Stanisław Szczuka, a member of the szlachta.
The szlachta is the name given to the nobility of the constituency of Poland-Lithuania since 1572. About 8% of the Polish-Lithuanian population belonged to this highly privileged nobility, which derived its prosperity mainly from the proceeds of its lands.
Politically, these nobles had a lot of power. Poland-Lithuania was a constituency of monarchy (comparable to the Holy Roman empire), the king chosen by the so-called magnates, the richest and most powerful members of the Szlachta. In addition to the king's election, these nobles also settled in the Sejm, the Polish-Lithuanian parliament, consisting of two houses: the Lagerhuis (the regional nobility) and the Hogerhuis (the 140 main landowners). Because every member of the Sejm had veto, de facto only unanimous decisions were made. In Poland-Lithuania this was called the Aurea Libertas (Golden Freedom) with the Liberum Veto (Veto). This Nihil novi nisi commune consensu (nothing news unless in consensus) led to total chaos and governance (the proverbial "Polish national day") and eventually to the end of the kingdom.
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