French aristocrat and Polish queen: Maria Kazimiera d’Arquien Sobieska’s strategies of power (1674-1698)

ENThe ideal position of women in Polish society from the Renaissance until the eighteenth century was based on guidelines that were formulated by the clergy as well as well-known writers such as the poet Mikołaj Rej of Nagłowice (1505–1569), humanist Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski (1503–1572) or Counter-Reformer Jesuit Piotr Skarga (1536–1621). In their works, they listed the characteristics deemed suitable for women, who had to be submissive, obedient, faithful, shy and taciturn. Their role was to procreate, execute domestic and administrative work, and support their husbands’ activities materially and emotionally. The conviction that women should behave in a passive manner was reflected in the patriarchal relations of the time and was deeply rooted both in the European as well as the Polish tradition. Nonetheless, some men revealed themselves as highly critical of this gender ideology and their criticism became increasingly influential.