What is szlachta w rzeczypospolitej obojga narodów?

Szlachta in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

The szlachta (Polish nobility) held a unique and powerful position within the https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Polish-Lithuanian%20Commonwealth (Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów). Their privileges and influence shaped the political, social, and economic landscape of the Commonwealth for centuries.

• Political Power: The szlachta wielded significant political control through institutions like the https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Sejm (Parliament). The Sejm held legislative power and elected the King, who was essentially a primus inter pares (first among equals). The principle of liberum veto, which allowed any single member of the Sejm to nullify a law, further amplified their influence and, eventually, contributed to political paralysis. The Royal elections were also controlled by the szlachta, who voted directly for the monarch.

• Privileges: The szlachta enjoyed extensive legal and economic privileges. These included exemption from most taxes (though this varied over time), the right to own land and serfs, the right to hold office, and the right to bear arms. They were also subject to their own courts and laws. The https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Nihil%20novi act of 1505 was especially important in establishing that no new laws could be passed without the consent of the szlachta.

• Social Hierarchy: The szlachta formed the upper stratum of society, sharply differentiated from the peasantry and townsfolk. While there were distinctions within the szlachta based on wealth and influence (from the powerful magnates to the poorer zagrodowa szlachta), they all shared a sense of belonging to a privileged class with distinct rights and obligations. The concept of https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Szlachta%20Equality further solidified this shared identity.

• Economic Activities: The szlachta primarily engaged in agriculture, managing their estates and relying on the labor of serfs. They actively participated in the grain trade, exporting surplus agricultural products, especially grain, to Western Europe. This economic activity reinforced their power and wealth.

• Sarmatism: A distinct ideology known as https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Sarmatism developed among the szlachta, emphasizing their supposed descent from the ancient Sarmatians, valor, military prowess, and a conservative lifestyle. This ideology heavily influenced their culture, values, and political views.

• Decline: Over time, internal divisions, economic pressures, and external threats weakened the Commonwealth. The excessive privileges of the szlachta, including the liberum veto, contributed to political instability and ultimately played a role in the partitions of Poland at the end of the 18th century. The constant struggle for power among the different szlachta families left Poland-Lithuania vulnerable.