Nierówność stanowa w małżeństwach Jagiellonów i królów elekcyjnych
Estates Inequalities of the Jagiellonians and Election Kings Marriages

Summary/Abstract: Out of the twenty marriages of the Polish monarchs since the Jagiellonian dynasty five had nondynasticcharacter. In four cases the claims of the inappropriate state status of the royal spousewere raised. Critics of the choice of the king’s wife underlined the unique position of the monarchcontrasting with the lower state status of the bride. Especially king Zygmunt August’s second marriagewas highly disputed during a long-lasting debate where the above mentioned arguments wereraised. It was argued that king Zygmunt was a descendent of the old royal dynasty and his powercame from God. For this reason, he should have married only a woman equal to him. As publicperson, he should have obeyed the requirements of his royal majesty. Monarchs, however, did notrespect the opinion of the opposition. Only in case of the marriage of Wladyslaw IV the effortswere made to ensure the equality of the social status of his wife of duchy family with the statusof royal family.

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