Order of precedence in the Polish–Lithuanian

Commonwealth
The order of precedence for members of the Sejm (parliament) of the Polish–Lithuanian
Commonwealth was created at the same time as the Commonwealth itself – at the Lublin Sejm in 1569.
The Commonwealth was a union, in existence from 1569 to 1795, of two constituent nations: the Crown of
the Kingdom of Poland (commonly known as Korona, or "the Crown") and the Grand Duchy of
Lithuania. The union's legislative power was vested in a diet (assembly) known as the Sejm which
consisted of the three Estates of the Sejm: the monarch, holding the titles of King of Poland and Grand
Duke of Lithuania; the Senate; and the House of Deputies.

The order of precedence indicated where senators and deputies would sit during parliamentary sessions and
in what order they cast their votes. The order was also followed at other formal occasions, such as royal
coronations. The order of precedence remained almost unchanged from its inception in 1569 until the
ultimate partition of Poland in 1795. The only changes were made to reflect the addition of new territories
as the Commonwealth expanded eastwards during the 16th and 17th centuries. Territitorial losses incurred
during Poland's decline in the second half of the 17th and throughout the 18th century had less bearing on
the composition of the Sejm, as titular senators and deputies continued to sit in the parliament despite the
loss of the lands they officially represented.

Contents
Senators
Deputies
See also
References

Senators
The Senate traced its roots to the royal privy council and consisted of individuals appointed by the king to
specified senatorial offices. The senatorial offices may be divided into three types:

ecclesiastical, that is the entire Roman Catholic episcopate (all bishops and archbishops) of
the Commonwealth;
territorial, that is voivodes, or regional governors, and castellans, or caretakers of castles;
ministers of the royal and grand-ducal cabinets, for the Crown and for Lithuania respectively.

Bishops, voivodes and castellans of major cities were considered greater senators (senatorowie więksi), or
chair senators (senatorowie krzesłowi) as they were entitled to sit in designated armchairs during the
Senate's sessions. The remaining lesser senators (senatorowie mniejsi) were also known as bench senators
(senatorowie drążkowi) as they were sitting wherever they could find a place behind the chair senators.
 The Archbishop of Gniezno, Poland's first capital city until 1038,
also holding the title of Primate of Poland, was the highest ranking
senator who also served as an interrex (an acting king) during a
vacancy of the royal throne. The Castellan of Kraków, Poland's
capital until 1596, was the highest ranking secular senator. His
precedence before the Voivode of Kraków dated back to a rebellion
led by Voivode Skarbimir in 1117, for which Duke Boleslaus the
Wrymouth punished him by blinding and by making his office
inferior to that of the local castellan.[1]
Arrangement of seats in the Senate,
1732

