Szlachta

context: The szlachta ([ˈʂlaxta] ( listen), exonym: Nobility) was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges between 1333 and 1370 during the reign of King Casimir III the Great.:211 In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Crown Kingdom of Poland, the existing Lithuanian nobility formally joined this class.:211 As the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795) evolved and expanded in territory, its membership grew to include the leaders of Ducal Prussia, Podolian and Ruthenian lands.
qas: answers: noble class
question: What class was slackta in Poland?

answers: King Casimir III the Great
question: Under whos' reign did the szlachta gain institutional privileges?

answers: Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Crown Kingdom of Poland
question: WHich two kingdoms shared tentative personal unions?

answers: 1569–1795
question: When did the polish-lithuanian commonwealth thrive?

answers: Ducal Prussia
question: What is one leader from the polish-lithuanian common weaith. 

context: The origins of the szlachta are shrouded in obscurity and mystery and have been the subject of a variety of theories.:207 Traditionally, its members were owners of landed property, often in the form of "manor farms" or so-called folwarks. The nobility negotiated substantial and increasing political and legal privileges for itself throughout its entire history until the decline of the Polish Commonwealth in the late 18th century.
qas: answers: manor farms
question: What is another name for folwarks?

answers: obscurity and mystery
question: Were the szlachta obscure and mysterious or obvious and proud.

answers: late 18th century
question: Around what time was the decline of the polish common wealth.

answers: political and legal privileges
question: WHat did the commonwealth increase before it declined.

context: During the Partitions of Poland from 1772 to 1795, its members began to lose these legal privileges and social status. From that point until 1918, the legal status of the nobility was essentially dependent upon the policies of the three partitioning powers: the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Monarchy. The legal privileges of the szlachta were legally abolished in the Second Polish Republic by the March Constitution of 1921.
qas: answers: 1772 to 1795
question: When, during the partitions of Poland, did the szlachta lose legal and social status. 

answers: Russian Empire
question: What was one name of a power that the szlachta was dependent on.

answers: 1921
question: When was the March constitution implemented.

answers: legal privileges of the szlachta were legally abolished
question: What did the Mach constitution do?

answers: Second Polish Republic
question: In what republic did the szlachta lose their legal privileges. 

context: The notion that all Polish nobles were social equals, regardless of their financial status or offices held, is enshrined in a traditional Polish saying:
qas: answers: social equals
question: What was the notion for all polish nobles?

answers: Polish saying
question: What ethnic saying is this traditional from?

answers: regardless of their financial status
question: Did it matter how much money a person had to polish nobles?

context: The term szlachta is derived from the Old High German word slahta (modern German Geschlecht), which means "(noble) family", much as many other Polish words pertaining to the nobility derive from German words—e.g., the Polish "rycerz" ("knight", cognate of the German "Ritter") and the Polish "herb" ("coat of arms", from the German "Erbe", "heritage").
qas: answers: slahta
question: What german word does the term szlachta come from?

answers: "(noble) family"
question: What does slahta mean?

answers: rycerz
question: What is the polish name for knight?

answers: Ritter
question: German name for knight?

answers: Erbe
question: Where does the word her derive from in german?

context: Poles of the 17th century assumed that "szlachta" came from the German "schlachten" ("to slaughter" or "to butcher"); also suggestive is the German "Schlacht" ("battle"). Early Polish historians thought the term may have derived from the name of the legendary proto-Polish chief, Lech, mentioned in Polish and Czech writings.
qas: answers: German "schlachten"
question: What did the poles of the 17th century think the term szlachta came from?

answers: ("to slaughter" or "to butcher")
question: What does schlachtan mean in german?

answers: Schlacht
question: What German word is also suggestive deriving from  szlachta?

answers: battle
question: What does schlacht mean?

answers: legendary proto-Polish chief, Lech
question: The polish believed szlachta derived from the name of who?

context: Some powerful Polish nobles were referred to as "magnates" (Polish singular: "magnat", plural: "magnaci") and "możny" ("magnate", "oligarch"; plural: "możni"); see Magnates of Poland and Lithuania.
qas: answers: magnates
question: What were some powerful Polish nobles referred too?

answers: magnat
question: What is the singular version of magnates?

answers: możny
question: What is another name referring polish nobles?

answers: możni
question: What is the plural version of mozny?

answers: Lithuania
question: What other country  besides Poland were polish nobles most likely found?

context: The Polish term "szlachta" designated the formalized, hereditary noble class of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In official Latin documents of the old Commonwealth, hereditary szlachta are referred to as "nobilitas" and are indeed the equivalent in legal status of the English nobility.
qas: answers: szlachta
question: What term designated the noble class of polish Lithuania common wealth?

answers: formalized, hereditary
question: What are two adjectives that best describe the szlachta?

answers: hereditary szlachta
question: Who is referred to as nobilitas?

answers: equivalent in legal status of the English nobility
question: What is the legal status of nobilitas?

context: Today the word szlachta in the Polish language simply translates to "nobility". In its broadest meaning, it can also denote some non-hereditary honorary knighthoods granted today by some European monarchs. Occasionally, 19th-century non-noble landowners were referred to as szlachta by courtesy or error, when they owned manorial estates though they were not noble by birth. In the narrow sense, szlachta denotes the old-Commonwealth nobility.
qas: answers: nobility
question: What simple word does the term szlachta translate too?

answers: szlachta
question: What were the non noble land owners referred too as?

answers: by courtesy or error
question: Why were the non nobles and nobles referred as the same term?

answers: old-Commonwealth nobility
question: What does szlachta mainly denote?

context: In the past, a certain misconception sometimes led to the mistranslation of "szlachta" as "gentry" rather than "nobility".:206 :xvi This mistaken practice began due to the economic status of some szlachta members being inferior to that of the nobility in other European countries (see also Estates of the Realm regarding wealth and nobility). The szlachta included those almost rich and powerful enough to be magnates down to rascals with a noble lineage, no land, no castle, no money, no village, and no peasants.:xvi
qas: answers: included those almost rich and powerful enough to be magnates down to rascals
question: Why did the mistranslation of szlachta come about?

answers: szlachta
question: Who was inferior of the other, European countries or szlachta?

context: As some szlachta were poorer than some non-noble gentry, some particularly impoverished szlachta were forced to become tenants of the wealthier gentry. In doing so, however, these szlachta retained all their constitutional prerogatives, as it was not wealth or lifestyle (obtainable by the gentry), but hereditary juridical status, that determined nobility.
qas: answers: hereditary juridical status
question: What ultimately determined nobility?

