thumb|400px|right|The first Polish royal election, of [[Henry III of France in 1573 (1889 Painting by Jan Matejko).]]

Royal elections in Poland () were the election of individual monarchs, rather than dynasties, to the Polish throne. Based on legendary traditions dating to the beginning of the Polish statehood, they became official procedure of choosing the monarch, following the death of the last hereditary monarch, Queen Jadwiga Anjou, in 1399. They were in use throught the entire Jagiellonian dynasty and reached their final form in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth period between 1572 and 1791.

Elective monarchy was briefly abolished by the Constitution of 3 May 1791, which established a constitutional-parliamentary hereditary monarchy, before being revoked in 1793.

Evolution

thumb|right|Election of [[Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki (Michael I) as King of Poland at Wola, outside Warsaw (1669).]]

thumb|right|Plan of the elective camp of Polish Kings in Wola near Warsaw.

thumb|right|Election of [[August II the Strong at Wola, outside Warsaw (1697). Painting by Jean-Pierre Norblin de La Gourdaine.]]

thumb|Election of Stanisław August Poniatowski (Stanisław II Augustus) in 1764.

The tradition of electing the country's ruler, which occurred either when there was no clear heir to the throne, or to confirm the heir's appointment, dates to the beginning of Polish statehood. Louis had no sons, which created another dilemma for the succession of the Polish throne. While her ascension needed to be approved by nobles because of lack of precedence for the female succession in Poland, after being accepted the Queen was viewed as unquestioned bearer of the hereditary rights to the Polish throne, and any legitimate child born to her would inherit the kingdom from her. Polish nobles subsequently chose Władysław II Jagiełło (Jogaila), Grand Duke of Lithuania, to be her husband and co-regent.

Succession during Jagiellonian dynasty

After Jadwiga's and Elizabeth's deaths, Polish nobles continued to recognize Jagiełło as their King, however, as he was ruler by election, his children from next marriages were not automatically given right to inherit the throne. He would need to issue more privileges to the nobility to secure the guarantee that upon his death, one of his sons would succeed him. None of the projects at reforming the Polish election came into force, however. The Constitution of 3 May 1791 eliminated the practice of electing individuals to the monarchy, but it was revoked in 1793.

{| class="wikitable"

|+

!Election

!Coronation

!Elected king (reign)

!Notes

!Other candidates

|-

|2 February 1386

|4 February 1386

|Władysław II Jagiełło (1386–1434)

|Elected to be king by marriage as husband of Queen Jadwiga of Poland, who was a hereditary ruler. Remained on the Polish throne after Jadwiga had died without surviving children.

|

  • William of Austria
  • Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia
  • Vladislaus II of Opole

|-

| colspan="2" |25 July 1434

|Władysław III (1434–1444)

|Eldest living child of Jagiełło. Disappeared during the Crusade of Varna.

|

  • Casimir Andrew Jagiellon
  • Siemowit V of Masovia

|-

|23 April 1445

|25 June 1447

|Casimir IV (1447–1492)

|The only known living child of Jagiełło after the disappearance of his brother.

|

  • Bolesław IV of Warsaw
  • Frederick II of Brandenburg

|-

|27 August 1492

|23 September 1492

|John I Albert (1492–1501)

|Son of previous king.

|

  • Vladislaus Jagiellon
  • Sigismund Jagiellon
  • Janusz II of Płock

|-

|3 October 1501

|12 December 1501

|Alexander (1501–1506)

|Brother of previous king.

|

  • Vladislaus Jagiellon
  • Sigismund Jagiellon

|-

|8 December 1506

|24 January 1507

|Sigismund I the Old (1506–1548)

|Brother of previous king.

|

  • Vladislaus Jagiellon

|-

|18 December 1529

|20 February 1530

|Sigismund II Augustus (1529–1572)

|Son of Sigismund I, declared his father's co-ruler during vivente rege election. Became sole ruler in 1548. The last male member of the Jagiellonian dynasty.

|None

|}

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

In the period of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, 10 elections (composed of the convocation, election and coronation sejmik) were held in Poland, resulting in the elevation of 11 kings.

</references>

  • Sebastian Adamkiewicz Skąd się wzięła elekcja viritim?
  • Wolne elekcje