dr Marta Piber-Zbieranowska

Section 11.: Women and Power in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Times (Central Europe)

In the event of the death of the Mazovian duke and the minority of his successors, power and guardianship were always entrusted to their grandmother or mother. Guardianship rule was exercised according to custom, and a act regulating the authority of the Mazovian female regent was not issued until 1504 by the Polish king. During this period, the regency was exercised in the Duchy of Mazovia 5 times, which provides good material for research and observation the dynamics of changes. We can indicate which of its features were typical and permanent, and which were subject to change. The subject of the speech will be regency rule analyzed primarily in terms of the nature and essence of this power. Thus, it will be essential to answer the question of what opportunities the duchess-regent had in ruling the state, and what limitations she was subject to, and to what extent the scope of her power coincided with the powers vested in the reigning duke, and to what extent it differed from them.