answers: to become tenants of the wealthier gentry.
question: What were some impoverished szlachta forced to do?

answers: no
question: Did the tenants of the wealthier genrty lose their nobility?

answers: retained all their constitutional prerogatives
question: What was one noble thing the poor szlachta did?

context: The origins of the szlachta, while ancient, have always been considered obscure.:207 As a result, its members often referred to it as odwieczna (perennial).:207 Two popular historic theories of origin forwarded by its members and earlier historians and chroniclers involved descent from the ancient Iranian tribes known as Sarmatians or from Japheth, one of Noah's sons (by contrast, the peasantry were said to be the offspring of another son of Noah, Ham—and hence subject to bondage under the Curse of Ham—and the Jews as the offspring of Shem). Other fanciful theories included its foundation by Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great:207 or regional leaders who had not mixed their bloodlines with those of 'slaves, prisoners, and aliens'.:208
qas: answers: obscure
question: Have the origins of the szlachta been clear or obscure?

answers: odwieczna
question: What did they use to refer to the origin of szlactha?

answers: descent from the ancient Iranian tribes known as Sarmatians
question: What was one historic theory of the szlachta origins?

answers: Alexander the Great
question: What was another regional leader involved in the origins of szlachta?

answers: had not mixed their bloodlines with those of 'slaves, prisoners, and aliens
question: What was important and unique about regional leaders?

context: Another theory describes its derivation from a non-Slavic warrior class,:42, 64–66 forming a distinct element known as the Lechici/Lekhi (Lechitów):430 :482 within the ancient Polonic tribal groupings (Indo-European caste systems). This hypothesis states this upper class was not of Slavonic extraction:482 and was of a different origin than the Slavonic peasants (kmiecie; Latin: cmethones):430 :118 over which they ruled.:482 The Szlachta were differentiated from the rural population. The nobleman's sense of distinction led to practices that in later periods would be characterized as racism.:233 The Szlachta were noble in the Aryan sense -- "noble" in contrast to the people over whom they ruled after coming into contact with them.:482 The szlachta traced their descent from Lech/Lekh, who probably founded the Polish kingdom in about the fifth century.:482 Lechia was the name of Poland in antiquity, and the szlachta's own name for themselves was Lechici/Lekhi.:482 An exact counterpart of Szlachta society was the Meerassee system of tenure of southern India—an aristocracy of equality—settled as conquerors among a separate race.:484 The Polish state paralleled the Roman Empire in that full rights of citizenship were limited to the szlachta. The szlachta were a caste, a military caste, as in Hindu society.
qas: answers: Lechici/Lekhi (Lechitów):
question: WHat was the name of the distinct element from a nnon-Slavic warrior class?

answers: was of a different origin than the Slavonic peasants
question: In this theory, what was the upper class?

answers: about the fifth century.
question: WHen did they find the polish kingdom?

answers: military caste
question: WHat caste system does the hindu society have?

answers: The szlachta
question: Who shares the same caste system as Hindu?

context: The documentation regarding Raciborz and Albert's tenure is the earliest surviving of the use of the clan name and cry defining the honorable status of Polish knights. The names of knightly genealogiae only came to be associated with heraldic devices later in the Middle Ages and in the early modern period. The Polish clan name and cry ritualized the ius militare, i.e., the power to command an army; and they had been used some time before 1244 to define knightly status. (Górecki 1992, pp. 183–185).
qas: answers: documentation regarding Raciborz and Albert's tenure
question: WHat is the earliest surviving use of the clan name of the polish knights?

answers: Middle Ages and in the early modern period
question: WHn did the knightly genealogiae associate with heraldic devices?

answers: the ius militare,
question: The polish anem and cry ritualized what?

answers: define knightly status
question: In 1244 the power to command and army had been used to do what?

context: Around the 14th century, there was little difference between knights and the szlachta in Poland. Members of the szlachta had the personal obligation to defend the country (pospolite ruszenie), thereby becoming the kingdom's most privileged social class. Inclusion in the class was almost exclusively based on inheritance.
qas: answers: Around the 14th century
question: Around what time were the knights and szlachta very similiar?

answers: defend the country
question: What was a personal obligation of the szlachtas?

context: Concerning the early Polish tribes, geography contributed to long-standing traditions. The Polish tribes were internalized and organized around a unifying religious cult, governed by the wiec, an assembly of free tribesmen. Later, when safety required power to be consolidated, an elected prince was chosen to govern. The election privilege was usually limited to elites.
qas: answers: geography
question: What contributed to the long standing traditions?

answers: wiec
question: What was governing the polish tribes?

answers: an assembly of free tribesmen
question: What was the wiec?

answers: an elected prince
question: When power needed to be consolidated what was chosen to govern?

answers: elites
question: What was the governing position limited to?

context: The tribes were ruled by clans (ród) consisting of people related by blood or marriage and theoretically descending from a common ancestor, giving the ród/clan a highly developed sense of solidarity. (See gens.) The starosta (or starszyna) had judicial and military power over the ród/clan, although this power was often exercised with an assembly of elders. Strongholds called grόd were built where the religious cult was powerful, where trials were conducted, and where clans gathered in the face of danger. The opole was the territory occupied by a single tribe. (Manteuffel 1982, p. 44)
qas: answers: clans (ród)
question: What ruled over the tribes?

answers: theoretically descending from a common ancestor
question: What did the clans people all have in common?

answers: related by blood or marriage
question: What gave them a sense of solidarity? 

answers: grόd
question: What were stronghold called?

answers: opole
question: What was the territory occupied by a single tribe?

context: Mieszko I of Poland (c. 935 – 25 May 992) established an elite knightly retinue from within his army, which he depended upon for success in uniting the Lekhitic tribes and preserving the unity of his state. Documented proof exists of Mieszko I's successors utilizing such a retinue, as well.
qas: answers: Mieszko I of Poland
question: WHo established an elite knightly retinue?

answers: (c. 935 – 25 May 992)
question: How long was Miesko I of Poland reigning?

answers: preserving the unity of his state
question: Along with uniting the lekhitic tribes what did poland succeed in?

answers: Mieszko I's successors
question: Who also established this retinue as well?

