Historical calendar: the anniversary of the completion of the first always free election of the Polish king. The French candidate, Henry Valezius, became the ruler.
Today in our calendar we will look at the circumstances of this event.
On July 7, 1572, Sigmund August died. Under pre-established law, royal powers were taken over interrex in the individual of the Primate of Poland Jakub Uchański. The way of the fresh ruler was to be free selection with the participation of the general nobility of the Republic. The Austrian Emperor's boy was reported as candidates Ernest Habsburg, brother of King Henry Valezius of France, Tsar of Moscow Ivan IV The Terrible and King of Sweden John III Vasa.
The convocational parliament, which started its deliberations in early 1573 in Warsaw, determined that the election parliament would be held in the field around the village of Kamien close Warsaw. During the stormy winter-morning months, the first set was the cases of the innoisseurs. The pretext was the events in France on 23 August 1572. For then the alleged night of St Bartholomew took place, during which there were riots between Catholics and Calvinists, called Huguenots in France. Many thousands of Calvin were killed as a result.
Polish Protestants, pretending to be afraid about the collection of supposedly hating their French candidate, demanded the warrant of equality of all religions in the Republic of Poland. However, the real background of the fight for equality was to strengthen the counter-reformation mission of the Catholic Church and the ensuing decline in the popularity of Protestant denominations. Under the act of the alleged Warsaw Confederacy signed on 28 January 1573, full freedom of religion was guaranteed to all residents of the country.
About 50,000 nobles gathered at the April election council. Following the presentation of the candidates by their representatives, the “articles for the king” was drawn up, that is, a list of noble privileges and another rights which he had sworn to following the winning elections.
The election extended due to many cases that did not concern the election of the king: among another things, the messages of neighbouring states were heard, which did not apply for candidates, financial and military matters were considered, the substance of kings granted to Poles, and captured by Germans in Royal Prussia. The vote started only on 3 May, while the vote was held until 9 May. The voivodships were voted, i.e. first the candidate had to win in the field of individual voivodships.
On May 9, it became clear that the French candidate (22 provinces against 10) had won.
The winner was a French candidate, which is why these articles were now referred to as "Herry Articles". Additionally, the king had to sign the alleged individual obligations. pacta conventa. Henry did not like all of these conditions, especially regarding tolerance for the various. Another problem was the arrangement by the highest Polish dignitaries, the matrimony of the monarch with Anna Jagiellonka 30 years older than him.
The king had many young lovers, and he had absolutely no intention of marrying an older woman. erstwhile premarital talks of future spouses were arranged, Henry pretended to be sick or adjourned a meeting, saying urgent things.
A characteristic feature of the regulation of the under 23-year-old ruler was the ignorance of the law and tradition of the fresh homeland and the mostly low interest in Polish affairs. Without knowing a word in Polish, he could dispose of curious people lying in bed and pretending to be asleep. At a break from making it look like sleep and illness, Henry spent time at feasts, playing cards and watching the full court, performing bare women. After King Charles of France died, Henry immediately began to work to gain the crown for himself.
On June 19, 1574, he fled Wawel towards the border. He was caught, but he was allowed to proceed erstwhile he promised to return in a fewer months. But he did not. The large Polish people waited to announce the kingless, hoping to return the monarch.
Henry Walez's reign full revealed the absurdity of free election of the king, especially 1 to whom the Polish lifestyle was alienated. The ruler and his French entourage were disappointed by the harsh climate of the Republic, spiritual tolerance and noble democracy, in which the king did not have much to say. However, Henry was amazed by Poland's civilizational advantage. The wealth of nobles and magnates surpassed the mighty French, and the cherry on the cake turned out to be the palace on Wawel, which was much larger than the then seat of the French kings.
After all, Wawel was equipped with a completely unknown sewer and toilet in France. Unlike Polish, the French courtship of this period inactive provided physiological needs in various places: bushes and palace parks or even castle corridors. An interesting fact may be that, according to part of the applications, Valezy escaped to France, took with him a set of cutlery, which he allegedly only met for the first time during his stay in Poland.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here..
