LDK 1576 metų Gardino seimas

LTPo 1569 m. Liublino unijos prasidėjo naujas LDK valstybės vystymosi etapas, kurio išskirtinis bruožas buvo LDK valstybingumo tradicijos sąlygotas siekimas išlaikyti kuo daugiau savarankiškumo tuo pat metu nedarant drastiškų žingsnių, galinčių nulemti visišką savarankiškumo netekimą. Gardino seimas iškalbingai parodė, kad LDK išlaikė atskirą valstybinę savimonę, kuri pasireikšdavo tuoj pat vos tik susilpnėda- vo Lenkijos Karalystės parama ir atsirasdavo LDK interesų ignoravimo pavojus. XVI a. pabaigos LDK valstybės raidai apžvelgti dažnai nepakanka pirminių dokumentų originalų, kurių trūkumu skundėsi jau Ivanas Lappo ir Adolfas Šapoka. Ir apie 1576 m. Gardino seimą dėl medžiagos Lietuvos Metrikoje nebuvimo galima kalbėti tik panaudojant amžininkų istorinius veikalus, korespondenciją ir atsiminimus, tuo pat metu atsižvelgiant ir į šiuolaikinių istorikų darbus [p. 299].

ENAfter the union of Liublin 1569 Lithuania had become a integrated part of the Polish kingdom as a sovereign member of the Poland federation. The most important institution in Lithuania before the union was the Council of Nobles (CN) that partly had lost its power but still was strong enough to maintain leading position in the Lithuanian Great Duchy (LGD). The Council was interested in restoration of Lithuanian independence because it was only way to restore and power for the Council himself. The major aim of the Council was rebuilding of the Lithuanian integrity by recapturing of the lands lost in 1569. Also nobles were interested in accepting to the state senate all the members of Council and gain more power in the ruling of the state by preventing interventions of Polish officials into the Lithuanian internal affairs. The best time for action were elections of Polish monarch and the Council tried to use it in 1572 by supporting of Ernest Habsburg or son of Ivan IV as the candidates to the throne. The Council was dominated by etmon of LGD N. Radvila Rudus and administrator of Livonia J. Chod- kewicz both of whom during the second election supported Habsburg. In 01.11.1574 most important Lithuanian nobles had signed confederacy of the Vilnius so promising to vote for Ernest Habsburg who must as a reward return to Lithuania its lost territories. In seim of Warsaw started 07.11.1575 Lithuanian senators almost unanimously had voted for Habsburg and supported proclamation of king in 12.12.1575. Part of the Polish nobility and gentry as a king had elected Stephan Bathory and forced pro-habsburgians to leave Poland. Lithuania and Poland negotiated for some time till April of 1576 but all protests of Lithuania were neglected by Poland.In 19.04.1576 in Gardinas started seim of Lithuania. Participated almost all dignitaries and nobles, many members of the Council even these who after the union of Lublin lived in Poland (for example bishop of Kiev M. Pac). In seim were three major politic parties: the habsburgians, party of Stephan Bathory and some number of the gentry supporting the tsar. The Polish king party leader was J. Chodkewicz influenced by polish noble his sister husband. Also he was supported by bishop of Kiev, dignitaries A. Chodkewicz, J. Glebowicz, J. Kiszka and others. Leader of habsburgian party was N. Radvila Rudus with E. Wolowicz, bishop of Samogitia, gover nor of Samogitia M. Tolwaisz etc. The seim had decided: if Poland disagree with proposition of new election seim Lithuania will not accept any elected king, will depose the union of Liublin by making of protestation and will elect a new ruler for themselves. The seim also prepared instructions for messengers and send letters to tsar, emperor Maximilian II and Stephan Bathory with propositions of peace keeping. The seim of Gardinas can be called Lithuania state seim because he was so called by himself; discussed matters of state being; had had started work with no legal agreement from any Polish institution and finally had made base for proclamation of Lithuania state independence.In Poland decisions of the seim wasn’t taken into account and coronation was made during seim in May 1576. Lithuanian delegation lead by J. Glebo- wich in the seim had made the protestation and declared independence of Lithuania as it was agreed in Gardinas. But threat of Russian invasion and the activities of J. Chodkewicz forced Lithuania to choose the Poland side in Mstibogov 03.06.1576 and accepted as a ruler Stephan Bathory. But the king also had agree to satisfy some of the Lithuanian demands: to stop violation of the Lithuanian jurisdiction by Polish officials, declare amnesty for all, resolved problem of senators residents and transmitted fro the state manors of the queen Ana. The Gardinas seim marked the efforts of the Lithuanian nobles to restore the state sovereignty that continued through end of the 16th century.