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power was solved in such a way that each monarch was chosen by the entire gentry. .. This course of events led to the gradual weakening of the central power and was completely different from the other European countries where monarchic absolutism was developing.

The state of gentry democracy with its beneficial aspects did not last beyond the 17th century. A decisive hand in affairs began to be taken by the magnates (great landowners), who had their estates mainly in the east of Poland. From halfway through the 17th century it was they who influenced Polish politics making the gentry dependent on them and ultimately weakening the central power.’

Progress was defeated at every turn by the selfish interests of magnates who preached that they were acting to defend their Golden Freedom, and in a sense they were.

They were defending their freedom to neutralize the king; they were defending their freedom to keep the newly built towns subservient to their country areas; they were defending most strongly their freedom to keep their peasants in a state of perpetual serfdom as opposed to the liberties which were grudgingly won in the western parts of Europe; and they were doing everything reactionary within their power to preserve the advantages they had against the legitimate aspirations of the growing gentry. The Golden Freedom which the magnates defended with every

 

Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 82 - January - February - March - 1994, Page 20.