Grodno – miejsce obrad sejmów Rzeczypospolitej
Grodno – meeting place of the Sejms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

Summary/Abstract: The Act of the Union of Lublin provided for the functioning of Sejms common to theCrown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Since 1673, every thirdof them was to be held in Grodno. However, the city was not well prepared to accommodatethe numerous noblemen, royal officials, foreign deputies, or merchants. In particular, theinsufficient number of accommodation places and their high prices proved to be a problem.The lack of granaries caused difficulties in supplying the town with food. Daily life was alsohampered by dirty, muddy streets and wooden buildings that posed a risk of fire. Duringthe whole period of holding the Sejm sessions in Grodno, the city also had to contend withwar damage. The Sejms made it difficult for the local castle court to function in the city. Inspite of this, Lithuanians repeatedly strove to maintain the practice of summoning the Sejms,considering it as a way of preserving the proper status of their state.

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