context: Another class of knights were granted land by the prince, allowing them the economic ability to serve the prince militarily. A Polish nobleman living at the time prior to the 15th century was referred to as a "rycerz", very roughly equivalent to the English "knight," the critical difference being the status of "rycerz" was almost strictly hereditary; the class of all such individuals was known as the "rycerstwo". Representing the wealthier families of Poland and itinerant knights from abroad seeking their fortunes, this other class of rycerstwo, which became the szlachta/nobility ("szlachta" becomes the proper term for Polish nobility beginning about the 15th century), gradually formed apart from Mieszko I's and his successors' elite retinues. This rycerstwo/nobility obtained more privileges granting them favored status. They were absolved from particular burdens and obligations under ducal law, resulting in the belief only rycerstwo (those combining military prowess with high/noble birth) could serve as officials in state administration.
qas: answers: rycerz
question: WHat was a polish nobleman referred to as before the 15th century?

answers: knight
question: What is roughly the same to the english version of rycerz?

answers: wealthier families of Poland and itinerant knights from abroad seeking their fortunes
question: What people did the rycerstwo class represent?

answers: gradually formed apart from Mieszko I's and his successors' elite retinues.
question: What positive did the szlachta class receive?

answers: could serve as officials in state administration.
question: What did ducal law implement for the rycerstwo/nobility?

context: The Period of Division from, A.D., 1138 – A.D., 1314, which included nearly 200 years of feudal fragmentation and which stemmed from Bolesław III's division of Poland among his sons, was the genesis of the social structure which saw the economic elevation of the great landowning feudal nobles (możni/Magnates, both ecclesiastical and lay) from the rycerstwo they originated from. The prior social structure was one of Polish tribes united into the historic Polish nation under a state ruled by the Piast dynasty, this dynasty appearing circa 850 A.D.
qas: answers: A.D., 1138 – A.D., 1314
question: WHen was the period of Division?

answers: Bolesław III's division of Poland among his sons
question: What stemmed the period of division?

answers: Polish
question: What tribe was the prior social structure from?

answers: 850 A.D.
question: WHen did the Piast dynasty appear?

answers: Piast dynasty,
question: Polish nation ruled by what dynasty?

context: Some możni (Magnates) descending from past tribal dynasties regarded themselves as co-proprietors of Piast realms, even though the Piasts attempted to deprive them of their independence. These możni (Magnates) constantly sought to undermine princely authority.:75, 76 In Gall Anonym's chronicle, there is noted the nobility's alarm when the Palatine Sieciech "elevated those of a lower class over those who were noble born" entrusting them with state offices. (Manteuffel 1982, p. 149)
qas: answers: co-proprietors of Piast realms
question: What did some Mozni regard themselves with?

answers: attempted to deprive them of their independence
question: What did the magnates do to the Piasts realms?

answers: możni
question: Who constantly sought to undermine princely authority?

context: In Lithuania Propria and in Samogitia prior to the creation of the Kingdom of Lithuania by Mindaugas, nobles were named die beste leuten in sources that were written in German language. In the Lithuanian language nobles were named ponai. The higher nobility were named 'kunigai' or 'kunigaikščiai' (dukes)—i.e., loanword from Scandinavic konung. They were the established local leaders and warlords. During the development of the state they gradually became subordinated to higher dukes, and later to the King of Lithuania. Because of expansion of Lithuanian duchy into lands of Ruthenia in the mid of 14th century a new term appeared to denominate nobility bajorai—from Ruthenian (modern Ukrainian and Belarusian languages) бояре. This word to this day is used in Lithuanian language to name nobility, not only for own, but also for nobility of other countries.
qas: answers: die beste leuten
question: WHat were nobles named in german language?

answers: ponai
question: What were the nobles named in lithuanian?

answers: kunigai' or 'kunigaikščiai'
question: What were the higher nobility named?

answers: King of Lithuania.
question: The kunigai were subordinate to who?

answers: бояре
question: What word is used to denominate nobility?

context: After the Union of Horodło the Lithuanian nobility acquired equal status with the Polish szlachta, and over time began to become more and more polonized, although they did preserve their national consciousness, and in most cases recognition of their Lithuanian family roots. In the 16th century some of the Lithuanian nobility claimed that they were of Roman extraction, and the Lithuanian language was just a morphed Latin language. This led to paradox: Polish nobility claimed own ancestry from Sarmatian tribes, but Sarmatians were considered enemies to Romans. Thus new Roman-Sarmatian theory was created. Strong cultural ties with Polish nobility led that in the 16th century the new term to name Lithuanian nobility appeared šlėkta—a direct loanword from Polish szlachta. From the view of historical truth Lithuanians also should use this term, šlėkta (szlachta), to name own nobility, but Lithuanian linguists forbade the usage of this Polish loanword. This refusal to use word szlachta (in Lithuanian text šlėkta) complicates all naming.
qas: answers: Polish szlachta
question: What other group had equal status with the lithuanian nobility?

answers: polonized
question: What did the polish szlachta become more of?

answers: they were of Roman extraction
question: What did some lithuanian nobility claim that caused a paradox?

answers: šlėkta
question: What is the new term used for the lithuanian nobility?

answers: Lithuanian linguists
question: Who forbid the use of the word slekta?

context: The process of polonization took place over a lengthy period of time. At first only the highest members of the nobility were involved, although gradually a wider group of the population was affected. The major effects on the lesser Lithuanian nobility took place after various sanctions were imposed by the Russian Empire such as removing Lithuania from the names of the Gubernyas few years after the November Uprising. After the January Uprising the sanctions went further, and Russian officials announced that "Lithuanians are Russians seduced by Poles and Catholicism" and began to intensify russification, and to ban the printing of books in the Lithuanian language.
qas: answers: the highest members of the nobility
question: WHo was first invloved in the polonization?

answers: Russian Empire
question: Who imposed various sanction on the people?

answers: removing Lithuania from the names of the Gubernyas
question: What was an example of imposing sanctions on lithuanians?

answers: "Lithuanians are Russians seduced by Poles and Catholicism"
question: What did the russian officials announce as a sanction?

answers: Lithuanian language.
question: What language was banned from printing on books?

context: In Ruthenia the nobility gradually gravitated its loyalty towards the multicultural and multilingual Grand Duchy of Lithuania after the principalities of Halych and Volhynia became a part of it. Many noble Ruthenian families intermarried with Lithuanian ones.
qas: answers: Grand Duchy of Lithuania
question: What group did the Nobility of Ruthenia gravitate its loyalty towards?

