Kołłątaj's Forge
Encyclopedia
Kołłątaj's Forge was a group of social and political activists, publicists and writers from the period of the Great Sejm
in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
.
Centered around Hugo Kołłątaj, the Forge activists formed the radical, leftist faction of the reform supporters (the Patriotic Party
, an organization that has been called the first Polish political party
). They disseminated news and ideas of the French Revolution
in Poland. Their pamphlets criticized feudalism
and privileges of the nobility. Their name, Kołłataj's Forge, was given to them by their political opponents, and was originally pejorative.
Kołłątaj put forward the manifesto of the Forge in a series of anonymous letters to the Marshal of the Sejm, Stanisław Małachowski. These letters where published in 1788-89 as "To Stanisław Małachowski... Several Letters from an Anonymous Writer" (literal translation of Do Stanisława Małachowskiego... Anonyma listów kilka; the work has also been rendered into English as "Letters from an Anonymous Writer" or "Anonymous Letters to Stanisław Małachowski") and in 1790 where supplemented by the "Political Law(s) of the Polish Nation" (Prawo polityczne narodu polskiego). Kołłątaj criticized the dysfunctional politics of the Commonwealth, which was dominated by powerful magnate
s, called for various reforms such as the strengthening of executive (royal) power, improvement of the state's military, elimination of liberum veto
, universal taxation, and the emancipation
of underprivileged classes (primarily, burghers and the peasantry). The Forge's projects were highly refined; in fact the "Political Law", which contained a project of a new constitution became a major inspiration for the Constitution of 3 May. Kołłątaj and other publicists from his group were quite able to influence contemporary public opinion in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
. They were very active, and campaigned not only in the parliament (the Great Sejm
) but outside of it, gathering support from regular citizens. The Forge writers were particularly adept at ridiculing their political opponents; so in addition to serious treaties, articles and letters they often published satirical pamphlets.
Many of the Forge activists came from outside of the Polish nobility (szlachta
), which traditionally saw state politics as their exclusive territory. The Forge had strong ties to the bourgeoisie
of Polish cities and towns, and to a significant degree was able to influence and control their demonstrations. This was used to bring up the fact of the growing importance of the burghers, the need to include them in state politics, and to deliver a warning to the more traditionally-minded politicians about the growing dangers of resisting change.
Key activists of the Forge included Franciszek Salezy Jezierski
, Franciszek Ksawery Dmochowski, Józef Meier (Mejer), Antoni Trebicki (Trębicki), Franciszek Jelski, Tomasz Maruszewski
, Jan Dembowski
and Kazimierz Konopka
. Other supporters included Franciszek Zabłocki, Jan Śniadecki
and Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz
. Many of them emigrated after the victory of the Targowica Confederation
in the War in Defense of the Constitution, or after the final Third Partition of Poland
.
Whereas Kołłątaj himself was more of a moderate, some of the Forge's followers were more radical, and many of the Polish Jacobins
of the 1794 Kościuszko Uprising
were Forge's members.
Forge activists usually met in the Kołłątaj's house that was located in the Solec
neighborhood in Warsaw.
Great Sejm
The Great Sejm, also known as the Four-Year Sejm was a Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that was held in Warsaw, beginning in 1788...
in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
.
Centered around Hugo Kołłątaj, the Forge activists formed the radical, leftist faction of the reform supporters (the Patriotic Party
Patriotic Party
The Patriotic Party , also known as the Patriot Party or, in English, as the Reform Party, was a political movement in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the period of the Four-Year Sejm of 1788–92, whose chief achievement was the Constitution of 3 May 1791...
, an organization that has been called the first Polish political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
). They disseminated news and ideas of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
in Poland. Their pamphlets criticized feudalism
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
and privileges of the nobility. Their name, Kołłataj's Forge, was given to them by their political opponents, and was originally pejorative.
Kołłątaj put forward the manifesto of the Forge in a series of anonymous letters to the Marshal of the Sejm, Stanisław Małachowski. These letters where published in 1788-89 as "To Stanisław Małachowski... Several Letters from an Anonymous Writer" (literal translation of Do Stanisława Małachowskiego... Anonyma listów kilka; the work has also been rendered into English as "Letters from an Anonymous Writer" or "Anonymous Letters to Stanisław Małachowski") and in 1790 where supplemented by the "Political Law(s) of the Polish Nation" (Prawo polityczne narodu polskiego). Kołłątaj criticized the dysfunctional politics of the Commonwealth, which was dominated by powerful magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
s, called for various reforms such as the strengthening of executive (royal) power, improvement of the state's military, elimination of liberum veto
Liberum veto
The liberum veto was a parliamentary device in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It allowed any member of the Sejm to force an immediate end to the current session and nullify any legislation that had already been passed at the session by shouting Nie pozwalam! .From the mid-16th to the late 18th...
