Abstract

The reform of royal land proposed during the Great Sejm (also known as Four-Year Sejm) became a reality on 23rd of December 1791 when the Sejm passed the law on Principles of Preparing the Perpetual Sale of Royal Land. The planned sale was regulated in the following year when the law on Urządzenie wieczyste królewszczyzn was enacted on 26th of April.

This statute of 1792 provided for the transfer of royal land into private property. The prop- erty was supposed to generate regular income intended to cover military expenses. That is why the buyers paid only part of the price (one-fifth) and then they were obliged to pay a perpetual rent which could never be bought out. It amounted to 4% per annum of the outstanding price. In case of a war, the 1792 law provided the opportunity to gain some cash for the state by requir- ing the possessors of the sold royal land to give the Treasury a loan.

The analysis of the relevant provisions led to the conclusion that the Act catered to the needs of the buyers rather than the state. Purchasing a manor did not require a substantial amount of cash, and it was profitable despite paying the rent. The Act did not protect the land against frag- mented ownership, which put the expected income at risk. Gaining cash would take too long to contribute towards the defence if Poland were at war. The rent from the royal land buyers would not be obtained in full until the expiry of rights belonging to the existing possessors. The Act was not beneficial to the Treasury.

The 1792 Act never really came into force. After the partition of Poland, the royal land re- mained public property, and it was exploited in various ways by treasury departments.