answers: multicultural and multilingual
question: What type of people were the Grand Duchy of Lithuania?

answers: principalities of Halych and Volhynia
question: What eventually became a part of the grand duchy of lithuania?

answers: intermarried
question: What was common for families of ruthenian and lithuanian?

context: The Orthodox nobles' rights were nominally equal to those enjoyed by Polish and Lithuanian nobility, but there was a cultural pressure to convert to Catholicism, that was greatly eased in 1596 by the Union of Brest. See for example careers of Senator Adam Kisiel and Jerzy Franciszek Kulczycki.
qas: answers: Polish and Lithuanian nobility
question: What other rights were equal to orthodox nobles?

answers: convert to Catholicism
question: What social pressure was pressing down the people?

answers: Union of Brest
question: What greatly eased the cultural pressure towards Catholicism. 

answers: 1596
question: What year was the union of brest

context: In the Kingdom of Poland and later in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, ennoblement (nobilitacja) may be equated with an individual given legal status as a szlachta (member of the Polish nobility). Initially, this privilege could be granted by monarch, but from the 1641 onward, this right was reserved for the sejm. Most often the individual being ennobled would join an existing noble szlachta clan and assume the undifferentiated coat of arms of that clan.
qas: answers: by monarch
question: Before 1641 the privileged ennoblement was granted by what?

answers: ennoblement
question: What right was reversed by sijm?

answers: undifferentiated coat of arms
question: What would be given to the enobled one?

answers: sejm
question: After 1641 who was given the privilege of ennoblement?

answers: szlachta clan
question: What clan was given the privileged of enoblement?

context: According to heraldic sources total number of legal ennoblements issued between the 14th century and the mid-18th century, is estimated at approximately 800. This is an average of only about two ennoblements per year or only 0.000 000 14 – 0.000 001 of historical population. Compare: historical demography of Poland.
qas: answers: between the 14th century and the mid-18th century,
question: Around what time was the total legal number of ennoblement at 800?

answers: two ennoblements per year
question: What is average for ennoblements between 14th and min 18th century.

answers: heraldic sources
question: What type of sources give information regarding total number of enablements?

context: According to heraldic sources 1,600 is a total estimated number of all legal ennoblements throughout the history of Kingdom of Poland and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from the 14th century onward (half of which were performed in the final years of the late 18th century).
qas: answers: 1,600
question: What was the toalt number of legal ennoblements thoughout history of poland and polish commonwealth

answers: 14th century onward
question: When did theys tart recording the ennoblements?

answers: final years of the late 18th century
question: When were most ennoblements implemented?

context: In the late 14th century, in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vytautas the Great reformed the Grand Duchy's army: instead of calling all men to arms, he created forces comprising professional warriors—bajorai ("nobles"; see the cognate "boyar"). As there were not enough nobles, Vytautas trained suitable men, relieving them of labor on the land and of other duties; for their military service to the Grand Duke, they were granted land that was worked by hired men (veldams). The newly formed noble families generally took up, as their family names, the Lithuanian pagan given names of their ennobled ancestors; this was the case with the Goštautai, Radvilos, Astikai, Kęsgailos and others. These families were granted their coats of arms under the Union of Horodlo (1413).
qas: answers: Vytautas the Great
question: WHo reformed the grand duchy army?

answers: bajorai
question: vytautas created what for compromising professional warriors?

answers: Lithuanian pagan given names of their ennobled ancestors
question: What names did the newly formed noble families take afteR?

answers: Goštautai,
question: What is an example of noble family name?

answers: Union of Horodlo
question: Who gave the coat of arms to others?

context: Significant legislative changes in the status of the szlachta, as defined by Robert Bideleux and Ian Jeffries, consist of its 1374 exemption from the land tax, a 1425 guarantee against the 'arbitrary arrests and/or seizure of property' of its members, a 1454 requirement that military forces and new taxes be approved by provincial Sejms, and statutes issued between 1496 and 1611 that prescribed the rights of commoners.
qas: answers: Robert Bideleux and Ian Jeffries
question: Who defined the significant legislative changes?

answers: 1374 exemption from the land tax,
question: What is one exemption was part of the significant changes in legislation?

answers: requirement that military forces and new taxes be approved by provincial Sejms
question: What did the 1425 requirement entail? 

answers: rights of commoners
question: What were the statutes issued between 1496 and 1611 prescribed from?

context: Nobles were born into a noble family, adopted by a noble family (this was abolished in 1633) or ennobled by a king or Sejm for various reasons (bravery in combat, service to the state, etc.—yet this was the rarest means of gaining noble status). Many nobles were, in actuality, really usurpers, being commoners, who moved into another part of the country and falsely pretended to noble status. Hundreds of such false nobles were denounced by Hieronim Nekanda Trepka in his Liber generationis plebeanorium (or Liber chamorum) in the first half of the 16th century. The law forbade non-nobles from owning nobility-estates and promised the estate to the denouncer. Trepka was an impoverished nobleman who lived a townsman life and collected hundreds of such stories hoping to take over any of such estates. It does not seem he ever succeeded in proving one at the court. Many sejms issued decrees over the centuries in an attempt to resolve this issue, but with little success. It is unknown what percentage of the Polish nobility came from the 'lower' orders of society, but most historians agree that nobles of such base origins formed a 'significant' element of the szlachta.
qas: answers: service to the state
question: What was a rarest rare to become a noble?

answers: really usurpers, being commoners,
question: Many nobles were actually surprisingly acting in what way?

answers: Hieronim Nekanda Trepka
question: Who denounced many nobles?

answers: first half of the 16th century
question: When did the denouncing of many nobles take place?

answers: owning nobility-estates and promised the estate to the denouncer
question: What did the nobles lose by being denounced?

context: The Polish nobility enjoyed many rights that were not available to the noble classes of other countries and, typically, each new monarch conceded them further privileges. Those privileges became the basis of the Golden Liberty in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Despite having a king, Poland was called the nobility's Commonwealth because the king was elected by all interested members of hereditary nobility and Poland was considered to be the property of this class, not of the king or the ruling dynasty. This state of affairs grew up in part because of the extinction of the male-line descendants of the old royal dynasty (first the Piasts, then the Jagiellons), and the selection by the nobility of the Polish king from among the dynasty's female-line descendants.
qas: answers: many rights
question: THe polish nobility had many positives compared to others including what?

answers: Poland
question: What was the nobilities commonwealth?

answers: not of the king or the ruling dynasty
question: WHo elected the king?

