Z sejmem czy bez sejmu? Konflikt o prywatne żupy solne na sejmie grodzieńkim w 1718 roku
ENAt the beginning of the eighteenth century, after more than 100 years of disputes over the operation of the “Kunegunda” royal salt well on the Lubomirski family estate, the royal treasury undertook endeavours to regain royal control over the extraction and sale of salt throughout the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. A special commission established in 1717 stated that the Lubomirski family’s operation and management of the salt well put it at risk of a construction disaster and would expose the royal treasury to continuous expenses for its improvement. As a result, the commission recommended the “Kunegunda” well be closed and filled in, which was approved by King August II. Dissatisfied with the decision, the Lubomirskis decided to bring up the issue at the upcoming Grodno Sejm in 1718. They did not only intend to present their grievance and claims to the sejmiki (local parliaments), but rather they wanted to move public opinion. In fact, no one raised any doubts as to the advisability of such a small issue being considered and resolved at the sejm instead of matters of greater importance to the monarchy as a whole. Despite this, the Lubomirskis only managed to gain attention during the first day of the session. During subsequent discussions in the following weeks, the Lubomirski problem was set aside for possible future deliberations.
