Golden Liberty: the Crucial Point in Political Thought of the Noble State in the Republic of Both Nations in the 17th and 18th Century

Authors:

Pages: 219-226
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/MLFF7139

Abstract:

The purpose of this article is to show the political thought concerning „the liberty of the nobility” commented by writers and authors of political treatises of the 17th and 18th centuries. Such a timeframe allows the presentation of opinions about the liberty of the nobility expressed before and shortly after Poland’s loss of independence. The first part of the paper provides information on the social and political situation of the 18th century Poland and explains such concepts as the nobles’ democracy, priviliges of the nobility, the „Golden Liberty of the Nobles”, free election, and the liberum veto. A short discussion of these notions contributes to a better understanding of the specific nature of the political system of the Polish- Lithuanian Commonwealth, and therefore, facilitates an analysis of the comments included in the second part. The summary of the paper groups the main opinions about Liberty; however, without evaluation of those opinions.

Keywords:

Golden Liberty, 18th century, noble state, Poland

Download

NA