More anarchy than any constructive parliamentary monarchy, giving political rights to some 10% of the entire population only (nobles and to some extend Jews) .
Fact is that so called `Golden Freedom` gave unrestricted privileges for nobilities (szlachta) and Sejm (Polish Parlament) but limited competences of king.
Few interesting facts about `schlachta system`:
- The king must convene the Sejm (Polish parliament) at least every two years for six weeks,
- The king had no right to create new taxes, tariffs or such without approval of the Sejm,
- The king had no right to call a pospolite ruszenie (mobilisation of armed forces) without approval of the Sejm,
- The king had no right to declare war or peace without approval of the Sejm
I would say, nice example of attempt for restriction of possible king`s absolutism. To say in very very short, power was redirected in dirrection of nobility which needed to be link between king and people.
Considering historical momentum, we must admit that attempt was for admiration. Maybe naive attempt but for sure in accordance with long Polish (Slavic in general) tendency to live in free/democratic society.
As for Jews, that you mentioned. Yes, they were considered as class of traders and they had their privileges.
BDW, did you know that some linguists connects `Greek word` AGORA with Slavic word GORA (circle in forest where ancients/druids debated)
"Degenerated" is the best expression for what it was in the 18th century.
I cannot find any arguments which would justify supposed "backwardness". However it was degenerated indeed, liberum veto practically blocked possibility of necessary reforms. While foreign agents could easily bribe just one MP to block some initiatives which could make the commonwealth stronger.
King was only pawn in game for authorities of magnates.
But, I insist that `schlachta` wasn`t `degenerated`. More appropriate explanation would be that system was already `deformed` because of constant pressure on Poland (Slavic world in general).
To understand `schlachta` you must seek to connect it with system which existed in Panonia (land of masters- Pan`s land, also Pan- master of the woods in mithology), in Great Moravia which precedes Poland.
If i were to sum up all data that i sow on topic it would lead me to conclusion that old Slavic Warlords (predominantly from Polish cultural area- Pan`s!) retreated on territory of Poland after destruction of Great Moravia. They, tried to restore `old glory` , `might of once vast civilization` and designated themselves as Sarmatians (once universal name for all Slavs). So, Polish tradition preserved memory on `Sarmatian schlachta`.
And there is no way around it - it used to work perfectly in Jagellonian times due to the high moral standards and patriotism of ruling elite.
I always asked was how wold it have worked if not for outside interference from C17 onwards.
We must understand that `schlachta` was obviously, as I mentioned, based on traditional Polish (Slavic) political doctrine (on different morale values, natural, tribal, essence of true freedom and democracy). That doctrine once was very sucessfull, let`s say in time of glorious/prosperious days of Slavic civilization, in time when our ancestors used to spread knowladge of agriculture and consolidated on vast territory from Europe to the Eurasia and Asia. Such a system has its roots in society of so called ARIETS or to say ARYANS. Maybe even before them, in the begginings, in the morning of our Sarmatian (those who are borthers, collectors) - Slavic (those who are able to speak and understand each others)- Raseni (those who are of White/Red/Rose race, who are `cousins` by same race) kind.
Long period of time (for even thousends of years) such a system (or similar- which maybe in time of schlachta already was deformed in futile attempts of reform in agony) existed and was functional. Then, things changed in global enviroment, any attempt for reform of old and traditional political system on enormous territory (`schlachta` system as reflection of it) was very limited and needed a lot of time. But obviously, our ancestors didn`t have time, they were defeated and divided from advancing agressive newcomers, enslaved.
Then, history was written by winners and today we seek to collect puzzles of historical traces. Path of our civilization was violantly stooped/cut in one historical moment and we- `children of garden` seek to found answers, scent, to continue.