Color coding
Ecclesiastical Greater territorial Lesser territorial Cabinet ministers
# English title Polish title Type Rank Voivodeship Notes
Primate of
Poland; in
Arcybiskup
1 Archbishop of Gniezno ecclesiastical greater Kalisz Gniezno
gnieźnieński
Voivodeship
from 1768
2 Archbishop of Lviv Arcybiskup lwowski ecclesiastical greater Ruthenia
3 Bishop of Kraków Biskup krakowski ecclesiastical greater Kraków
Brześć
4 Bishop of Kuyavia Biskup kujawski ecclesiastical greater
Kujawski
Alternating
with the
5–6 Bishop of Vilnius Biskup wileński ecclesiastical greater Vilnius
bishop of
Poznań
Alternating
with the
5–6 Bishop of Poznań Biskup poznański ecclesiastical greater Poznań
bishop of
Vilnius
Alternating
with the
7–8 Bishop of Płock Biskup płocki ecclesiastical greater Płock
bishop of
Warmia
Alternating
with the
7–8 Bishop of Warmia Biskup warmiński ecclesiastical greater Warmia
bishop of
Płock
9 Bishop of Lutsk Biskup łucki ecclesiastical greater Volhynia
10 Bishop of Przemyśl Biskup przemyski ecclesiastical greater Ruthenia
11 Bishop of Samogitia Biskup żmudzki ecclesiastical greater Samogitia
12 Bishop of Chełmno Biskup chełmiński ecclesiastical greater Chełmno
13 Bishop of Chełm Biskup chełmski ecclesiastical greater Ruthenia
14 Bishop of Kiev Biskup kijowski ecclesiastical greater Kiev
Bishop of Kamianets-
15 Biskup kamieniecki ecclesiastical greater Podolia
Podilskyi
16 Bishop of Livonia Biskup inflancki ecclesiastical greater Livonia After 1677
17 Bishop of Smolensk Biskup smoleński ecclesiastical greater Smolensk
18 Castellan of Kraków Kasztelan krakowski territorial greater Kraków
19 Voivode of Kraków Wojewoda krakowski territorial greater Kraków
20 Voivode of Poznań Wojewoda poznański territorial greater Poznań
21 Voivode of Vilnius Wojewoda wileński territorial greater Vilnius
Wojewoda
22 Voivode of Sandomierz territorial greater Sandomierz
sandomierski
23 Castellan of Vilnius Kasztelan wileński territorial greater Vilnius
24 Voivode of Kalisz Wojewoda kaliski territorial greater Kalisz
25 Voivode of Trakai Wojewoda trocki territorial greater Trakai
26 Voivode of Sieradz Wojewoda sieradzki territorial greater Sieradz
27 Castellan of Trakai Kasztelan trocki territorial greater Trakai
28 Voivode of Łęczyca Wojewoda łęczycki territorial greater Łęczyca
29 Starosta of Samogitia Starosta żmudzki territorial greater Samogitia
Voivode of Brześć Wojewoda brzesko- Brześć
30 territorial greater
Kujawski kujawski Kujawski
31 Voivode of Kiev Wojewoda kijowski territorial greater Kiev
Wojewoda
32 Voivode of Inowrocław territorial greater Inowrocław
inowrocławski
33 Voivode of Ruthenia Wojewoda ruski territorial greater Ruthenia
34 Voivode of Volhynia Wojewoda wołyński territorial greater Volhynia
35 Voivode of Podolia Wojewoda podolski territorial greater Podolia
36 Voivode of Smolensk Wojewoda smoleński territorial greater Smoleńsk
37 Voivode of Lublin Wojewoda lubelski territorial greater Lublin
38 Voivode of Polatsk Wojewoda połocki territorial greater Polatsk
39 Voivode of Belz Wojewoda bełski territorial greater Belz
Wojewoda
40 Voivode of Navahrudak territorial greater Navahrudak
nowogródzki
41 Voivode of Płock Wojewoda płocki territorial greater Płock
42 Voivode of Vitsebsk Wojewoda witebski territorial greater Vitsebsk
Wojewoda
43 Voivode of Masovia territorial greater Masovia
mazowiecki
44 Voivode of Podlachia Wojewoda podlaski territorial greater Podlachia
Voivode of Rawa Rawa
45 Wojewoda rawski territorial greater
Mazowiecka Mazowiecka
Wojewoda brzesko-
46 Voivode of Brest-Litovsk territorial greater Brest-Litovsk
litewski
47 Voivode of Chełmno Wojewoda chełmiński territorial greater Chełmno
Wojewoda
48 Voivode of Mstsislau territorial greater Mstsislau
mścisławski
49 Voivode of Malbork Wojewoda malborski territorial greater Malbork
50 Voivode of Bratslav Wojewoda bracławski territorial greater Bratslav
51 Voivode of Pomerania Wojewoda pomorski territorial greater Pomerania
52 Voivode of Minsk Wojewoda miński territorial greater Minsk
53 Voivode of Livonia Wojewoda inflancki territorial greater Livonia After 1677
Wojewoda
54 Voivode of Chernihiv territorial greater Chernihiv After 1635
czernihowski
55 Castellan of Poznań Kasztelan poznański territorial greater Poznań
Kasztelan
56 Castellan of Sandomierz territorial greater Sandomierz
sandomierski
57 Castellan of Kalisz Kasztelan kaliski territorial greater Kalisz
58 Castellan of Wojnicz Kasztelan wojnicki territorial greater Kraków
59 Castellan of Gniezno Kasztelan territorial greater Kalisz In Gniezno
gnieźnieński Voivodeship
 from 1768
60 Castellan of Sieradz Kasztelan sieradzki territorial greater Sieradz
61 Castellan of Łęczyca Kasztelan łęczycki territorial greater Łęczyca
62 Castellan of Samogitia Kasztelan żmudzki territorial greater Samogitia
Castellan of Brześć Kasztelan brzesko- Brześć
63 territorial greater
Kujawski kujawski Kujawski
64 Castellan of Kiev Kasztelan kijowski territorial greater Kiev
Kasztelan
65 Castellan of Inowrocław territorial greater Inowrocław
inowrocławski
66 Castellan of Lviv Kasztelan lwowski territorial greater Ruthenia
67 Castellan of Volhynia Kasztelan wołyński territorial greater Volhynia
Castellan of Kamianets- Kasztelan
68 territorial greater Podolia
Podilskyi kamieniecki
69 Castellan of Smolensk Kasztelan smoleński territorial greater Smolensk
70 Castellan of Lublin Kasztelan lubelski territorial greater Lublin
71 Castellan of Polatsk Kasztelan połocki territorial greater Polatsk
72 Castellan of Belz Kasztelan bełski territorial greater Belz
Kasztelan
73 Castellan of Navahrudak territorial greater Navahrudak
