawery Branicki’s supporters. At the 1784 parliament, Stanislaw Szczęsny Potocki took the side of the opposition. Szczęsny Potocki, as voivode of Rus (from 1782), had the right to convene the Chelm electoral sejm. The article traces the rivalry between the magnate opposition and the regalist party at Chelm sejmiks during the “free” sejms of the period of the Permanent Council (1778–1786). In 1778, the opposition succeeded in Chelm in electing Jozef Mierzejewski, who was associated with Hetman Branicki and his sister Elisabeth Sapieha, as MP. In 1780, the sejmik of deputies, which was “split,” had a tumultuous course. In 1782, the deputy sejmik brought success to the opposition. Both Chełm deputies supported at the sejm an opposition motion on the incapacitation of the bishop of Cracow, Kajetan Sołtyk. The changes in the organization of the regalist party in the eastern Crown, which were carried out in 1783, affected the balance of power in the Chelm region. In 1783-1784, regalists dominated the assemblies. Even the transition to the opposition of Szczesny Potocki at the Sejm of Grodno did not change this situation. The opposition managed to partially regain influence in 1786.This was the result of an intensive sejmik campaign conducted by Hetman Branicki’s supporters. However, it is difficult to consider that this was a complete success for the opposition.The second parliamentary seat was given to regalist Franciszek Kunicki, the Chełm chamberlain.The deputies’ instructions were also in line with the king’s expectations. Translated by Stefan Kubiak