NIETOLERANCYJNA KONFEDERACJA WARSZAWSKA. O ZNACZENIU SWOBÓD WYZNANIOWYCH W 1573 ROKU

Abstract

The article considers the sig-nificance of the Warsaw Confederation, a document prepared during the interreg-num following the death of King Sigismund August in January 1573, from 1576 sworn to by kings of the Polish-Lithuanian Common-wealth during their coronation ceremonies. As this document formed the basis of con-fessional coexistence for the next two centu-ries, it is usually described as exceptionally tolerant in historiography. This article chal-lenges this interpretation by pointing out the imprecise use of the term ‘tolerancja’, which can mean ‘toleration’ or ‘tolerance’ in English, and the importance of the recep-tion of St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre at the time of the Confederation’s adoption.

Keywords

• reformation
• toleration
• peace
• irenicism