nowogródzki
74 Castellan of Płock Kasztelan płocki territorial greater Płock
75 Castellan of Vitsebsk Kasztelan witebski territorial greater Vitsebsk
76 Castellan of Czersk Kasztelan czerski territorial greater Masovia
77 Castellan of Podlachia Kasztelan podlaski territorial greater Podlachia
Castellan of Rawa Rawa
78 Kasztelan rawski territorial greater
Mazowiecka Mazowiecka
Castellan of Brest- Kasztelan brzesko-
79 territorial greater Brest-Litovsk
Litovsk litewski
80 Castellan of Chełmno Kasztelan chełmiński territorial greater Chełmno
Kasztelan
81 Castellan of Mstsislau territorial greater Mstsislau
mścisławski
82 Castellan of Elbląg Kasztelan elbląski territorial greater Malbork
83 Castellan of Bratslav Kasztelan bracławski territorial greater Bratslav
84 Castellan of Gdańsk Kasztelan gdański territorial greater Pomerania
85 Castellan of Minsk Kasztelan miński territorial greater Minsk
86 Castellan of Livonia Kasztelan inflancki territorial greater Livonia
Kasztelan
87 Castellan of Chernihiv territorial greater Chernihiv
czernihowski
88 Castellan of Nowy Sącz Kasztelan sądecki territorial lesser Kraków
Castellan of Kasztelan
89 territorial lesser Poznań
Międzyrzecz międzyrzecki
90 Castellan of Wiślica Kasztelan wiślicki territorial lesser Sandomierz
91 Castellan of Biecz Kasztelan biecki territorial lesser Kraków
92 Castellan of Rogoźno Kasztelan rogoziński territorial lesser Poznań
93 Castellan of Radom Kasztelan radomski territorial lesser Sandomierz
Kasztelan
94 Castellan of Zawichost territorial lesser Sandomierz
zawichojski
95 Castellan of Ląd Kasztelan lądzki territorial lesser Kalisz
96 Castellan of Śrem Kasztelan śremski territorial lesser Poznań
97 Castellan of Żarnów Kasztelan żarnowski territorial lesser Sandomierz
98 Castellan of Małogoszcz Kasztelan małogoski territorial lesser Sandomierz
99 Castellan of Wieluń Kasztelan wieluński territorial lesser Sieradz
100 Castellan of Przemyśl Kasztelan przemyski territorial lesser Ruthenia
101 Castellan of Halych Kasztelan halicki territorial lesser Ruthenia
102 Castellan of Sanok Kasztelan sanocki territorial lesser Ruthenia
103 Castellan of Chełm Kasztelan chełmski territorial lesser Ruthenia
Brześć
104 Castellan of Dobrzyń Kasztelan dobrzyński territorial lesser
Kujawski
105 Castellan of Połaniec Kasztelan połaniecki territorial lesser Sandomierz
106 Castellan of Przemęt Kasztelan przemęcki territorial lesser Poznań
107 Castellan of Krzywiń Kasztelan krzywiński territorial lesser Poznań
108 Castellan of Czchów Kasztelan czchowski territorial lesser Sandomierz
In Gniezno
Castellan of Nakło nad
109 Kasztelan nakielski territorial lesser Kalisz Voivodeship
Notecią
from 1768
110 Castellan of Rozprza Kasztelan rospierski territorial lesser Sieradz
111 Castellan of Biechów Kasztelan biechowski territorial lesser Kalisz
112 Castellan of Bydgoszcz Kasztelan bydgoski territorial lesser Inowrocław
113 Castellan of Brzeziny Kasztelan brzeziński territorial lesser Łęczyca
Brześć
114 Castellan of Kruszwica Kasztelan kruszwicki territorial lesser
Kujawski
Kasztelan
115 Castellan of Oświęcim territorial lesser Kraków
oświęcimski
In Gniezno
116 Castellan of Kamieńsk Kasztelan kamieński territorial lesser Kalisz Voivodeship
from 1768
Kasztelan
117 Castellan of Spycimierz territorial lesser Sieradz
spycimierski
118 Castellan of Inowłódz Kasztelan inowłodzki territorial lesser Łęczyca
119 Castellan of Kowal Kasztelan kowalski territorial lesser Łęczyca
120 Castellan of Santok Kasztelan santocki territorial lesser Poznań
Kasztelan Rawa
121 Castellan of Sochaczew territorial lesser
sochaczewski Mazowiecka
Kasztelan
122 Castellan of Warsaw territorial lesser Masovia
warszawski
123 Castellan of Gostynin Kasztelan gostyński territorial lesser Rawa
Mazowiecka
 124 Castellan of Wizna Kasztelan wiski territorial lesser Masovia
125 Castellan of Raciąż Kasztelan raciąski territorial lesser Płock
126 Castellan of Sierpc Kasztelan sierpski territorial lesser Płock
Kasztelan
127 Castellan of Wyszogród territorial lesser Masovia
wyszogrodzki
Brześć
128 Castellan of Rypin Kasztelan rypiński territorial lesser
Kujawski
Kasztelan
129 Castellan of Zakroczym territorial lesser Masovia
zakroczymski
Kasztelan
130 Castellan of Ciechanów territorial lesser Masovia
ciechanowski
131 Castellan of Liw Kasztelan liwski territorial lesser Masovia
Brześć
132 Castellan of Lipno Kasztelan lipnowski territorial lesser
Kujawski
Kasztelan
133 Castellan of Lubaczów territorial lesser Belz
lubaczowski
Equerry castellan of the Kasztelan konarski z
134 territorial lesser Sieradz
Sieradz Voivodeship woj. sieradzkiego
Equerry castellan of the Kasztelan konarski z
135 territorial lesser Łęczyca
Łęczyca Voivodeship woj. łęczyckiego
Equerry castellan of the Kasztelan konarski z
Brześć
136 Brześć Kujawski woj. brzesko- territorial lesser
Kujawski
Voivodeship kujawskiego
Grand Marshal of the Marszałek wielki
137 cabinet lesser
Crown koronny
Grand Marshal of Marszałek wielki
138 cabinet lesser
Lithuania litewski
Grand Chancellor of the Kanclerz wielki
139 cabinet lesser
Crown koronny
Grand Chancellor of Kanclerz wielki
140 cabinet lesser
Lithuania litewski
Under-Chancellor of the Podkanclerzy
141 cabinet lesser
Crown koronny
Under-Chancellor of
142 Podkanclerzy litewski cabinet lesser
Lithuania
143 Treasurer of the Crown Podskarbi koronny cabinet lesser
144 Treasurer of Lithuania Podskarbi litewski cabinet lesser
Court Marshal of the Marszałek nadworny
145 cabinet lesser
Crown koronny
Court Marshal of Marszałek nadworny
146 cabinet lesser
Lithuania litewski

