Rola polskiej szlachty w gospodarce Inflant Polskich w drugiej połowie XIX–początkach XX wieku

• Authors: Edward Seliszka

Title variants

EN

The role of the Polish nobility in the economy of Latgalia in the second half of the 20th century

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The Polish nobility in Latgalia, though not really numerous and powerful, still constituted an important cultural and socio-economic factor in the 19th century. The restrictions imposed upon Catholics, mainly Poles, by the tsar ft er the January Uprising 1863 did not so much weaken the nobility economically (most Poles in Latgalia had remained passive towards the uprising) as it revealed its economic weakness, causing a gradual process of its members moving to towns. It was also a result of the Polish nobility’s lack of interest in economic issues, but also of its being closed, backward and not competitive economically. The nobility stuck to the archaic social-economic ideas, trying to imitate the style of life of West-European elites. A major part of financial resources, which theoretically could have been invested in the economic activity, was spent on bribing the tsar’s officials. Consequently, even if land was acquired, there were no funds to develop it.Th e simplest form was to lease land, which led to the economic conflict between the nobility and peasants. The national identity of Latvians from Latgalia (Latgalians) and Byelorussians living there was weak, and Catholicism often constituted the basis to identify oneself with Poland. However, from the beginning of the 20th century Poles became mistrustful and opposed the new economic and national aspirations of Latgalians. Nevertheless, irrespective of those conflicts, the peasants felt more attached to the Polish nobility than to Russian orthodox settlers. That is why, the Russian authorities had to take into account the point of view of the Polish nobility in Latgalia. Tsarism, despite its autocracy, was still guided by its pragmatic logic of maintaining the empire, and Russi; cation was not felt until the Stolypin reform. The Polish nobles were against Russians, which did not prevent them from maintaining and developing relations with the institutions of the Russian empire.

Keywords

EN

tsarism; Latgalians; Latgalia; the Polish nobility; the January Uprising

• Publisher: Towarzystwo Naukowe w Toruniu
• Journal: Zapiski Historyczne
• Year: 2011
• Volume: 76
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 41-66

Contributors

author

Edward Seliszka

• Ryga (Łotwa)