The Constitution of 3 May 1791 is today regarded as one of the milestones in the history of Poland. This document, the first of its kind in Europe, was intended to thoroughly reform the state and prevent its ultimate partition by Prussia, Russia and Austria. Although the Constitution did not stop the partitioners from their intentions, it made a great impression outside Poland, as evidenced by numerous translations of the document into other languages - including German. Find out more from the texts and illustrations below. We also invite you to download a free e-book about the Constitution by Richard Butterwick (available in German) from our website.
The Constitution of 3 May 1791
Sources and Studies Middle Ages and Early Modern Period The Constitution of 3 May 1791
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The Constitution of 3 May 1791
The Constitution of 3 May 1791 was adopted during the sessions of the Sejm, or the parliament, which had been called in 1788 to work out the reform of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Constitution introduced a tripartite division of power: legislative (Sejm and Senate), executive (the King) and judiciary. New laws were to be passed by a majority vote rather than unanimously, which would streamline the legislative process. The constitution changed the monarchy from an electoral one to a hereditary one. It maintained the privileged position of the nobility, but also extended the rights of the bourgeoisie.
Learn more: read the study and the English translation of text of the Constitution and see the reproduction of the original document.
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The 1791 translation of the Constitution of 3 May into German
The first translation of the Constitution of 3 May 1791 from Polish into German was made later that year by Karl Georg Gottfried Glave-Kolbielski, a German advisor to the Polish king, and the text was published in Warsaw.
To read the translation, click the PDF-button.
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The 1793 translation of the Constitution of 3 May into German
In 1793, on the initiative of Polish emigrants in Leipzig, another translation of the Constitution into German was published. The translator was Samuel Bogusław Linde, a renowned Polish linguist, and this version was of great importance for the dissemination of knowledge about the Constitution abroad.
To read the translation, click on the PDF-button.
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Reciprocal Guarantee of Two Nations of 1791
The Reciprocal Guarantee of Two Nations of 1791 modified mutual relations between Poland and Lithuania within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This act was a supplement to the the Constitution of 3 May 1791 and introduced a greater unification of the two parts of the country.
See the original version of the Reciprocal Guarantee of Two Nations here (page 1) and here (page 2).
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The Hymn in Honour of the Constitution of 3 May in Polish, Hebrew, German and French, 1792
