Szlachta prowincjonalna wobec unii polsko-litewskiej
Provincial gentry and its attitude towards the Polish-Lithuanian union

Summary/Abstract: The attitude of the Polish gentry towards the union with Lithuania and the new dynasty was subject to evolution – it evolved from distrust towards a dangerous aggressor of not long ago, to searching for possible advantages that might accrue from the union of the two states. Jagiello sought social support for his rule not only among the elites, but also among provincial gentry, by accepting them for service and creating conditions that promoted individual careers, and sometimes opened up possibilities for entire families. Genealogical research comprising wider circles of the gentry allow one to assess the scale of involvement of the provincial gentry in the service of the monarch and the state. It is clearly visible that it was above all the sons of the local lower-rank officials who having an easier access to the monarch, were characterized by greater activity in this respect; but also gentry who did not come from families of officials, proved to be active here. Mixed marriages between the Poles, Lithuanians and Ruthenians began to appear already after the Union of Horodło. Initially this phenomenon had an elitist character and it was only later that it began to encompass wider circles of society. Horodło was also one of the turning points which opened up the way to the migration of the gentry to the East.

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