Deputies
Deputies elected in local sejmiks.[2]
# Constituency Voivodeship Deputies
1 Kraków Kraków 6
2 Poznań Poznań 6
3 Oświęcim–Zator Kraków 2
4 Vilnius Vilnius 2
5 Ashmyany Vilnius 2
6 Lida Vilnius 2
7 Vilkmergė Vilnius 2 The Sejm in session, 1622
8 Braslaw Vilnius 2
9 Sandomierz Sandomierz 7
10 Kalisz Kalisz 6
11 Trakai Trakai 2
12 Hrodna Trakai 2
13 Kaunas Trakai 2
14 Upytė Trakai 2
15 Sieradz Sieradz 4
16 Wieluń Sieradz 2
17 Łęczyca Łęczyca 4
18 Samogitia Samogitia 2
19 Brześć Kujawski Brześć Kujawski 2
20 Dobrzyń Brześć Kujawski 2
21 Kiev Kiev 6
22 Inowrocław Inowrocław 2
23 Lviv Ruthenia 2
24 Przemyśl Ruthenia 2
25 Sanok Ruthenia 2
26 Halych Ruthenia 2
27 Chełm Ruthenia 2
28 Volhynia Volhynia 6
29 Podolia Podolia 6
30 Smolensk Smolensk 2
31 Starodub Smolensk 2
32 Lublin Lublin 3
33 Polatsk Polatsk 2
34 Belz Belz 4
35 Navahrudak Navahrudak 2
36 Slonim Navahrudak 2
37 Vawkavysk Navahrudak 2
38 Płock Płock 2
39 Vitebsk Vitebsk 2
40 Orsha Vitebsk 2
41 Czersk Masovia 2
42 Warsaw Masovia 2
43 Wizna Masovia 2
44 Wyszogród Masovia 2
45 Zakroczym Masovia 2
46 Ciechanów Masovia 2
47 Łomża Masovia 2
48 Różan Masovia 2
49 Liw Masovia 2
50 Nur Masovia 2
51 Drohiczyn Podlachia 2
52 Bielsk Podlaski Podlachia 2
53 Mielnik Podlachia 2
54 Rawa Mazowiecka Rawa Mazowiecka 2
55 Sochaczew Rawa Mazowiecka 2
56 Gostynin Rawa Mazowiecka 2
57 Brest-Litovsk Brest-Litovsk 2
58 Pinsk Brest-Litovsk 2
59 Chełmno Chełmno 2
60 Mstsislau Mstsislau 2
61 Malbork Malbork 2
62 Bratslav Bratslav 6
63 Gdańsk Pomerania 2
64 Minsk Minsk 2
65 Mazyr Minsk 2
66 Rechytsa Minsk 2
67 Livonia Livonia 6
68 Chernihiv Chernihiv 4