answers: the extinction of the male-line descendants of the old royal dynasty
question: WHy did the state affairs partly grow up on?

answers: dynasty's female-line descendants.
question: The selection of nobility oh the polish kingdom was selected my whom?

context: Poland's successive kings granted privileges to the nobility at the time of their election to the throne (the privileges being specified in the king-elect's Pacta conventa) and at other times in exchange for ad hoc permission to raise an extraordinary tax or a pospolite ruszenie.
qas: answers: at the time of their election to the throne
question: When did kings grant privileges to the nobles?

answers: king-elect's Pacta conventa
question: What specified the kings privileges?

answers: ad hoc permission to raise an extraordinary tax
question: What was also in exchange during he election of the throne?

answers: privileges
question: What did nobles get in from the king during election?

context: In 1355 in Buda King Casimir III the Great issued the first country-wide privilege for the nobility, in exchange for their agreement that in the lack of Casimir's male heirs, the throne would pass to his nephew, Louis I of Hungary. He decreed that the nobility would no longer be subject to 'extraordinary' taxes, or use their own funds for military expeditions abroad. He also promised that during travels of the royal court, the king and the court would pay for all expenses, instead of using facilities of local nobility.
qas: answers: 1355
question: When did buda king casimir issue the heir to his nephew?

answers: Buda King Casimir III the Great
question: who issied the first country wide privilege for the nobility? 

answers: Louis I of Hungary
question: WHo is the nephew of buda king casimer III the great?

answers: the nobility would no longer be subject to 'extraordinary' taxes
question: What was promised by Buda King Casimer?

answers: the king and the court
question: WHo would pay for expenses during travels or the royal courts?

context: In 1374 King Louis of Hungary approved the Privilege of Koszyce (Polish: "przywilej koszycki" or "ugoda koszycka") in Košice in order to guarantee the Polish throne for his daughter Jadwiga. He broadened the definition of who was a member of the nobility and exempted the entire class from all but one tax (łanowy, which was limited to 2 grosze from łan (an old measure of land size)). In addition, the King's right to raise taxes was abolished; no new taxes could be raised without the agreement of the nobility. Henceforth, also, district offices (Polish: "urzędy ziemskie") were reserved exclusively for local nobility, as the Privilege of Koszyce forbade the king to grant official posts and major Polish castles to foreign knights. Finally, this privilege obliged the King to pay indemnities to nobles injured or taken captive during a war outside Polish borders.
qas: answers: 1374
question: When did King Louis of Hungary approve the privilege of Koszyce?

answers: in order to guarantee the Polish throne for his daughter Jadwiga
question: WHy did King louis approve the privilege?

answers: exempted the entire class from all but one tax
question: What did king louis of hungary do for the nobles?

answers: abolished
question: WHat happened to the kings right to raise taxes?

answers: King to pay indemnities
question: What could the king do to nobles injured or taken during war?

context: In 1422 King Władysław II Jagiełło by the Privilege of Czerwińsk (Polish: "przywilej czerwiński") established the inviolability of nobles' property (their estates could not be confiscated except upon a court verdict) and ceded some jurisdiction over fiscal policy to the Royal Council (later, the Senat of Poland), including the right to mint coinage.
qas: answers: King Władysław II Jagiełło
question: Who establishd the inviolability of nobles property?

answers: 1422
question: When did the established right for inviolability of nobles property?

answers: ceded
question: What happened to the right to mint coinage?

context: In 1430 with the Privileges of Jedlnia, confirmed at Kraków in 1433 (Polish: "przywileje jedlneńsko-krakowskie"), based partially on his earlier Brześć Kujawski privilege (April 25, 1425), King Władysław II Jagiełło granted the nobility a guarantee against arbitrary arrest, similar to the English Magna Carta's Habeas corpus, known from its own Latin name as "neminem captivabimus (nisi jure victum)." Henceforth no member of the nobility could be imprisoned without a warrant from a court of justice: the king could neither punish nor imprison any noble at his whim. King Władysław's quid pro quo for this boon was the nobles' guarantee that his throne would be inherited by one of his sons (who would be bound to honour the privileges theretofore granted to the nobility). On May 2, 1447 the same king issued the Wilno Privilege which gave the Lithuanian boyars the same rights as those possessed by the Polish szlachta.
qas: answers: at Kraków in 1433
question: Where did the confirmation of privileges of Jedlnia take place?

answers: Brześć Kujawski privilege
question: WHat was the privileges of jedlnia based mostly off of?

answers: nobility a guarantee against arbitrary arrest
question: What was simliar to the english magna cartas habeas corpus?

answers: warrant from a court of justice
question: What does a court need to imprison a member of the nobility? 

answers: King Władysław's quid pro quo for this boon
question: What was the nobles guarantee that his throne would be inherited by his sons? 

context: In 1454 King Casimir IV granted the Nieszawa Statutes (Polish: "statuty cerkwicko-nieszawskie"), clarifying the legal basis of voivodship sejmiks (local parliaments). The king could promulgate new laws, raise taxes, or call for a levée en masse (pospolite ruszenie) only with the consent of the sejmiks, and the nobility were protected from judicial abuses. The Nieszawa Statutes also curbed the power of the magnates, as the Sejm (national parliament) received the right to elect many officials, including judges, voivods and castellans. These privileges were demanded by the szlachta as a compensation for their participation in the Thirteen Years' War.
qas: answers: 1454
question: When were the Nieszawa statutes granted?

answers: the legal basis of voivodship sejmiks
question: What did the Nieszawa statues clarify?

answers: judicial abuses
question: THe nobility was protected from what?

answers: magnates
question: Whos power was curbed?

answers: their participation in the Thirteen Years' War.
question: Why did the szlachta demand privileges?

context: The first "free election" (Polish: "wolna elekcja") of a king took place in 1492. (To be sure, some earlier Polish kings had been elected with help from bodies such as that which put Casimir II on the throne, thereby setting a precedent for free elections.) Only senators voted in the 1492 free election, which was won by John I Albert. For the duration of the Jagiellonian Dynasty, only members of that royal family were considered for election; later, there would be no restrictions on the choice of candidates.
qas: answers: 1492
question: When did the first free election take place?

answers: no restrictions on the choice of candidates.
question: What was different about later elections then first free election?

answers: senators
question: Who only voted in the election of 1492?

answers: John I Albert
question: Who won the election of 1492?

