Published: 2025-03-27

ADMINISTRATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE MONASTIC TOWNS OF SEJNY AND SUWAŁKI IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 18th CENTURY

Tomasz Naruszewicz
Civitas et Lex
Section: History
https://doi.org/10.31648/cetl.11319

Abstract

This article presents the administration and functioning of two small, 18th-century monastery towns: Sejny of the Dominicans and Suwałki of the Camaldolese order. The town of Sejny was founded between 1593 and 1602. Suwałki was granted city rights in the years 1715–1720. The priors played the most important role here. They had a great influence on the appointment of city authorities. Suwałki operated on the basis of the Magdeburg law of 1720, and Sejny on the basis of the Dominican document from 1788. Both towns had municipal authorities that met in town halls. The city seal of Sejny came from 1639, while Suwałki from 1720. Both coats of arms also featured a dog. Currently, only Suwałki uses the original coat of arms. Local parishes also played an important administrative role, for example running schools and hospitals. Parish priests also kept records of baptisms, marriages and deaths. Suwałki had more inhabitants, but Sejny had several brick buildings, including the town hall.

Keywords:

Sejny, Suwałki, administration, towns, parishes

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Citation rules

Naruszewicz, T. (2025). ADMINISTRATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE MONASTIC TOWNS OF SEJNY AND SUWAŁKI IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 18th CENTURY. Civitas Et Lex, 45(1), 23–44. https://doi.org/10.31648/cetl.11319

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