Eastern and Central European Studies – serie

The union of Poland and Lithuania was ruled by the Jagiellon royal house from 1385–1572, after which a political transition to an elective monarchy was undertaken. This book studies the political transition from the Jagiellon dynasty to an elective monarchy as a political decision-making process in the 1560s and 1570s. It focuses on the Polish-Lithuanian nobility and clergy as ‘king-makers’ and their relationship with the monarchy. In addition, special attention is paid to the issue of transnational influences and the way in which the international state system affected events in Poland-Lithuania. Thus, this particular political transition is considered in the context of the great events of early modern Europe, such as the Reformation and state-formation processes.

This volume gathers a variety of scientific contributions, from young and experienced researchers alike, on the evolution of frontiers/borders, from the late Middle Ages to the end of the Early Modern Period (eighteenth century). The expansion of the Ottoman Empire in Europe, its diplomatic and military interactions with the Hungarian Kingdom, daily life in medieval borderlands, administrative and military organization of frontiers, transfer of military knowledge and technology, social and demographic impact of border warfare and the militarization of eighteenth century borders are some of the subjects approached by the authors. Their research provides a complex comparative perspective over a region which shares both common and divergent features with the rest of Europe.