Sejm Concerning Execution of Rights and the Union with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Sejm in Warsaw. 1564.

The Sejm was convoked in August 1563. Łomża was the original venue chosen for the Sejm called for November, in view of the assembly to be held jointly with Lithuania. Pre-Sejm Sejmiks were held in September 1563. Yet Sejm sessions ultimately commenced in Warsaw on November 22nd 1563. Chamberlain of Chełm Mikołaj Sienicki was elected Speaker. Debates focused on matters associated with the execution of rights – the king’s actions proved inconsistent on the issue. Duchies of Oświęcim and Zator were incorporated into the Cracovian voivodship. Upon arrival on December 14th 1563 of the delegation of Lithuanian envoys headed by Nicholas Christopher Radziwill the Black, issues concerning the Union with the Grand Duchy were raised. The king proclaimed a declaration concerning the Union wherein he renounced all hereditary rights to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, with intention to facilitate the process of drafting the accord. A recess was further passed to that purpose, all subsequent works duly scheduled therein. The Sejm concluded on April 1st 1564.

See: A. Sucheni-Grabowska, Sejm w latach 1540-1587 (The Sejm in the Years 1540-1587), in: Historia sejmu polskiego, vol. 1, Warsaw 1984, ed. J. Michalski, pp. 114-216; K. Grzybowski, Teoria reprezentacji w Polsce epoki Odrodzenia (The Theory of Representation in Renaissance Poland), Warsaw 1959. For legislation, see Volumina Constitutionum, vol. 2 part 1, prepared for print by S. Grodziski, I. Dwornicka, W. Uruszczak, Warsaw 2005, pp. 122-153.