Abstract

Instructions to the Vawkavysk Envoys to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Sejm under King August III (1735–1763): The article presents an analysis of the instructions of the local sejmik (an assembly of the regional nobility) prepared for their Vawkavysk representants (envoys) at the Sejm sessions during the reign of King August III (1735–1763). These instructions included from 4 to 40 points. Vawkavysk envoys at the time of August III were well-known parliamentarians of their epoch; there were such personages as Stefan Olędzki, Michał Antoni Sapieha, Kazimierz Massalski, Ludwik Gerwazy Oskierka and Dominik Suchodolski. They were supporters of the Familia Party (a political faction led by the Czartoryskis and allied families), which sought to reform the state to strengthen it. The instruction to the Vawkavysk envoys covered a wide range of the state’s domestic and foreign policy issues, as well as the affairs of the Vawkavysk poviat (county) itself. These instructions contain items concerning the functioning of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Sejm, the increase of the size of the army, the reform of the judiciary, economic and financial issues, demands for independence of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, others regarding private points in the interests of individual noblemen, as well as foreign policy activities (primarily in relation with Russia issues).