answers: Jagiellonian Dynasty
question: What dynasty was in reign during the election of 1492?

context: On April 26, 1496 King John I Albert granted the Privilege of Piotrków (Polish: "Przywilej piotrkowski", "konstytucja piotrkowska" or "statuty piotrkowskie"), increasing the nobility's feudal power over serfs. It bound the peasant to the land, as only one son (not the eldest) was permitted to leave the village; townsfolk (Polish: "mieszczaństwo") were prohibited from owning land; and positions in the Church hierarchy could be given only to nobles.
qas: answers: King John I Albert
question: Who granted the privilege of Piotrkow?

answers: On April 26, 1496
question: Privilege of Piotrkow was granted when?

answers: increasing
question: WHat happened to the nobilities feudal power?

answers: one son (not the eldest)
question: Who was allowed to leave the village?

answers: owning land
question: What were the townsfolk prohibited from doing?

context: On 23 October 1501, at Mielnik Polish–Lithuanian union was reformed at the Union of Mielnik (Polish: unia mielnicka, unia piotrkowsko-mielnicka). It was there that the tradition of the coronation Sejm (Polish: "Sejm koronacyjny") was founded. Once again the middle nobility (middle in wealth, not in rank) attempted to reduce the power of the magnates with a law that made them impeachable before the Senate for malfeasance. However the Act of Mielno (Polish: Przywilej mielnicki) of 25 October did more to strengthen the magnate dominated Senate of Poland then the lesser nobility. The nobles were given the right to disobey the King or his representatives—in the Latin, "non praestanda oboedientia"—and to form confederations, an armed rebellion against the king or state officers if the nobles thought that the law or their legitimate privileges were being infringed.
qas: answers: 23 October 1501
question: When did the Mielnik Polish–Lithuanian union reform?

answers: Union of Mielnik
question: Where was the Mielnik Polish–Lithuanian union refromed?

answers: Union of Mielnik
question: Where was the  coronation Sejm founded?

answers: more to strengthen the magnate dominated Senate of Poland then the lesser nobility
question: What did the actof of milno do?

answers: disobey the King or his representatives
question: What right was given to the nobles?

context: On 3 May 1505 King Alexander I Jagiellon granted the Act of "Nihil novi nisi commune consensu" (Latin: "I accept nothing new except by common consent"). This forbade the king to pass any new law without the consent of the representatives of the nobility, in Sejm and Senat assembled, and thus greatly strengthened the nobility's political position. Basically, this act transferred legislative power from the king to the Sejm. This date commonly marks the beginning of the First Rzeczpospolita, the period of a szlachta-run "Commonwealth".
qas: answers: 3 May 1505
question: When did the Act of "Nihil novi nisi commune consensu" happen?

answers: King Alexander I Jagiellon
question: Who granted the act Act of "Nihil novi nisi commune consensu"?

answers: forbade the king to pass any new law without the consent of the representatives of the nobility
question: What did The Act of "Nihil novi nisi commune consensu" Do

answers: greatly strengthened
question: What happened to the notabilities political position?

answers: legislative power from the king to the Sejm.
question: What has happened to the legislative power?

context: About that time the "executionist movement" (Polish: "egzekucja praw"--"execution of the laws") began to take form. Its members would seek to curb the power of the magnates at the Sejm and to strengthen the power of king and country. In 1562 at the Sejm in Piotrków they would force the magnates to return many leased crown lands to the king, and the king to create a standing army (wojsko kwarciane). One of the most famous members of this movement was Jan Zamoyski. After his death in 1605, the movement lost its political force.
qas: answers: "executionist movement
question: What was the movement called also known as execution of laws?

answers: seek to curb the power of the magnates at the Sejm and to strengthen the power of king and country
question: What were the intentions of executionists movement?

answers: return many leased crown lands to the king,
question: what did the Sejm in Piotrków forced the magnates to do?

answers: 1605
question: WHen did Jan Zamoyski. die?

answers: movement lost its political force.
question: What happened when Jan Zamoyski died?

context: Until the death of Sigismund II Augustus, the last king of the Jagiellonian dynasty, monarchs could be elected from within only the royal family. However, starting from 1573, practically any Polish noble or foreigner of royal blood could become a Polish–Lithuanian monarch. Every newly elected king was supposed to sign two documents—the Pacta conventa ("agreed pacts")—a confirmation of the king's pre-election promises, and Henrican articles (artykuły henrykowskie, named after the first freely elected king, Henry of Valois). The latter document served as a virtual Polish constitution and contained the basic laws of the Commonwealth:
qas: answers: Sigismund II Augustus
question: Who was the last king of the Jagiellonian dynasty?

answers: monarchs could be elected from within only the royal family
question: What stopped after the death of Sigismund II Augustus?

answers: any Polish noble or foreigner of royal blood
question: After 1573 who could become a polish-lithuanian monarch?

answers: two documents
question: How many documents should the new elected king sign?

answers: basic laws of the Commonwealth
question: What was contained in the Henrican articles and the Pacta conventa?

context: In 1578 king Stefan Batory created the Crown Tribunal in order to reduce the enormous pressure on the Royal Court. This placed much of the monarch's juridical power in the hands of the elected szlachta deputies, further strengthening the nobility class. In 1581 the Crown Tribunal was joined by a counterpart in Lithuania, the Lithuanian Tribunal.
qas: answers: 1578
question: The crown tribunal was created when?

answers: king Stefan Batory
question: Who created the crown tribunal?

answers: reduce the enormous pressure on the Royal Court
question: What was the crown tribunal supposed to do?

answers: the nobility class
question: Where was a lot of power placed in result of the crown tribunal?

answers: Lithuanian Tribunal
question: WHo joined the crown tribunal eventually?

context: For many centuries, wealthy and powerful members of the szlachta sought to gain legal privileges over their peers. Few szlachta were wealthy enough to be known as magnates (karmazyni—the "Crimsons", from the crimson colour of their boots). A proper magnate should be able to trace noble ancestors back for many generations and own at least 20 villages or estates. He should also hold a major office in the Commonwealth.
qas: answers: gain legal privileges over their peers
question: What did powerful leaders of szlachta sought?

answers: Few szlachta were wealthy enough to be known as magnates
question: What were most szlachtas class?

answers: Crimsons
question: What is another name for magnates?

answers: own at least 20 villages or estates.
question: A proper magnates own what?

answers: magnates
question: Who is properly in the major office in the commonwealth?

