The topic of Henrician Articles is a topic that has generated great interest in today's society. With the advancement of technology and globalization, Henrician Articles has become a relevant topic that impacts different aspects of daily life. From Henrician Articles person or event that has marked a before and after, to Henrician Articles concept or trend that is currently in vogue, Henrician Articles is something that deserves our attention and analysis. In this article, we will explore the various aspects of Henrician Articles and its relevance in modern society.
The Henrician Articles or King Henry's Articles (Polish: Artykuły henrykowskie, Latin: Articuli Henriciani) were a permanent contract between the "Polish nation" (the szlachta, or nobility, of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth) and a newly-elected Polish king upon his election to the throne. The document stated the fundamental principles of governance and constitutional law in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
While pacta conventa comprised only the personal undertakings of the king-elect, the Henrician Articles were a permanent constitution that all kings-elect had to swear to respect.
The articles functioned essentially as a first constitution for Poland until the Constitution of 3 May 1791.
The charter took the form of 18 articles written and adopted by the Polish nobility in 1573 at the town of Kamień, near Warsaw, during the interregnum after the extinction of the Jagiellon dynasty. The document took its name from that of Henry of Valois, the first Polish king elected in a free election. He was obliged to sign the Articles to be allowed to ascend the throne. Subsequently, every king-elect was required to swear fidelity to them, like the similar documents, the pacta conventa, but the latter were tailored and different for each king-elect. Acceptance by the king-elect of the articles was a condition for his elevation to the throne, and they formed part of the royal oath at the coronation.