Constitution of the Duchy of Warsaw

Constitution of the Duchy of Warsaw
Napoleon issuing the Constitution of the Duchy of Warsaw.

Constitution of the Duchy of Warsaw was passed by Napoleon on 22 July 1807 in Dresden. Together with the Napoleonic code it was a significant reform of the Polish law and government in the new Duchy of Warsaw. The constitution provided for a bicameral Sejm and for a Council of Ministers. The new laws abolished serfdom and legal distinction by social classes (nobility, peasantry, townsfolk) by introducing a principle that all people are equal before the law. Serfdom was abolished, and personal liberty guaranteed. Duchy of Warsaw was a satellite state of France, with no diplomacy of its own. King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony became duke of Poland, and had control over foreign policy; a French representative was to reside in Warsaw and had significant influence over Duchy government. The duchy's army was subordinate to the French army. It was, nonetheless, considered a liberal constitution for its time.

External links



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Duchy of Warsaw — Duché de Varsovie Herzogtum Warschau Księstwo Warszawskie Client state of the French Empire, personal union with the King of Saxony …   Wikipedia

  • Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland — Constitutions of Poland …   Wikipedia

  • Constitution of the Republic of Poland — The Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2 April 1997 is Poland s current constitution. It replaced the temporary amendments put into place in 1992 designed to reverse the effects of communism, establishing the nation as a democratic state… …   Wikipedia

  • Constitution of the People's Republic of Poland — Constitutions of Poland …   Wikipedia

  • Constitution of May 3, 1791 (painting) — Constitution of May 3, 1791 Artist Jan Matejko Year 1891 Type Oil on canvas Dimensions 247 cm × 446 cm (97 in × 17 …   Wikipedia

  • Warsaw — For other uses, see Warsaw (disambiguation) and Warszawa (disambiguation). Warsaw Warszawa Capital City of Warsaw Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa Top …   Wikipedia

  • warsaw — /wawr saw/, n. 1. Also called warsaw grouper. a large grouper, Epinephelus nigritus, found in the warmer waters of the Atlantic Ocean. 2. the jewfish, Epinephelus itajara, found off both coasts of tropical America. [1880 85, Amer.; < Sp guasa] *… …   Universalium

  • Warsaw — /wawr saw/, n. 1. Polish, Warszawa. a city in and the capital of Poland, in the E central part, on the Vistula River. 1,436,000. 2. a town in N Indiana. 10,649. * * * I City (pop., 2001 est.: 1,610,471), capital of Poland, on the Vistula River.… …   Universalium

  • Warsaw, Duchy of — or Grand Duchy of Warsaw Independent Polish state (1807–15), created by Napoleon. Established by the Treaties of Tilsit in 1807 after the Poles had helped Napoleon defeat Prussia, it consisted originally of the major portion of the central Polish …   Universalium

  • Constitution of May 3, 1791 — May 3rd Constitution, by Matejko (1891). King …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”