Confederation (Poland)

A konfederacja (Polish for "confederation") was an ad hoc association formed by Polish-Lithuanian szlachta (nobility], clergy, cities, or military forces in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth for the attainment of stated aims. Such "confederations" acted in lieu of state authority or to force their demands upon that authority. Such a "confederation" should not be confused with a political union of territories, the more common meaning of "confederation".

In the late 13th century, confederations of cities appeared; in the mid-14th century, confederations of nobility, directed against the central authorities (1352, 1439). During interregnums, confederations (essentially vigilance committees) formed to replace the inactive royal court, protect internal order, and defend the country from external dangers.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, confederations often opposed the king. A confederation not recognized by the king was considered a rokosz ("rebellion"). Frequent "general confederations" were formed, taking in most or all the Palatinates of the Commonwealth. The executive branch of a confederation was headed by a Marshal.

The confederation's supreme authority was a general council (sejm), which made decisions by majority vote. Such a "confederated sejm" was therefore not subject to disruption by the liberum veto, unlike the national Sejm, which was paralyzed by the veto during this period. On some occasions, a confederated sejm was formed of the whole membership of the national Sejm, so that the liberum veto would not operate there.

Confederations were proscribed in 1717 and by the Constitution of May 3, 1791 (adopted by the Four-Year Sejm of 1788-1792, itself a confederated sejm). But in practice this prohibition was not observed. The May 3rd Constitution was overthrown in mid-1792, by the Targowica Confederation of Polish magnates backed by Russia and eventually joined, under extreme duress, by King Stanisław II August. Ensuing Russian military intervention led (to the Confederates' surprise) to the Second Partition of Poland in 1793.

See also

• Warsaw Confederation
• General Confederation of the Kingdom of Poland
• Confederated sejm
• Sejmik
• Nobles' Democracy
• Rokosz