Historical calendar: anniversary of the edition by Tadeusz Kościuszko of the University of Polaniecki, directed mainly at the Polish population from the peasant state.
Today, in our calendar, we will look at the provisions of this document.
The triumph at Racławice on 4 April 1794 had a major impact on the morale of the troops, but it had no strategical importance due to the fact that it did not open the way for insurgents to the capital. Very rapidly the insurgent troops were ambushed under the Pole. There, on May 7, the dictator of the uprising Tadeusz Kościuszko issued a universal in which he promised to abolish the serfdom of any peasant who would join the fight against the Russian aggressor.
The Połaniecki University was a legal act aimed at improving the situation of serfdom. Its full name was: "Universal holding the duties of the principals and providing them with effective government care, property safety and justice in the order commissions".
The legal basis for this act was Article IV of the 3rd May Constitution guaranteeing peasants the protection of the law of the Warsaw Government, although only in respect of contracts concluded with nobility. specified agreements could not be freely amended by landowners and their legal successors.
The constitutional evidence defined peasants as the nation's largest population, which should be treated in accordance with the principles of justice and Christian responsibilities. These alternatively general wordings were the starting point for all subsequent improvement plans aimed at reducing and yet abolishing peasant submission.
The main reason for the universal was the desire to argue the Moscow propaganda, which set the peasants against the nobility, encouraging them to attack the courts. On the another hand, Kościuszko hoped to support the peasantry for his cause. In addition to the regular army, in his plans, troops formed on the basis of a common start – battalions of Cossiniers and Piciniers were to fight.
The Połaniecki University was expected to make it easier for peasants to join these troops by releasing them for the duration of the war from the work of the serfdom. In addition, he announced the abolition of the subjection of individual peasants, mostly limited the dimension of the state, granted the right to leave the village after fulfilling certain conditions (compliance with obligations towards you, notification of the order commission on the place of resettlement), and besides guaranteed irreparability from the ground.
By eliminating the judicial power of the lords over the peasants, The university introduced a peculiar caretaker office. He was to represent peasant affairs before state offices. 1 caretaker was to have a territory of 1,000 to 1,200 farms under his care.
Most of the nobles were opposed to the resolutions of the University and tried to prevent it from being implemented, mainly due to their economical interest – it limited the state by about half. After the collapse of the uprising, the universe was annulled by the possessive authorities. In the 19th century, however, it became a symbol of the conflict to improve the situation of the peasants and a model to be followed by patriots working among them at the base.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here..
