Historical calendar: anniversary of the adoption by the Warsaw Sejm of alleged cardinal rights. These solutions were imposed on Poland by Tsarica Catherine.
Today in our calendar we will look at the circumstances accompanying this event.
Partial reforms of the country, taken after the accession to the throne supported by Russia by Stanisław August Poniatowski, did not like his powers. Therefore, in 1767 the alleged Sejm Repninowski was established under the confederation node. He conducted under cover of 40,000 Russian corps, a revision of any of the reforms undertaken so far.
Key to political competitions of the Russian Ambassador Nikolai Repnin, it turned out to be playing on emotions, and these mainly raised spiritual issues and laws of alleged dissidents (innovators). The erstwhile primate of Poland Władysław Lubieński, who opposed equality, the Russians poisoned. He was replaced by completely obedient orders from St. Petersburg Gabriel Podoski – a womanizer, atheist and mason. He did not object to the designation of the rights of innouns. At the same time, the Russians supported the establishment of 2 mutually opposing confederations – Catholic and innovative.
In order to terrorise any of the reluctant Members, Repnin conducted arrests and exports into Russia of the leaders of the patriotic wing of the Radom Confederacy – Bishop of Kajetan Sołtyk, Bishop of Józef Załuski, Hetman of the Crown of Wacław Rzewuski and his boy Seweryn.
The function of the king himself in this event was unclear. According to any sources, he personally reported the above to Repnin, considering them as damaging to Russian interests. The fact is, that shortly after the arrests, Poniatowski reviewed the Czarski troops during their maneuvers at Warsaw.
After pacification of patriots, the basic constitutional principles of the Republic of Poland, the alleged cardinal laws, which were to be guaranteed by Tsarica Catherine, were edited. Cardinal's rights consisted of: free election, veto liberal, the anticipation of declaring obedience to the king in the form of confederacy and the exclusive right of nobility to hold offices and property on land. On February 24, 1768, Poland signed with Russia the alleged treatise of perpetual relationship by which it became de jure Russian protectorate.
The Repninowski Sejm granted full political rights to dissidents, although it besides guaranteed the privileged position of the Catholic Church. Also, the rule of majority voting on land Sejmes was introduced, not crucial from the Russian point of view. During the meeting, Stanisław August cried and then fainted as any MPs tried to convince him to break the politics of clientelism towards Russia. In his letter to Repnin, he wrote about the effects of Nikita Panin, 1 of the chief counselors of the czarica:
“with its free voice, and with specified cardinal rights, Poland will stay forever, with its interior powerlessness, political zero for us.”
The situation in the country led to a violent patriotic and Catholic nobility against the treacherous king and his protectors from Russia. In February 1768 a confederacy was established at the Bar, now called the Bar Confederation. Its aim was to drop the Russian yoke, dethrone Stanislaus Augustus, abolish the cardinal rights and equality of hostile Poland dissidents.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.