See also
Administrative division of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Offices in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish order of precedence

References
 1. "Kasztelan" (https://pl.wikisource.org/wiki/Encyklopedia_staropolska/Kasztelan,_Kasztelanj
a). Encyklopedja Staro-polska (in Polish). Vol. III. Piotr Laskauer i S-ka. 1902. Retrieved
2008-10-03.
2. "Feliks Koneczny - "Dzieje administracji w Polsce w zarysie" " (https://web.archive.org/web/
20090807111620/http://www.nonpossumus.pl/biblioteka/feliks_koneczny/adm/III_2.php).
Nonpossumus.pl. Archived from the original (http://www.nonpossumus.pl/biblioteka/feliks_k
oneczny/adm/III_2.php) on 2009-08-07. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

Gloger, Zygmunt (1903). Geografia historyczna ziem dawnej Polski (http://univ.gda.pl/~litera

t/glogre/index.htm) (in Polish). Kraków: Spółka Wydawnicza Polska.
Koneczny, Feliks (1924). Dzieje administracji w Polsce w zarysie (https://web.archive.org/w
eb/20090807111620/http://www.nonpossumus.pl/biblioteka/feliks_koneczny/adm/III_2.php)
(in Polish). Vilnius: Okręgowa Szkoła Policji Państwowej Ziemi Wileńskiej. ISBN 83-87809-
20-9. Archived from the original (http://www.nonpossumus.pl/biblioteka/feliks_koneczny/ad
m/III_2.php) on 2009-08-07. Retrieved 2008-09-01.

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