context: Some historians estimate the number of magnates as 1% of the number of szlachta. Out of approx. one million szlachta, tens of thousands of families, only 200–300 persons could be classed as great magnates with country-wide possessions and influence, and 30–40 of them could be viewed as those with significant impact on Poland's politics.
qas: answers: 1%
question: Historians estimate how much of magnates make up szlachta?

answers: 200–300
question: Out of one million szlachtas how many were magnates? 

answers: 30–40
question: Out of one million how many people could be viewed with significant impact politically?

context: Magnates often received gifts from monarchs, which significantly increased their wealth. Often, those gifts were only temporary leases, which the magnates never returned (in the 16th century, the anti-magnate opposition among szlachta was known as the ruch egzekucji praw—movement for execution of the laws—which demanded that all such possessions are returned to their proper owner, the king).
qas: answers: monarchs
question: Magnates recieved gifts often from who?

answers: Magnates
question: What significantly increased the magnates wealth?

answers: temporary leases
question: What terms were these gifts given?

answers: never returned
question: What did the magnates do eventually with the gifts?

context: One of the most important victories of the magnates was the late 16th century right to create ordynacja's (similar to majorats), which ensured that a family which gained wealth and power could more easily preserve this. Ordynacje's of families of Radziwiłł, Zamoyski, Potocki or Lubomirski often rivalled the estates of the king and were important power bases for the magnates.
qas: answers: magnates
question: The right to create ordynacja's was important to what group?

answers: late 16th century
question: When did the right to create ordynacja's happen?

answers: ensured that a family which gained wealth and power could more easily preserve this
question: What did the right to create ordynacja's entail?

answers: often rivalled
question: What did the powerful families do with the kings estates?

answers: estates of the king
question: What was an important power basis for the magnates?

context: The sovereignty of szlachta was ended in 1795 by Partitions of Poland, and until 1918 their legal status was dependent on policies of the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia or the Habsburg Monarchy.
qas: answers: 1795
question: When did the sovereignty of szlachta end?

answers: Partitions of Poland
question: Who ended the sovereignty of szlachta?

answers: szlachta
question: UNtil 1918 whos legal status was dependent on the russian empiresovereignty of szlachta?

context: In the 1840s Nicholas I reduced 64,000 szlachta to commoner status. Despite this, 62.8% of Russia's nobles were szlachta in 1858 and still 46.1% in 1897. Serfdom was abolished in Russian Poland on February 19, 1864. It was deliberately enacted in a way that would ruin the szlachta. It was the only area where peasants paid the market price in redemption for the land (the average for the empire was 34% above the market price). All land taken from Polish peasants since 1846 was to be returned without redemption payments. The ex serfs could only sell land to other peasants, not szlachta. 90% of the ex serfs in the empire who actually gained land after 1861 were in the 8 western provinces. Along with Romania, Polish landless or domestic serfs were the only ones to be given land after serfdom was abolished. All this was to punish the szlachta's role in the uprisings of 1830 and 1863. By 1864 80% of szlachta were déclassé, 1/4 petty nobles were worse off than the average serf, 48.9% of land in Russian Poland was in peasant hands, nobles still held 46%. In Second Polish Republic the privileges of the nobility were lawfully abolished by the March Constitution in 1921 and as such not granted by any future Polish law.
qas: answers: Nicholas I
question: Who redused 64,000 szlachta to commoner status?

answers: 62.8%
question: IN 1858 who was szlachta out of all the russian nobles?

answers: Russian Poland on February 19, 1864
question: When and who abolished the serfdom?

answers: only sell land to other peasants, not szlachta
question: Who could the ex serfs sell their land to?

answers: 48.9%
question: How much land was held by the peasants? 

context: The Polish nobility differed in many respects from the nobility of other countries. The most important difference was that, while in most European countries the nobility lost power as the ruler strove for absolute monarchy, in Poland the reverse process occurred: the nobility actually gained power at the expense of the king, and the political system evolved into an oligarchy.
qas: answers: European countries the nobility lost power as the ruler strove for absolute monarchy
question: What was different between the polish nobility and others?

answers: actually gained power
question: What happened to nobility at expense of the king?

answers: oligarchy
question: What did the political system eventually evolve into?

answers: absolute monarchy
question: What did the ruler strive for?

context: Poland's nobility were also more numerous than those of all other European countries, constituting some 10–12% of the total population of historic Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth also some 10–12% among ethnic Poles on ethnic Polish lands (part of Commonwealth), but up to 25% of all Poles worldwide (szlachta could dispose more of resources to travels and/or conquering), while in some poorer regions (e.g., Mazowsze, the area centred on Warsaw) nearly 30%. However, according to  szlachta comprised around 8% of the total population in 1791 (up from 6.6% in the 16th century), and no more than 16% of the Roman Catholic (mostly ethnically Polish) population. It should be noted, though, that Polish szlachta usually incorporated most local nobility from the areas that were absorbed by Poland–Lithuania (Ruthenian boyars, Livonian nobles, etc.) By contrast, the nobilities of other European countries, except for Spain, amounted to a mere 1–3%, however the era of sovereign rules of Polish nobility ended earlier than in other countries (excluding France) yet in 1795 (see: Partitions of Poland), since then their legitimation and future fate depended on legislature and procedures of Russian Empire, Kingdom of Prussia or Habsburg Monarchy. Gradually their privileges were under further limitations to be completely dissolved by March Constitution of Poland in 1921.
qas: answers: 10–12%
question: How much of the total population was polish common wealth?

answers: 8%
question: IN 1791 how much did the szalchta comprimise the total population?

answers: most local nobility from the areas that were absorbed by Poland–Lithuania
question: Polish szlachta usually incorporated who?

answers: 1–3%
question: How many nobilities made up other European countries besides poland lithuania?

answers: March Constitution of Poland
question: What dissolved the priveleges of Russian Empire, Kingdom of Prussia or Habsburg Monarchy?

context: There were a number of avenues to upward social mobility and the achievement of nobility. Poland's nobility was not a rigidly exclusive, closed class. Many low-born individuals, including townsfolk, peasants and Jews, could and did rise to official ennoblement in Polish society. Each szlachcic had enormous influence over the country's politics, in some ways even greater than that enjoyed by the citizens of modern democratic countries. Between 1652 and 1791, any nobleman could nullify all the proceedings of a given sejm (Commonwealth parliament) or sejmik (Commonwealth local parliament) by exercising his individual right of liberum veto (Latin for "I do not allow"), except in the case of a confederated sejm or confederated sejmik.
qas: answers: closed class
question: What class was polands nobility?