, universal taxation, and the emancipation
Emancipation
Emancipation means the act of setting an individual or social group free or making equal to citizens in a political society.Emancipation may also refer to:* Emancipation , a champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse foaled in 1979...
of underprivileged classes (primarily, burghers and the peasantry). The Forge's projects were highly refined; in fact the "Political Law", which contained a project of a new constitution became a major inspiration for the Constitution of 3 May. Kołłątaj and other publicists from his group were quite able to influence contemporary public opinion in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
. They were very active, and campaigned not only in the parliament (the Great Sejm
Great Sejm
The Great Sejm, also known as the Four-Year Sejm was a Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that was held in Warsaw, beginning in 1788...
) but outside of it, gathering support from regular citizens. The Forge writers were particularly adept at ridiculing their political opponents; so in addition to serious treaties, articles and letters they often published satirical pamphlets.
Many of the Forge activists came from outside of the Polish nobility (szlachta
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
), which traditionally saw state politics as their exclusive territory. The Forge had strong ties to the bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
of Polish cities and towns, and to a significant degree was able to influence and control their demonstrations. This was used to bring up the fact of the growing importance of the burghers, the need to include them in state politics, and to deliver a warning to the more traditionally-minded politicians about the growing dangers of resisting change.
Key activists of the Forge included Franciszek Salezy Jezierski
Franciszek Salezy Jezierski
Franciszek Salezy Jezierski was a Polish writer, social and political activist of the Enlightenment period. A Catholic priest, he was involved with the creation of the Commission of National Education. Member of the Hugo Kołłątaj's Forge. Librarian of the Jagiellonian University...
, Franciszek Ksawery Dmochowski, Józef Meier (Mejer), Antoni Trebicki (Trębicki), Franciszek Jelski, Tomasz Maruszewski
Tomasz Maruszewski
Tomasz Maruszewski was a prominent participant in the Kościuszko Uprising.A burgher and Polish Jacobin, he was a member of Kołłątaj's Forge and was ennobled by the Great Sejm in 1790....
, Jan Dembowski
Jan Dembowski (general)
Jan Dembowski was a Polish general and political activist.-Military career:In 1812 he was appointed to the Army of the Kingdom of Italy and commanded a brigade of, then on the staff of Pino’s 15th Division of Eugene’s IV Corps in Russia...
and Kazimierz Konopka
Kazimierz Konopka
Kazimierz Konopka was a Polish Jacobin, secretary of Hugo Kołłątaj, officer in the Polish Legions, aide-de-camp of Jan Henryk Dąbrowski. He gained notoriety for his involvements in the unrest and hangings in Warsaw during the Kościuszko Uprising.-Biography:Konopka was born in 1769 to a burgher...
. Other supporters included Franciszek Zabłocki, Jan Śniadecki
Jan Sniadecki
Jan Śniadecki was a Polish mathematician, philosopher and astronomer at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.-Life:Born in Żnin, Śniadecki studied at Kraków University and in Paris...
and Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz
Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz
Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz was a Polish poet, playwright and statesman. He was a leading advocate for the Constitution of May 3, 1791.-Life:...
. Many of them emigrated after the victory of the Targowica Confederation
Targowica Confederation
The Targowica Confederation was a confederation established by Polish and Lithuanian magnates on 27 April 1792, in Saint Petersburg, with the backing of the Russian Empress Catherine II. The confederation opposed the Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791, which had been adopted by the Great Sejm,...
in the War in Defense of the Constitution, or after the final Third Partition of Poland
Third Partition of Poland
The Third Partition of Poland or Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in 1795 as the third and last of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.-Background:...
.
Whereas Kołłątaj himself was more of a moderate, some of the Forge's followers were more radical, and many of the Polish Jacobins
Polish Jacobins
Polish Jacobins was the name given to a group of late 18th century radical Polish politicians by their opponents.Polish Jacobins formed during the Great Sejm as an offshoot of the "Kołłątaj's Forge" of Hugo Kołłątaj Polish Jacobins (or Hugenots) was the name given to a group of late 18th century...
of the 1794 Kościuszko Uprising
Kosciuszko Uprising
The Kościuszko Uprising was an uprising against Imperial Russia and the Kingdom of Prussia led by Tadeusz Kościuszko in Poland, Belarus and Lithuania in 1794...
were Forge's members.
Forge activists usually met in the Kołłątaj's house that was located in the Solec
Solec
Solec may refer to the following places:*Solec, Łódź Voivodeship *Solec, Gostynin County in Masovian Voivodeship *Solec, Piaseczno County in Masovian Voivodeship...
neighborhood in Warsaw.
Further reading
- Bogusław Leśnodorski, Kuźnica Kołłątajowska: Wybór źródeł, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, 1949