The Defence-Debating Sejm. General Sejm of Piotrków. 1512.

The Sejm was convoked in August 1512. Pre-Sejm Sejmiks were held in October 1512. In view of the incessant Tatar menace, the king presented a general project of organising the state’s defence during the debate, his proposal spanning all voivodships and lands of the kingdom, duly divided into five parts. The plan provided for noblemen of individual regions to pay annual dues in turn for purposes of securing professional conscripts in Ruthenia, and maintaining emergency troops manned by the nobles of Ruthenia charged with the task of assisting royal military crews. Permanent military troops financed by funds provided by the royal exchequer, the clergy, and the cities were to be maintained as well. The project never saw daylight – the deputies of Polonia Maior objected. The Sejm concluded on December 19th 1512.

See: Z. Wojciechowski, Zygmunt Stary, Warsaw 1946; W. Uruszczak, Sejm walny koronny w latach 1506-1540, Warsaw 1980; Blumenstock A., Plany reform skarbowo-wojskowych w pierwszej połowie panowania Zygmunta Starego (Plans of Treasury and Military Reform during the First Half of the Rule of Sigismund the Old), Przewodnik Naukowy i Literacki, 16, 1888, vol. 1, pp. 19-34, brochure 2, pp. 108-127, brochure 3, pp. 305-318, brochure 4, pp. 398-417; Wyczański A., Z dziejów reform skarbowo-wojskowych za Zygmunta I. Próby reluicji pospolitego ruszenia (From the History of Treasury and Military Reform during the Rule of Sigismund the Old. Attempts of Financial Discharge for the Levy en Masse), Kwartalnik Historyczny, vol. 43, 1952, brochure 2, pp. 287-304. For legislation, see Volumina Constitutionum, vol. 1 part 1, prepared for print by S. Grodziski, I. Dwornicka, W. Uruszczak, Warsaw 1996, pp. 256-265.