answers: Many low-born individuals
question: Who could rise into polish ennoblement?

answers: enormous influence
question: How much influence did each szlachcic have over politics?

answers: any nobleman
question: WHo could nullify all the proceedings of a given sejm?

answers: liberum veto
question: What is is called to nullify proceedings?

context: All children of the Polish nobility inherited their noble status from a noble mother and father. Any individual could attain ennoblement (nobilitacja) for special services to the state. A foreign noble might be naturalised as a Polish noble (Polish: "indygenat") by the Polish king (later, from 1641, only by a general sejm).
qas: answers: noble mother and father
question: Children inherited polish nobility from whom?

answers: special services to the state
question: What does an individual do to attain ennoblement?

answers: Polish king
question: WHo could naturalize a polish noble?

answers: nobilitacja
question: What is another name for ennoblement? 

answers: indygenat
question: WHat is another name for polish noble?

context: In theory at least, all Polish noblemen were social equals. Also in theory, they were legal peers. Those who held 'real power' dignities were more privileged but these dignities were not hereditary. Those who held honorary dignities were higher in 'ritual' hierarchy but these dignities were also granted for a lifetime. Some tenancies became hereditary and went with both privilege and titles. Nobles who were not direct barons of the Crown but held land from other lords were only peers "de iure".
qas: answers: equals
question: In theory how were all polish noblemen viewed?

answers: not hereditary
question: Was was unique about the dignities?

answers: ritual
question: If one is high in dignities they are also high in what other form?

answers: other lords were only peers "de iure"
question: Nobles held land form whom?

context: Note that the Polish landed gentry (ziemianie or ziemiaństwo) was composed of any nobility that owned lands: thus of course the magnates, the middle nobility and that lesser nobility that had at least part of the village. As manorial lordships were also opened to burgesses of certain privileged royal cities, not all landed gentry had a hereditary title of nobility.
qas: answers: any nobility that owned lands
question: Who could compose the polish landed gentry?

answers: (ziemianie or ziemiaństwo
question: whats is another name for polish landed gentry?

answers: no
question: Did all hold title of nobility?

context: Coats of arms were very important to the Polish nobility. Its heraldic system evolved together with its neighbours in Central Europe, while differing in many ways from the heraldry of other European countries. Polish knighthood families had its counterparts, links or roots in Moravia (i.e. Poraj) and Germany (i.e. Junosza).
qas: answers: Coats of arms
question: What was very important to the polish nobility?

answers: heraldic system
question: What kind of system was the coats of arms?

answers: differing in many ways
question: how did the polish nobility system compare to other heraldy countries?

answers: Moravia (i.e. Poraj) and Germany
question: Where did polish knightshood originate?

context: The most notable difference is that, contrary to other European heraldic systems, the Jews, Muslim Tatars or another minorities would be given the noble title. Also, most families sharing origin would also share a coat-of-arms. They would also share arms with families adopted into the clan (these would often have their arms officially altered upon ennoblement). Sometimes unrelated families would be falsely attributed to the clan on the basis of similarity of arms. Also often noble families claimed inaccurate clan membership. Logically, the number of coats of arms in this system was rather low and did not exceed 200 in late Middle Ages (40,000 in the late 18th century).
qas: answers: minorities would be given the noble title
question: What is the most notable difference between countries?

answers: most families sharing origin
question: Coat of arms would be shared with who else?

answers: on the basis of similarity of arms
question: How would unrelated families be attributed to the clan?

answers: low and did not exceed 200
question: Did number of cat of arms in the late middle ages fall?

context: Also, the tradition of differentiating between the coat of arms proper and a lozenge granted to women did not develop in Poland. Usually men inherited the coat of arms from their fathers. Also, the brisure was rarely used.
qas: answers: brisure
question: What was rarely used?

answers: Poland
question: Where did the  coat of arms proper and a lozenge granted to women not develoupe?

answers: their fathers
question: Where did men get their coat of arms usually?

context: The szlachta's prevalent mentality and ideology were manifested in "Sarmatism", a name derived from a myth of the szlachta's origin in the powerful ancient nation of Sarmatians. This belief system became an important part of szlachta culture and affected all aspects of their lives. It was popularized by poets who exalted traditional village life, peace and pacifism. It was also manifested in oriental-style apparel (the żupan, kontusz, sukmana, pas kontuszowy, delia); and made the scimitar-like szabla, too, a near-obligatory item of everyday szlachta apparel. Sarmatism served to integrate the multi-ethnic nobility as it created an almost nationalistic sense of unity and pride in the szlachta's "Golden Liberty" (złota wolność). Knowledge of Latin was widespread, and most szlachta freely mixed Polish and Latin vocabulary (the latter, "macaronisms"—from "macaroni") in everyday conversation.
qas: answers: Sarmatism
question: What was the prevalent mentality and ideology called? 

answers: powerful ancient nation of Sarmatians
question: Where did the name sarmatism originate?

answers: served to integrate the multi-ethnic nobility
question: How did sarmatism effect szlachta culture?

answers: peace and pacifism
question: What was also pushed for by result of sarmatism?

answers: Polish and Latin
question: What languages were freely mixed?

context: Prior to the Reformation, the Polish nobility were mostly either Roman Catholic or Orthodox with a small group of Muslims. Many families, however, soon adopted the Reformed faiths. After the Counter-Reformation, when the Roman Catholic Church regained power in Poland, the nobility became almost exclusively Catholic, despite the fact that Roman Catholicism was not the majority religion in Commonwealth (the Catholic and Orthodox churches each accounted for some 40% of all citizens population, with the remaining 20% being Jews or members of Protestant denominations). In the 18th century, many followers of Jacob Frank joined the ranks of Jewish-descended Polish gentry. Although Jewish religion wasn't usually a pretext to block or deprive of noble status, some laws favoured religious conversion from Judaism to Christianity (see: Neophyte) by rewarding it with ennoblement.
qas: answers: Roman Catholic or Orthodox
question: What two religions were most common?

answers: Muslims
question: What was the minority group in the polish nobility?

answers: ennoblement
question: What was rewarding for switching judiasm to christianity?

answers: the nobility became almost exclusively Catholic
question: What happened after the roman catholic church regained power in Poland?

answers: Jews
question: What was the smallest amount of religion in the noble?