Początki parlamentaryzmu na Żmudzi w XVI wieku

ENThe aim of the article is to discuss the development of parliamentarism in Samogitia in the period between the end of the Middle Ages and the reforms of 1564-1566 when a sejmik (regional parliament) was formed in Samogitia as in other Lithuanian provinces. The initial date is characterised by the formation of the sejm (parliament) by the Grand Duke, while latter is identified with the aforementioned reforms. The parliament of Samogitia grew out of the tradition of representatives of local communities dating from pagan times. This changed when Samogitia received regional privileges in 1441. These defined the rights of the local boyars (nobility), the defence of which required the boyars to work with the Grand Duke, at least from time to time. The defence of the boyars’ privileges at the royal court after 1522 resulted in the strengthening of these procedures and eventually led to their evolution into parliamentary petitions (between 1543 and 1566). The petitions of the boyars as well as the gatherings summoned to discuss and prepare them formed a prototype of future sejmiki that emerged after the Lublin Union of 1569. [From the publication]