. Mediæval and modern history . russia; and then, in 1795, after the suppression 1 The Polish constitution was a survival of the age of mediaeval feudal anarchy. Inthe struggle here between the royal power and the feudal nobility the aristocracy hadtriumphed and had reduced the kingly authority to the mere shadow of elective king-ship. One particular source of the anarchical state of things was a provision of the con-stitution which gave to every single member of the Diet the right and power to defeatany measure by his vote cast in opposition {libcrimi veto). Every noble was virtually aking. B
. Mediæval and modern history . russia; and then, in 1795, after the suppression 1 The Polish constitution was a survival of the age of mediaeval feudal anarchy. Inthe struggle here between the royal power and the feudal nobility the aristocracy hadtriumphed and had reduced the kingly authority to the mere shadow of elective king-ship. One particular source of the anarchical state of things was a provision of the con-stitution which gave to every single member of the Diet the right and power to defeatany measure by his vote cast in opposition {libcrimi veto). Every noble was virtually aking. But it must be added that this anarchical state of the kingdom cannot be pleadedby the dismemberers of Poland in extenuation of their crime, for they in every possibleway hampered all schemes of reform and fostered the anarchy because it ser\ed theirinterests and furthered their plans to do so. Further, an admirable new constitution wasdrawn up for Poland in 1791, which might have made it a strong state had a chancebeen §468] REFERENCES 411 of a determined revolt of the Poles under the lead of the patriotKosciuszko, a third and final division among the three powerscompleted the dismemberment of the unhappy state and erasedits name from the map of Europe. The territory gained by Russia in the dismemberment of Polandbrought her western frontier close alongside the civilization ofcentral Europe. In Catherines phrase Poland had become herdoormat, upon which she stepped when visiting the West. By the close of Catherines reign Russia was beyond questionone of the foremost powers of Europe and was henceforward tohave a voice in all matters of general European concern. Selections from the Sources. Robinson, J. H., K^adiu^^s in Emvpeaii His-loiy, vol. ii, pp. 301-312. Secondary Works. Rambaud, A., History of Russia, 3 vols. Schuyler, E.,Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia (the best biography of the great Tsar). Fora shorter, delightfully written life, see Motley, J., Peter the
Size: 1235px × 2023px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubje, booksubjectmiddleages
